Preventing forced marriages

The rights of victims of forced marriage are:

• Own right of return for victims of forced marriage: If you were forced to marry outside Germany and prevented from returning to Germany, you may be able to assert your own right of return. You must apply for a residence permit within three months of the end of the forced situation, but no later than five years after leaving the country. In this case, you can also obtain a residence permit if you are unable to support yourself in Germany.
• Longer period of validity of the residence permit: If you have already lived in Germany for at least eight years as a victim of forced marriage and have attended school for at least six years, your valid residence permit will only expire three months after the forced situation has ceased, at the latest after ten years of absence from Germany.
• Longer application period for marriage annulment: The application period for marriage annulment has been extended from one to three years after the end of the forced marriage in cases of forced marriage.

Tip: If you believe you are at risk of forced marriage, you can use the "virtual document safe in the service account of this service portal". You can store copies of your identity documents, birth certificate, marriage certificate, certificates, references and documents or important telephone numbers there as a precaution.