# Ausländerbehörde Hamburg

> How long does an application at the Ausländerbehörde Hamburg take? Real waiting times for citizenship, permanent residence, Blue Card and residence permits, reported by applicants.

- State: Hamburg
- Page: https://aktenzeit.de/en/office/hamburg
- As of: 2026-10-21
- Foreign residents (estimate): 360,800 (19.3%, 2024)

## Reported waiting times

No reports for this office yet.

## Official figures

- Wait for an appointment (Residence permits): 8–10 weeks Hamburg Welcome Center: about 8 to 10 weeks from the online application to an appointment offer for a first residence permit. Applies to skilled workers, trainees and their families, not to the district offices. (as of 2026-05-08; [Hamburg Welcome Center (Behörde für Inneres und Sport)](https://welcome.hamburg.com/contact-at-1085854))
- Open applications (Citizenship): 31967 applications Naturalisation applications in processing in May 2026, as reported by the office to Mediendienst Integration. (as of 2026-05; [Mediendienst Integration](https://mediendienst-integration.de/news/weniger-antraege-doch-bearbeitungsstau-waechst/))
- Processing time stated by the office (Citizenship): 14 months The Hamburg interior authority expects an average processing time of about 14 months for applicants in 2026. (as of 2026-02-04; [Behörde für Inneres und Sport Hamburg (hamburg.de)](https://www.hamburg.de/politik-und-verwaltung/behoerden/behoerde-fuer-inneres-und-sport/einbuergerungsbilanz-2024-hamburg-92180))
- Open applications (Citizenship): 31539 applications Open naturalisation cases on 20 Aug 2025, per the Senate's answer to a question in the Hamburg parliament. (as of 2025-08-20; [Bürgerschaft der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg (Antwort des Senats)](https://www.buergerschaft-hh.de/parldok/dokument/94138/23_01162_einbuergerungen_in_hamburg_wo_hakt_es_derzeit))
- Applications received (Citizenship): 16500 applications Naturalisation applications filed in 2025, about 16,500 according to the Hamburg interior authority. (as of 2025; [Behörde für Inneres und Sport Hamburg (hamburg.de)](https://www.hamburg.de/politik-und-verwaltung/behoerden/behoerde-fuer-inneres-und-sport/einbuergerungsbilanz-2024-hamburg-92180))

## FAQ

### How long does citizenship (Einbürgerung) take at the Ausländerbehörde Hamburg?

There are not enough reports for this application type in Hamburg yet. The office states 14 months (Behörde für Inneres und Sport Hamburg (hamburg.de), 2026-02-04). Across Germany the median is 257 days.

### How many applications are open at the Ausländerbehörde Hamburg?

31,967 open applications (Citizenship), as of 2026-05, according to Mediendienst Integration.

### What can I do if the Ausländerbehörde Hamburg has not decided after three months?

Under § 75 VwGO you can file an action for failure to act (Untätigkeitsklage) if an authority does not decide within three months without sufficient reason. Whether this makes sense in your case is a question for an immigration lawyer.

### How many foreign residents does the Ausländerbehörde Hamburg serve?

About 360,800 people, 19.3% of the population (2024 share of foreign nationals, Federal and State Statistical Offices).

Data reported by applicants, not verified. Not legal advice.