Residence Permit
Permanent Residence Permits
Permanent residence permits are the
- Residence Permit or the
- Long-Term Residence in the EU.
There are various legal bases for a settlement permit. Depending on the purpose of your stay in Germany, different requirements may apply.
As a general rule, a settlement permit may only be granted to individuals who are at least 16 years of age.
Please note that processing fees apply when applying for a settlement permit. These fees must be paid even if your application is denied.
Applications for a settlement permit have longer processing times. Please be aware of this and refrain from inquiring about the status of your application. When submitting your application, it is important that all documents be submitted in full. In some cases, additional documents may be required.
You hold a residence permit pursuant to Section 19c of the Residence Act, Section 19d of the Residence Act, Section 30 of the Residence Act, Section 31 of the Residence Act, Section 36 of the Residence Act, Section 36a of the Residence Act, Section 37 of the Residence Act, or Section 38a of the Residence Act, and would like to apply for a settlement permit?
The following requirements (§ 9 of the Residence Act) must be met for a permit to be granted:
- Clarification of Identity
- Passport Requirement
- Possession of a 5-year residence permit
- Securing a Livelihood
- 60 months of mandatory contributions to the German Pension Insurance System
- No Interest in Deportation
- Language proficiency: B1
- Basic knowledge of the legal and social system and living conditions in Germany
- Adequate living space
If you wish to apply for a settlement permit under Section 9 of the Residence Act (AufenthG), you must submit the following documents:
- Application Form or Online Application
- Valid Passport
- Employment contract, preferably permanent
- The last six pay stubs
- Proof of adequate health insurance coverage
- Lease Agreement and Current Rent Certificate
- Pension Insurance History from the German Pension Insurance Fund
- Original B1 language certificate
- "Life in Germany" Test, Naturalization Test, Certificate of Completion of the Integration Course, High School Diploma (original)
Do you hold a residence permit under Section 18a, Section 18b, or Section 18d of the Residence Act (AufenthG) and would like to apply for a settlement permit?
The following requirements (§ 18c(1) of the Residence Act) must be met for the permit to be granted:
- Clarification of Identity
- Passport Requirement
- Possession of a 3-year residence permit or, in the case of a domestic vocational or college degree, a 2-year residence permit
- A job, in terms of professional qualifications, is currently available
- Securing a Livelihood
- 36 months of mandatory contributions to the German Pension Insurance or the State Medical Association, or 24 months of mandatory contributions if the applicant holds a domestic professional or university degree
- No Interest in Deportation
- Language proficiency: B1
- Permission to practice the profession has been granted—for doctors, for example, a medical license is a mandatory requirement for a practice permit
- Basic knowledge of the legal and social system and living conditions in Germany
- Adequate living space
If you wish to apply for a settlement permit under Section 18c of the Residence Act (AufenthG), you must submit the following documents:
- Application Form or Online Application
- Valid Passport
- Employment contract, preferably permanent
- The last six pay stubs
- Proof of adequate health insurance coverage
- Lease Agreement and Current Rent Certificate
- Pension insurance history from the German Pension Insurance Fund or a certificate from the State Medical Association
- Original B1 language certificate
- "Life in Germany" Test, Naturalization Test, Certificate of Completion of the Integration Course, High School Diploma, Certificate of a Vocational Degree or College Degree (original)
- For doctors: medical license
Do you hold a residence permit under Section 18g of the Residence Act (Blue Card) and would like to apply for a settlement permit?
The following requirements (§ 18g(2) of the Residence Act) must be met for the permit to be granted:
- Clarification of Identity
- Passport Requirement
- Blue Card holder
- At least 27 months of employment in a position appropriate for a Blue Card, or 21 months if the applicant has B1-level language proficiency
- Securing a Livelihood
- 27 months of mandatory contributions to the German Pension Insurance or the State Medical Association, or 21 months if you have B1-level language proficiency
- No Interest in Deportation
- Permission to practice the profession has been granted—for doctors, for example, a medical license is a mandatory requirement for a practice permit
- Language proficiency at the A1 or B1 level
- Adequate living space
If you wish to apply for a settlement permit under Section 18g(2) of the Residence Act (AufenthG), you must submit the following documents:
- Application Form or Online Application
- Valid Passport
- Employment contract, preferably permanent
- The last six pay stubs
- Proof of adequate health insurance coverage
- Lease Agreement and Current Rent Certificate
- Pension insurance history from the German Pension Insurance Fund or a certificate from the State Medical Association
- Original A1 or B1 language certificate
- For doctors: medical license
Do you hold a residence permit under Section 28 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) and would like to apply for a settlement permit?
The following requirements (§ 28(2) of the Residence Act) must be met for the permit to be granted:
- Clarification of Identity
- Passport Requirement
- Possession of a 3-year residence permit under Section 28 of the Residence Act (AufenthG)
- Securing a Livelihood
- No Interest in Deportation
- Continuation of the family life with the German spouse or minor children
- Language proficiency: B1
If you wish to apply for a settlement permit under Section 28(2) of the Residence Act (AufenthG), you must submit the following documents:
- Application Form or Online Application
- Valid Passport
- Employment contract, preferably permanent
- Employment contract + pay stubs for the spouse, if the spouse is the primary breadwinner
- The last six pay stubs
- Proof of adequate health insurance coverage
- Lease Agreement and Current Rent Certificate
- Original B1 language certificate
Do you hold a residence permit under Section 32 or Section 34 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) and would like to apply for a settlement permit?
The following requirements (§ 35 of the Residence Act) must be met for a permit to be granted:
- Clarification of Identity
- Passport Requirement
- You have a secure source of income, or you are enrolled in a recognized training program that leads to a recognized high school diploma, vocational certificate, or college degree
- You are a minor and have held a residence permit under § 32 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) for five years, or you are of legal age and have held a residence permit under § 32 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) or § 34 of the Residence Act, provided that the residence permit was issued while you were a minor
- No Interest in Deportation
- B1-level language proficiency for adults
If you wish to apply for a settlement permit under Section 35 of the Residence Act (AufenthG), you must submit the following documents:
- Application Form or Online Application
- Valid Passport
- School certificate, apprenticeship contract (including current pay stubs), certificate of enrollment, or employment contract (preferably permanent)
- the last six pay stubs;
- Rent Certificate and Lease Agreement
- Proof of adequate health insurance coverage
- An original B1 language certificate, a high school diploma, or proof of four years of schooling with a grade of at least 4 in German
Do you hold a residence permit under Section 25(1) of the Residence Act (right to asylum) or Section 25(2), sentence 1, of the Residence Act (refugee status) and would like to apply for a settlement permit?
The following requirements (§ 26(3) of the Residence Act) must be met for the permit to be granted:
- Clarification of Identity
- Passport Requirement (Travel Document for Refugees)
- Recognition as a person entitled to asylum or a refugee for at least 3 years
- The review of the revocation by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has been completed
- Holders of a 3-year residence permit if they have C1-level language proficiency, or a 5-year residence permit if they have A2-level language proficiency
- Securing a Livelihood
- No Interest in Deportation
- Language proficiency: C1 or A2
- Basic knowledge of the legal and social system and living conditions in Germany
- Adequate living space
If you wish to apply for a settlement permit under Section 26(3) of the Residence Act (AufenthG), you must submit the following documents:
- Application Form or Online Application
- Valid passport (travel document for refugees)
- Submit all available identity documents in their original form, including translations; if these are not available, the documents may also be obtained through a trusted attorney, if necessary
- Employment contract, preferably permanent
- The last six pay stubs
- Proof of adequate health insurance coverage
- Lease Agreement and Current Rent Certificate
- Original A2 or C1 language certificate
- "Life in Germany" Test, Naturalization Test, Certificate of Completion of the Integration Course, High School Diploma (original)
You hold a residence permit under § 22 of the Residence Act (AufenthG), § 23 of the Residence Act (AufenthG), § 23a of the Residence Act (AufenthG), § 24 of the Residence Act (AufenthG), § 25(2), sentence 2 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) (persons entitled to subsidiary protection), Section 25(3) of the Residence Act, Section 25(5) of the Residence Act, Section 25a of the Residence Act, or Section 25b of the Residence Act, and would like to apply for a settlement permit?
To be granted, the following requirements (Section 26(4) of the Residence Act) must be met:
- Clarification of Identity
- Passport Requirement
- Possession of a residence permit granted on humanitarian grounds
- Has held a residence permit for 5 years
- Securing a Livelihood
- 60 months of mandatory contributions to the German Pension Insurance System
- No Interest in Deportation
- Language proficiency: B1
- Basic knowledge of the legal and social system and living conditions in Germany
- Adequate living space
If you wish to apply for a settlement permit under Section 26(4) of the Residence Act, you must submit the following documents:
- Application Form or Online Application
- Valid Passport
- Employment contract, preferably permanent
- The last six pay stubs
- Proof of adequate health insurance coverage
- Lease Agreement and Current Rent Certificate
- Original B1 language certificate
- "Life in Germany" Test, Naturalization Test, Certificate of Completion of the Integration Course, High School Diploma (original)
- Pension Insurance History from the German Pension Insurance Fund
Would you like to apply for long-term residence in the EU?
The following requirements (§ 9a of the Residence Act) must be met for the permit to be granted:
- The following residence permits are excluded:
- Humanitarian residence permits, excluding § 23(2) of the Residence Act, § 25(1) of the Residence Act, and § 25(2) of the Residence Act
- Asylum seekers
- Residence Permits Under Section 3 (§§ 16–17 of the Residence Act)
- Diplomats
- Employment stays with temporary approval from the Federal Employment Agency (BA)
- Au Pair
- Seasonal workers
- Posted Workers
- Family-Based Residence Permit When the Principal Beneficiary Is in Germany Only Temporarily
- Clarification of Identity
- Passport Requirement
- Possession of a 5-year residence permit
- Securing a Livelihood
- No Interest in Deportation
- Language proficiency: B1
- Basic knowledge of the legal and social system and living conditions in Germany
- Adequate living space
If you wish to apply for permanent residence in the EU under Section 9a of the Residence Act (AufenthG), you must submit the following documents:
- Application Form or Online Application
- Valid Passport
- Employment contract, preferably permanent
- The last six pay stubs
- Proof of adequate health insurance coverage
- Lease Agreement and Current Rent Certificate
- Original B1 language certificate
- "Life in Germany" Test, Naturalization Test, Certificate of Completion of the Integration Course, High School Diploma (original)
- The following residence permits are excluded: