Service Finder
Apply for a settlement permit
Service Description
As the holder of a residence permit, you can obtain a permanent residence permit (so-called settlement permit) after five years under certain conditions. The settlement permit is an independent right of residence, independent of the original purpose of residence. It entitles you to pursue gainful employment and is unrestricted in terms of time and place.
If you belong to one of the following groups of people, you can obtain a settlement permit under simplified conditions:
- Skilled workers and researchers,
- self-employed persons,
- EU Blue Card holders,
- Foreign civil servants,
- Foreign family members of Germans,
- Spouses or registered partners of foreign persons with a settlement permit (even if the marriage/registered partnership is dissolved),
- Persons entitled to asylum and recognized refugees,
- Minor children and young adults with residence permits for family or humanitarian reasons who entered Germany before the age of 18,
- Former Germans.
Please inform yourself separately about the requirements for obtaining a residence permit depending on the case constellation.
Process flow
- You must apply for a settlement permit before the validity of your current residence permit expires.
- Find out whether your foreigners authority allows you to apply online or has a special 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 arrange an appointment.
- During the appointment, your identity and documents will be checked (please bring your documents to the appointment, in the original if possible).
- 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 Bundesdruckerei to produce the eAT card. After completion, you will receive information and can collect the eAT card from the responsible office. The eAT card must always be collected in person.
- If your application is rejected, you will receive a notice of rejection.
Competent authority
The foreigners authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence is responsible for processing the application.
Requirements
- You have been in possession of a valid residence permit for at least five years (periods of residence for the purpose of studying or vocational training only count for half of the residence period).
- You and your spouse or registered partner can support yourselves (and your family) independently (including health insurance), i.e. without claiming public benefits. The means of subsistence can also be provided by third parties (e.g. spouses, registered partners, parents).
- An independent means of subsistence is not required if you have an illness or disability that prevents you from securing your own means of subsistence.
- You have paid at least 60 months of compulsory or voluntary contributions to the statutory pension insurance or expenses for an entitlement to comparable benefits from an insurance company. In a marriage or registered civil partnership, it is sufficient if the partner fulfills this requirement. The requirement does not have to be met if the applicant is undergoing training leading to a recognized school or vocational qualification or a university degree. The requirement also does not have to be met if the applicant has an illness or disability that prevents them from earning their own living.
- You have a permanent work permit and, if you work in a regulated profession, the required professional license (e.g. license to practice medicine or professional permit). In a marriage or registered civil partnership, it is sufficient if the partner has the permits.
- You have sufficient knowledge of German (level B1). If you were not entitled to participate in an integration course or were not obliged to participate, simple knowledge of the German language at level A1 is sufficient. Language skills are not required if you have an illness, disability or other reasons that make learning the language permanently impossible or unreasonable.
- You have a basic knowledge of the German legal and social system. The knowledge does not have to be proven if there is an illness, disability or other reasons that make it permanently impossible or unreasonable to acquire the knowledge.
- You have sufficient living space (for yourself and your family).
- You are not in possession of a residence permit for which a settlement permit cannot be issued. These are residence permits according to
- § Section 24 AufenthG (residence permit for temporary protection),
- § Section 25 (4) sentence 1 AufenthG (residence permit for urgent personal or humanitarian reasons),
- § Section 25 (4a) sentence 1 or Section 25 (4b) sentence 1 AufenthG (residence permit for certain victims of crime) or
- § Section 104a (1) sentence 1 AufenthG (probationary residence permit)
- You have no criminal record.
- There is no interest in deporting you.
Which documents are required?
- Recognized and valid identity document (e.g. passport or passport substitute)
- Current biometric photo in passport format (45 x 35 mm)
- Proof of means of subsistence (e.g. proof of income, employment contract, pension certificate, proof of receipt of benefits such as parental or child benefit, maintenance payments) or proof of illness or disability that prevents independent means of subsistence (e.g. by means of a specialist medical opinion, proof of residential care).
- Proof of health insurance cover (e.g. confirmation of health insurance cover or insurance policy)
- Proof of pension contributions (e.g. pension information from Deutsche Rentenversicherung or proof of entitlement to comparable benefits from another insurance or pension institution) or proof of education (e.g. school certificate, certificates) or proof of an illness or disability that prevents independent pension provision (e.g. by means of a specialist medical opinion, proof of institutionalization).
- Professional license (e.g. license to practice medicine, professional permit) if practicing a regulated profession
- Proof of knowledge of the German language at level A1 or B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (e.g. language certificate, German school, training or university certificates or proof of successful participation in an integration course) or proof of illness, disability or other reasons that make learning the language permanently impossible or unreasonable (e.g. by means of a specialist medical opinion, proof of residential care).
- Proof of basic knowledge of the legal and social order in Germany (e.g. certificate or certificate of successful participation in an integration course) or proof of illness, disability or other reasons that make learning the language impossible or unreasonable in the long term (e.g. by means of a specialist medical opinion, proof of residential care).
- Proof of sufficient living space (rental or purchase contract that provides information about the living space)
- If you were obliged to attend an integration course: Certificate of successful participation in the integration course
The documents and information must always be submitted in German. In individual cases, the Immigration Office may require less or further proof.
What are the fees?
Cost amount (fixed):
- 147 for highly qualified persons
- 124 for self-employed persons
- 113 for all other settlement permits
- 56.50 euros for underage applicants
Remark:
The fees vary between the different groups of people and their type of employment.
The time and form of fee collection and payment vary depending on the authority.
Additional fees may apply for the issuing of a settlement permit in the form of an electronic residence permit (eAT card), which can also be used as electronic proof of identity.
Lower fees may apply for Turkish nationals.
In certain cases, fee reductions or exemptions may apply (e.g. persons entitled to asylum, recognized refugees).
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
Application deadline: 6 to 8 weeks
Note: The application should be received by the Foreigners' Registration Office at least six to eight weeks before the current residence permit expires.
Period of validity: The settlement permit is issued for an unlimited period. Only the electronic residence permit (eAT card) is issued for a limited period and must be renewed at the end of its validity.
Processing duration
Duration: approx. 6 to 8 weeks
Note for further information on the processing time:
The processing time may vary depending on the workload at the immigration office.
The production of the electronic residence permit by the Bundesdruckerei takes about 4 to 6 weeks.
Applications / forms
- Action before the court named in the notice of objection if the objection is not upheld
What else should I know?
The following information is available:
- The granting of a settlement permit is at the discretion of the responsible immigration authority. Applicants are therefore only entitled to a discretionary decision.
- The procedure is usually carried out in German.
- A settlement permit may expire if the applicant stays outside Germany for more than six months if this stay abroad was not previously agreed with the foreigners authority.
- All information provided to the Foreigners' Registration Office should be correct and complete to the best of your knowledge and belief so that your application can be processed without major delays.
- Incorrect or incomplete information can slow down the procedure and be detrimental to the person concerned. In serious cases, incorrect or incomplete information that is not completed or corrected in good time vis-à-vis the immigration authority can result in the revocation of previously granted residence rights, a fine, a prison sentence of up to three years or expulsion from the federal territory.
- Due to the complexity of residence law, this description is for information purposes only and is not legally binding.
Author
Ministry of the Interior and Municipal Affairs of the State of Brandenburg, Department 21
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
Technically approved by
Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Municipal Affairs
Professionally released on
27.03.2024
Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6Plus)
