Aufenthalt
Aufenthalt is a German noun that denotes the act of staying in a place or the time someone spends there. Etymologically it combines auf- (on, at) and halten (to hold), reflecting the idea of being present at a location. In everyday language it can refer to a temporary visit, a longer stay, or the duration of being in a foreign country.
In ordinary use, Aufenthalt can describe both physical presence and the period of staying. Examples include
In legal contexts, Aufenthalt often refers to residence status. The German term Aufenthaltstitel covers documents that
A distinction is sometimes made between Aufenthalt (the stay or status) and Wohnsitz or Wohnort (domicile or
See also: Aufenthaltstitel, Niederlassungserlaubnis, Aufenthaltserlaubnis, Aufenthaltsrecht.