If you are a foreign family member of a German national and have held a residence permit for the purpose of family reunification in Germany for three years, you may, under certain conditions, apply for a permanent residence permit (known as a “Niederlassungserlaubnis”).

Eligible family members include spouses, registered partners, children, and parents of German citizens.

• You are a foreign family member of a German citizen (spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent).

• You have held a residence permit for the purpose of living with a family member in Germany for three years.
• You continue to live with the German citizen as part of a family unit.
• You can support yourself without relying on public assistance.
• You have adequate health insurance.
• You have sufficient knowledge of German (Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
  Please note: If you have a medical condition or disability that prevents you from acquiring the required language skills, you are not required to meet this requirement.
• You have no criminal record.
• There are no grounds for your deportation, and you have not yet received a deportation order.

• You must apply for a settlement permit before your current residence permit expires.
• If you are under 18 years of age, you may not submit the application yourself; instead, you need a representative (usually, the application is submitted by your parents who have legal custody).
• Find out whether your local immigration office allows you to apply online or provides a specific application form.
• If the application can only be submitted 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.
• If you are under 18 years of age, you must be accompanied by at least one legal representative (usually a parent) when you appear in person. In cases of joint custody, both parents must appear together at the office and submit the application for you jointly.
  If one parent cannot appear in person, that parent must issue a written power of attorney to the other parent with custody to submit the application on their behalf.
• 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 produce 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 your settlement permit 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.

• Children who have not yet reached the age of 18 may not file the application themselves but must be represented by a person with legal capacity (for example, a parent with custody).
• The procedure is generally conducted in German.
• Be sure to provide accurate and complete information to the best of your knowledge and belief. This is the only way the Foreigners’ Registration Office can process your request without significant delays.
• Inaccurate or incomplete information can slow down the process and be to your detriment. 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 already granted residence permits, a fine, imprisonment for up to three years, or deportation from German territory.

• 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 (for more information on the deadline):

The application should be received by the Office of Immigration no later than 6 to 8 weeks before the current residence permit expires.

Validity period:

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 of support (e.g., proof of income, pension statement, proof of receipt of benefits such as parental allowance or child allowance, alimony payments).
  Please note : Proof of sufficient means to support yourself may also be provided by third parties (e.g., spouses, registered partners, parents).
• Proof of health insurance coverage (e.g., confirmation of coverage from a health insurance provider or an insurance policy)
• Proof of German language proficiency at least at the B1 level (e.g., language certificate, German school, vocational training, or university transcripts, certificate of successful completion of an integration course)
  . Please note: If there is an illness or disability that prevents the applicant from acquiring the required language skills, this must be documented in an appropriate manner (e.g., a medical opinion from a specialist, proof of residential care)
• For a third-country national who is the parent of a German child: the child’s birth certificate, proof of custody
• For spouses or registered domestic partners: marriage certificate or domestic partnership certificate

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

Fixed fee:

• 56.50 euros for applicants under the age of majority
• 113.00 for adult applicants

Note:

Additional fees may apply for the issuance of the settlement permit in the form of an electronic residence permit (eAT card), which can also be used as an electronic proof of identity.

Lower fees may apply for Turkish nationals.

Forms available: No

Written form required: No

Informal application possible: Yes

Personal appearance required: Yes