Settlement permit; application

The settlement permit establishes a permanent right of residence in Germany. It is unlimited in terms of time and territory and may not be subject to any conditions or requirements.

The requirements for obtaining a settlement permit are correspondingly high. In addition to a secure livelihood and sufficient living space, the granting of a settlement permit also requires that the residence permit has been held for five years (as a rule), as well as essentially no criminal record, sufficient knowledge of the German language and basic knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany.

Although the granting of a settlement permit generally requires, among other things, five years' possession of a residence permit, the Residence Act also provides for exceptions. For example, for

• foreign spouses of Germans (usually after 3 years),
• for successful self-employed persons (at their discretion after 3 years),
• Foreigners who are employed as civil servants by a German employer (after 3 years),
• Foreigners who have successfully completed domestic vocational training or a domestic course of study (after two years),
• Holders of a residence permit as a skilled worker (after 3 years).
• Holders of an EU Blue Card (after 27 months of highly qualified employment, with proof of sufficient German language skills already after 21 months; further facilitations apply here for previous stays in member states).
• In special cases, highly qualified persons may be granted a settlement permit as their first title (e.g. scientists with special technical knowledge or specialists).

In addition to the required periods of possession of a residence permit, the other conditions for granting the permit, which vary depending on the case, must also be fulfilled. An application for a settlement permit must be submitted to the local foreigners authority.

Please use our online service via the button above for the "Antrag auf Erteilung eines unbefristeten Aufenthaltstitels (Niederlassungserlaubnis) - Application for a permanent residence permit (settlement permit)".

In the Forms section you will find the "Application for the issue or extension of a residence permit" as a PDF.

The requirements for the granting of a settlement permit differ depending on the purpose of residence.

Prerequisites for the settlement permit issued as a rule include

• that the foreigner has held the residence permit for five years,
• the livelihood is secured,
• the foreign national has made at least 60 months of compulsory or voluntary contributions to the statutory pension insurance scheme,
• the foreigner has sufficient knowledge of the German language,
• he has a basic knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany and
• he has sufficient living space for himself and his family members living with him in the same household.

In addition, the Residence Act provides for special regulations for the granting of a settlement permit for certain residence purposes, some of which have different requirements.

The application should be received by the Foreigners' Registration Office at least six to eight weeks before the current residence permit expires.

Please enquire at your local immigration office. As a rule, however, the following documents are required:

• Application for the issue or extension of a residence permit

  Please fill out the application form in block letters or on a typewriter or computer in German.

  Please check or complete as appropriate. Please do not fill in blank fields.

   

• Settlement permit for highly qualified persons: 147 euros
• Settlement permit for the exercise of a self-employed activity: 124 euros
• Settlement permit in all other cases: 113 euros

• § Section 18c Act on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Territory (Residence Act - AufenthG)

  Settlement permit for skilled workers

• § Section 21 (4) of the Act on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Territory (Residence Act - AufenthG)
• § Section 38 (1) no. 1 Act on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Territory (Residence Act - AufenthG)

  Residence permit for former Germans

• § Section 44 Residence Ordinance (AufenthV)

  Fees for the settlement permit

• § Section 9 Act on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Territory (Residence Act - AufenthG)

  Settlement permit

• §§ Sections 23 (2) and 26 (3) and (4) of the Act on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Territory (Residence Act - AufenthG)

  Residence for reasons of international law, humanitarian or political reasons

• §§ Sections 28 (2) and 35 of the Act on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Territory (Residence Act - AufenthG)

  Stay for family reasons

• Immigration

• Find out whether your foreigners authority allows you to apply online or has a special application form. If you have entered your place of residence, you may be referred to the application form or the online procedure under "Forms" or "Online procedure".
• If the application can only be submitted in person, make an appointment at the Foreigners' Registration Office. If you apply online, the Foreigners' Registration Office will contact you after receiving your application to arrange an appointment.
• Your identity and documents will be checked during the appointment (please bring your documents to the appointment, preferably in the original).
• If your application is approved, your fingerprints will be taken to produce the residence permit in the form of a new electronic residence permit (eAT).
• The Foreigners' Registration Office commissions the Bundesdruckerei to produce the eAT. After completion, you will receive information and can collect your residence permit from the responsible office. This must always be collected in person.
• If your application is rejected, you will receive a rejection notice.

• Residence permit; application for employment under the Western Balkans regulation
• Residence permit; application for the purpose of studying
• EU permanent residence; applying for a permit
• Integration of foreigners; information
• Residence permit; general information
• National visa; application and extension
• EU Blue Card; Application
• Residence permit; application for amendment of the ancillary provisions
• Residence permit; application for gainful employment in Germany
• Residence permit; application for family reunification with foreigners
• Residence permit; application for temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine
• Residence permit; application for the issue of an electronic residence permit
• Residence permit; application for reasons of international law, humanitarian or political reasons
• Residence permit; application for in-company training and further training and school-based vocational training