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Federal Republic of Germany

BMI — Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (Germany)

The Bundesministerium des Innern und für Heimat (BMI) is the German federal ministry that oversees migration, citizenship, and internal security. Operational residence-permit issuance happens at the Länder level through local Ausländerbehörden (Foreigners' Offices), but BMI sets the federal legal framework.

Parent ministry

Federal Government of Germany

Established

1949

Last reviewed

20 April 2026

Scope

  • Leads federal policy on migration, integration, and citizenship through the Aufenthaltsgesetz (Residence Act) and its 2023–2024 reforms under the Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz (Skilled Immigration Act).
  • Oversees the BAMF (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees) on asylum, integration courses, and family reunification matters.
  • Coordinates with the Federal Foreign Office on consular D-visa issuance through German missions abroad.
  • Coordinates with the BMWK-run "Make it in Germany" national skills-recruitment portal (operated by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, not BMI itself).

Procedural quirks

  • The residence-permit decision is taken locally — different Ausländerbehörden can interpret the same federal rule differently. Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg have the highest volumes; smaller Länder often have faster local turnaround.
  • The Blue Card salary thresholds are set annually by BMAS (Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs) based on the federal average salary.
  • Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) applicants need a points score of 6 but the card by itself is a job-search residence permit — it only converts to a work residence title once a qualifying offer is signed.

Primary service channels

Routes administered

BMI decides the following Germany visa routes covered on Visa Atlas:

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