A Fiktionsbescheinigung, sometimes called a Fiktion for short – also known as a 'fictional certificate' or 'temporary stay permit' in English – is a document that may be issued by Germany's immigration authorities after someone has applied to extend or change their residence permit.
As The Local has reported, it seems that more and more foreign residents in Germany have found themselves living on a Fiktion in recent years.
Additionally, in some cases people find themselves being stuck with one of these "temporary" permits for months or even years on end.
In one case an Adidas employee living in Nuremberg told The Local he was given a Fiktionsbescheinigung for an entire year, and then received another a year later, before he finally received the residence permit he was entitled to.
While these documents are intended to prove a resident's right to remain in Germany, and maintain the same rights they had under their previous residence permit, people complain that they are not always recognised by employers or at airports, making living with them somewhat precarious.
If you have been issued a Fiktion by your local immigration office we'd like to hear from you: How long have you been left waiting for a decision on your residence permit, and how has holding a temporary permit affected your life in Germany?
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