As the holder of a residence permit, you may, under certain conditions, obtain a permanent residence permit (known as a “settlement permit”) after five years. The settlement permit constitutes an independent right of residence that is separate from the original purpose of your stay. It entitles you to engage in gainful employment and is unlimited in terms of time and location.
If you belong to one of the following groups, you may be eligible to receive the settlement permit under simplified conditions:

• Skilled workers and researchers,
• Self-employed individuals,
• holders of the EU Blue Card,
• Foreign civil servants,
• Foreign family members of German citizens,
• Spouses or registered domestic partners of foreign nationals with a settlement permit (even if the marriage or registered domestic partnership has been dissolved),
• Asylum seekers and recognized refugees,
• Minor children and young adults with residence permits granted on family or humanitarian grounds who entered Germany before turning 18,
• Former German citizens.

Please consult the specific eligibility requirements applicable to your individual circumstances.

• You have held a valid residence permit for at least five years (periods of residence for the purpose of studying or vocational training count only as half when determining the total length of residence).
• You and your spouse or registered partner can independently provide for your own livelihood (including health insurance) for yourselves (and your family)—that is, without relying on public benefits. Living expenses may also be covered by third parties (for example, spouses, registered partners, or parents).
• Providing for one’s own living expenses is not required if you have an illness or disability that prevents you from doing so independently.
• You have made at least 60 months of mandatory or voluntary contributions to the statutory pension insurance system or paid premiums to qualify for comparable benefits from an insurance company. In a marriage or registered domestic partnership, it is sufficient if the partner meets this requirement. This requirement does not need to be met if the applicant is enrolled in a training program leading to a recognized school or vocational qualification or a college degree. Proof of this requirement is also not necessary if the applicant has an illness or disability that prevents them from supporting themselves.
• You hold a permanent work permit and, if you work in a regulated profession, the required professional license (for example, a medical license or professional permit). In a marriage or registered domestic partnership, it is sufficient for the partner to hold these permits.
• You have sufficient knowledge of German (Level B1). If you were not eligible to participate in an integration course or were not required to do so, a basic knowledge of the German language at the A1 level is sufficient. You are not required to demonstrate these language skills if you have a medical condition, disability, or other reasons that make learning the language permanently impossible or unreasonable.
• You have a basic understanding of the German legal and social systems. You are not required to provide proof of this understanding if an illness, disability, or other reasons make acquiring this knowledge permanently impossible or unreasonable.
• You have sufficient living space (for yourself and your family).
• You do not hold a residence permit for which a settlement permit cannot be granted. These are residence permits under
  • Section 24 of the Residence Act (residence granted for temporary protection),
  • Section 25(4), first sentence, of the Residence Act (residence permit for urgent personal or humanitarian reasons),
  • Section 25(4a), first sentence, or Section 25(4b), first sentence, of the Residence Act (residence permit for certain victims of criminal offenses), or
  • Section 104a(1), first sentence, of the Residence Act (residence permit on probation)
• You have no prior criminal convictions.
• There are no grounds for deportation against you.

• You must apply for a settlement permit before your current residence permit expires.
• Find out whether your immigration office allows you to apply online or provides a specific application form.
• If you can only apply in person, make an appointment at the immigration office. If you apply online, the immigration office will contact you after receiving your application to schedule an appointment.
• During the appointment, your identity and documents will be verified (please bring your documents to the appointment, preferably the originals).
• If your application is approved, your fingerprints will be taken to issue the settlement permit in the form of a new electronic residence permit (eAT card).
• The Foreigners’ Registration Office will commission the Federal Printing Office to produce the eAT card. Once it is ready, you will be notified and can pick up the eAT card at the appropriate office. The eAT card must generally be picked up in person.
• If your application is denied, you will receive a notice of denial.

Please note the following:     

• The granting of a settlement permit is at the discretion of the competent immigration authority. Applicants are therefore only entitled to a decision that is free from errors of discretion.
• The procedure is generally conducted in German.
• A settlement permit may expire if the applicant stays outside Germany for more than six months, unless this stay abroad was previously coordinated with the immigration office.
• All information provided to the immigration office should be accurate and complete to the best of your knowledge and belief so that the application can be processed without significant delays.
• Inaccurate or incomplete information can slow down the proceedings and be detrimental to those involved. In serious cases, incorrect or incomplete information that is not supplemented or corrected in a timely manner with the Foreigners’ Registration Office may result in the revocation of residence rights already granted, a fine, imprisonment for up to three years, or deportation from German territory.
• Due to the complexity of residence law, this description is provided for informational purposes only and is not legally binding.

• Appeal against the decision of the Immigration Office
• Lawsuit before the court specified in the notice of decision on the appeal, if the appeal is denied

Application deadline: 6 to 8 weeks

Note: The application should be received by the Office of Foreigners no later than six to eight weeks before the current residence permit expires.

Validity: The settlement permit is granted for an indefinite period. Only the electronic residence permit (eAT card) is issued for a limited period and must be renewed upon expiration.

Duration: approx. 6 to 8 weeks

Note for further information on processing time:

The processing time may vary depending on the workload of the immigration office.

It takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks for the Federal Printing Office to produce the electronic residence permit.

The immigration office responsible for the applicant's place of residence is responsible for processing the application.

• A recognized and valid form of identification (such as a passport or passport substitute)
• A recent biometric passport-sized photo (45 x 35 mm)
• Proof of sufficient means to support yourself (e.g., proof of income, employment contract, pension notice, proof of receipt of benefits such as parental allowance or child support, alimony payments) or proof of an illness or disability that prevents you from supporting yourself independently (for example, through a medical specialist’s statement or proof of placement in a residential facility).
• Proof of health insurance coverage (e.g., confirmation from the health insurance provider regarding coverage or an insurance policy)
• Proof of contributions made to a retirement plan (e.g., pension statement from the German Pension Insurance or proof of entitlement to comparable benefits from another insurance or pension provider) or proof of education (e.g., school certificate, transcripts) or proof of an illness or disability that prevents the individual from making independent retirement savings (e.g., through a specialist medical opinion, proof of placement in a residential facility).
• Professional license (e.g., medical license, professional authorization) if practicing a regulated profession
• Proof of German language proficiency at the A1 or B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (e.g., language certificate, German school, vocational training, or college transcripts, or proof of successful completion of an integration course) or proof of an illness, disability, or other reasons that make learning the language permanently impossible or unreasonable (e.g., a medical specialist’s opinion, proof of placement in a residential facility).
• Proof of basic knowledge of the legal and social system in Germany (e.g., a certificate or attestation of successful completion of an integration course) or proof of an illness, disability, or other reasons that make learning the language permanently impossible or unreasonable (for example, through a medical specialist’s statement or proof of residential care).
• Proof of adequate living space (rental or purchase agreement that specifies the living area)
• If there was an obligation to participate in the integration course: a certificate of successful completion of the integration course

The documents and information must generally be submitted in German. In individual cases, the Foreigners’ Registration Office may require fewer or additional documents.

Fees

• 113 euros
• Settlement permit for self-employed persons: €124
• Settlement permit for highly qualified persons: €147

Notes:

• For minors, we charge half the fees, which is usually 55 euros.
• Under certain circumstances, we do not charge any fees.