First: What does “proving identity via the embassy” mean?
It is a procedure in which German authorities (usually the Ausländerbehörde or BAMF) require a person to visit their home-country embassy in order to obtain:

• a passport or a replacement travel document (Reiseersatzpapier)

• a birth certificate or proof of nationality

• an identity document to confirm identity for deportation or residence purposes

Second: When is this officially required?

1. After a final rejection of the asylum application
If your application is rejected and the decision is confirmed by the courts, the Ausländerbehörde may require you to:

• prove your identity

• cooperate with departure procedures, including visiting the embassy

If you refuse, you may be detained temporarily or considered “non-cooperative,” which can cause you to lose access to certain humanitarian residence options.

2. When applying for an alternative residence permit (§25 Abs. 5 or §23a)
In this case, the authorities may require you:

• either to prove why you cannot visit the embassy, or

• to prove that you tried to cooperate but the embassy refused.

If you cannot prove this, the application may be rejected due to lack of identity verification and lack of cooperation.

3. For those seeking to change their residence status (from asylum to work or study)
For example, when converting protection status into a work residence permit, the office may require:

• a valid passport, or

• a document issued by the original embassy.

If the person refuses to visit their embassy, the application may be rejected for failing to meet the “identity verification” requirement.

4. When applying for family reunification
In most cases, it is required that:

• you and your family members have valid passports.
  If a passport is missing, you may be required to visit the embassy to obtain a replacement.

5. During deportation procedures
If the state decides to deport you:

• you will be required to visit your country’s embassy to obtain a travel document.
  If you refuse, you may be placed in deportation detention (Abschiebungshaft) as a “non-cooperative” person.

Third: How does cooperating with the embassy affect your situation?

If your asylum claim was rejected or you do not have protection
↪ Cooperating with the embassy often does not harm you; it may even speed up a temporary humanitarian solution or a lawful Duldung.

If you have protection (asylum or subsidiary protection)
↪ Visiting the embassy may be interpreted as:

• you are no longer threatened by your home authorities,

• you have voluntary contact with the state you claimed to have fled from.

This can lead to:

• withdrawal of protection or a file review (§73 AsylG)

• cancellation of the residence permit

• later rejection of a citizenship application

Fourth: Can you refuse to visit the embassy?
Yes, in certain cases:

• if you have an objective and convincing reason (e.g., proven political persecution)

• if the embassy has already confirmed it will not issue documents to you

• if you are under international protection (asylum or subsidiary protection)

But: an unjustified refusal is interpreted as non-cooperation and may block humanitarian residence options or give the foreigners authority room to impose restrictions.

Fifth: Can a lawyer be appointed to explain the situation?
Yes. In complex cases, it is often best to:

• appoint a lawyer specialized in immigration law

• send a written legal response to the Ausländerbehörde explaining the reasons for refusing to visit the embassy

Example: “Due to fear of persecution, my client cannot visit the embassy because he does not feel safe…”

Conclusion
Proving your identity via your home-country embassy is a double-edged sword in Germany:
It can be the key to a legal residence if handled carefully and under certain conditions,
and it can be a legal “bomb” if done during a protection period or presented in a way that weakens your case file.

ـ The site’s writers and editors strive to provide accurate information through extensive research and multiple sources; however, errors may occur or some information may be unconfirmed. Please treat the information as initial guidance and always consult the competent authorities for verified information.