Settlement Permit (Permanent Residence)

• Possession of a residence permit for 5 years
• You have paid contributions into the statutory pension scheme or another pension scheme with comparable benefits for 5 years
• you may engage in employment and have all the necessary permits for this
• You have adequate knowledge of the German language (level B1) as well as basic knowledge of the German legal and social order and living conditions in the Federal Republic (e.g. with a completed orientation course certificate "Life in Germany")
• You can provide adequate accommodation for you and your family members

The following documents must be submitted to ensure the fast and smooth processing of your application:

• Valid national passport and residence permit
• Application form
• 1 biometric passport photo
• Proof that you can provide for yourself (employment contract, certificate of employment and statement of earnings, at least the last 3 wage / salary slips)
• Proof of where you live and a rental agreement
• Proof of basic knowledge of the legal and social order,*
• proof of adequate knowledge of the German language (language level B1)*
• Proof of compulsory or voluntary contributions made over a 60-month period into the statutory pension scheme or a similar pension scheme,
• If applicable, proof of the permit required to engage in employment (e.g. lawyers, notaries, etc.)
• Declaration regarding previous convictions / social security benefits

* e.g. with a completed orientation course certificate “Life in Germany” or german school leaving certificate

Further requirements may have to be fulfilled in addition to the above-mentioned points. The final processing of your application will only be considered if all documents are submitted in full.

The following additional requirements are necessary in addition to the general conditions for granting a settlement permit:

• You have an EU blue card,
• you have engaged in employment for at least 33 months* in accordance to the Blue Card regulations and
• paid compulsory or voluntary contributions into the statutory pension scheme or been entitled to comparable benefits during this period,
• you may engage in employment and have all the necessary permits for this,
• you have basic knowledge of the German language (language level A1) as well as basic knowledge of the German legal and social order and
• you can provide adequate accommodation for you and your family members.   

* The period is reduced to 21 months with proof of knowledge of the German language at level B1.

The following documents must be submitted to ensure the fast and smooth processing of your application:

• Valid national passport and residence permit,
•   PDF-File 366,51 kBApplication form
• 1 biometric passport photo
• Declaration regarding previous convictions / social security benefits
• Proof that you can provide for yourself (employment contract, certificate of employment and statement of earnings, at least 3 wage / salary slips)
• Proof of where you live and a rental agreement,
• proof of contributions made over a 33 or 21-month period into the statutory pension scheme or another pension scheme
• Proof of language skills (level A1 or B1)

The following additional requirements are necessary in addition to the general conditions for granting a settlement permit:

• You have had a residence permit for 3 years for family-related reasons
• You live with a German citizen in a family community in the Federal Republic or you and a German citizen live in a community for mutual support and care
• You have a permit to engage in employment*
• You have paid contributions into the statutory pension scheme or another pension scheme with comparable benefits for five years*
• You may engage in employment and have all the necessary permits for this*
• You have adequate knowledge of the German language (language level B1); 
  exception: proof of basic knowledge of the German language (language level A1) is sufficient for family members who already had a residence permit in accordance with § 28 Para. 1 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) on 05.09.2013
• You can provide adequate accommodation for you and your family members

*It will suffice if the conditions are fulfilled by one spouse in the case of spouses in a martial relationship.

The following documents must be submitted to ensure the fast and smooth processing of your application:

• Valid national passport and residence permit
• Application form  PDF-File 534,22 kB
• 1 biometric passport photo
• Declaration regarding your marital relationship / civil partnership or community for mutual support and care (if applicable, proof that you are involved in a community for mutual support and care)
• Declaration regarding previous convictions / social security benefits
• Proof that you can provide for yourself (employment contract, certificate of employment and statement of earnings, at least the last 3 wage / salary slips)
• Proof of where you live and a rental agreement
• If applicable, proof of the permit required to engage in employment (e.g. lawyers, notaries, etc.)

The following additional requirements are necessary in addition to the general conditions for granting a settlement permit  :

• You are between 16 or 18 years old
• You have had a residence permit for 5 years for family-related reasons
• At the age of consent: You have adequate knowledge of the German language (level B1), you can provide for yourself or you are in training leading to a recognised educational or vocational qualification or degree
• There is no reason to deport you based on your personal behaviour
• You have not been sentenced to a term of youth custody of at least six months in the last three years or a term of imprisonment of at least 3 months or a fine equivalent to 90 days' income
• You do not receive any benefits in accordance with the second or twelfth code of the Social Code (exception: when attending training with a recognised school educational or vocational qualification)

The following documents must be submitted to ensure the fast and smooth processing of your application:

• Valid national passport and residence permit
• Application form
•  1 biometric passport photo PDF-File 1,38 MB
• Declaration regarding previous convictions / social security benefits
• Proof that you can provide for yourself including proof of where you live and a rental agreement or proof of training/school
• If applicable, proof of adequate knowledge of the German language (through school leaving certificate)

The following additional requirements are necessary in addition to the general conditions for granting a settlement permit:

• You have had a residence permit for 5 years
• You have paid contributions into the statutory pension scheme or another pension scheme with comparable benefits for 5 years
• For people over the age of 45: Proof of appropriate pension provision
• You may engage in employment and have all the necessary permits for this (e.g. licence to run a restaurant and sell alcoholic beverages and food, entry in the register of craftsmen)
• You have adequate knowledge of the German language as well as basic knowledge of the German legal and social order and living conditions in the Federal Republic
• You can provide adequate accommodation for you and your family members

The following documents must be submitted to ensure the fast and smooth processing of your application:

• Valid national passport and residence permit
• Application form
• 1 biometric passport photo
• Declaration regarding previous convictions / social security benefits
• Proof of adequate knowledge of the German language as well as knowledge of the legal and social order (certificate from an integration course)
• Proof that you can provide for yourself (last tax assessment, profit and loss account, recent confirmation from your tax adviser of your net income for the last six months)
• Proof of where you live and a rental agreement
  Proof of contributions made over a 60-month period into the statutory pension scheme or another pension scheme
• If applicable, proof of the permit required to engage in employment (e.g. lawyers, notaries, etc.)
• For people over the age of 45: Proof of appropriate pension provision

 Note: Further requirements may have to be fulfilled in addition to the above-mentioned points. The final processing of your application will only be considered if all documents are submitted in full.

Exceptions to this are possible. Therefore, please always contact your Foreigners' Registration Office in good time in specific individual cases.

The following additional requirements are necessary in addition to the general conditions for granting a settlement permit:

• You have had one of the following residence permits for two years:
  • Residence permit for the purpose of employment
  • Residence permit for qualified people with toleration status for the purpose of employment
  • EU Blue Card
  • Residence permit for the purpose of engaging in self-employed work

• You have a job in line with your degree,
• You may engage in employment and have all the necessary permits for this
• You have adequate knowledge of the German language (language level B1) as well as basic knowledge of the German legal and social order and
• you have paid contributions into the statutory pension scheme or another pension scheme with comparable benefits for 24 months

The following documents must be submitted to ensure the fast and smooth processing of your application:

• Valid national passport and residence permit
• Application form
• 1 biometric passport photo
• Declaration regarding previous convictions / social security benefits
• Proof that you can provide for yourself (employment contract, certificate of employment and statement of earnings, at least your last 3 wage / salary slips)
• Proof of an appropriate job
• Proof of where you live and a rental agreement
• Proof of contributions made over a 24-month period into the statutory pension scheme or another pension scheme
• If applicable, proof of the permit required to engage in employment (e.g. lawyers, notaries, etc.)
• Degree certificate from a German university or from your vocational training