In the current year 2023, more than 49,000 people nationwide have already applied for the “right of opportunity residence” under Section 104c of the Residence Act. More than 17,000 applications that have already been approved are opposed by about 2,100 rejections. This is reported by the “Mediendienst Integration”.
Experience has shown that the number of applications depends heavily on how the Foreigners’ Registration Office informs them about the possibility of making use of the new law.
Anyone who has been in Germany for more than 5 years on the cut-off date of 31.10.2022 is generally eligible for the right of opportunity residence, which then offers a bridge to the longer-term right of residence according to Section 25b of the Residence Act.