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Settlement permit
Settlement permit

You've already spent a few years working and living in Germany? Awesome - Check this article if a permanent residence permit is possible!

Rowan avatar
Written by Rowan
Updated over 2 years ago

What is it?

The Settlement Permit (German: Niederlassungserlaubnis) is a type of residence permit otherwise known as the "permanent residence".

General requirements

  • you own a residence permit for at least five years

  • you earn enough salary to cover your costs of living

  • you have German health insurance

  • you paid at least 60 months into the pension fund

  • you have permission to work

  • you have a German language certificate Level B1

Blue Card EU owners

Owners of the Blue Card EU can apply for the settlement permit with a German language certificate Level A1 after 33 months of qualified employment. If the owner of the Blue Card has a German language certificate Level B1, the settlement permit can be requested after 21 months of qualified employment. The pension fund payment shortens to the respective time-frame.

Graduates of a German University

Graduates of German Universities can apply for the settlement permit after two years of qualified employment. The employment must comply in the respective field of study.

Required documents

When applying for the settlement permit, following documents need to be handed in:

  • passport and current residence permit

  • settlement permit application form

  • payslips of the last 6 months

  • work contract

  • employment confirmation (not older than 14 days)

  • pension insurance history

  • German health insurance confirmation

  • registration confirmation (Meldebescheinigung)

  • rental contract or sales contract if house or apartment is owned

  • German language certificate

  • University degree + anabin

How to schedule appointments & apply

Your Case Manager will request the appointment to apply for the settlement permit at the local immigration office for you.

When requesting the appointment we already send all required documents digitally to the immigration offices. This means you usually do not have to go to the appointment carrying all your documents with you. Although waiting times and procedures vary from city to city. Your Case Manager will inform you what you will need to take to the appointment once it has been booked. If wait times are taking too long and your visa expires, don't worry as long as the application was submitted before the expiration date, you are in the clear. Only traveling outside Germany is not possible with an expired visa. In such cases a "Fiktionsbescheinigung" can be requested. These function as visa extensions and can be picked up at the immigration office on request.

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