Permanent settlement permit (general) - application - Services - Service Berlin

The permanent settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) is an indefinite residence title that permits all gainful employment.

You have lived legally in Germany for at least 5 years and have a residence permit? Then, you will be granted a settlement permit upon application if you meet the conditions listed under “Prerequisites”.

Exceptions
For certain groups of people, other conditions apply for the granting of a settlement permit:

Skilled workers with residence permit,
Skilled workers with EU Blue Card,
Persons recognized as entitled to asylum and recognized refugees,
Persons entitled to subsidiary protection or holders of a residence permit with a federal approval for admission
Family members of German citizens and
Children aged 16 years or older

Please refer to the respective services in the "More information" section

Procedure
1. Please note the following information before submitting an application:

Please use the Quick-Check first (under “Do it online now") to find out quickly and easily whether your application is likely to be successful.
Check once again whether you meet all the requirements and have the documents and evidence listed in the "Documents" section. Make digital copies of the documents (PDF format) so that you can submit them in the online application.
The online application is extensive, so it takes some time to complete. However, you can interrupt the application at any time, save it temporarily and resume it at a later time.

2. Carry out the online application „Niederlassungserlaubnis allgemein / Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt-EU“

Please have all the necessary documents ready for this in PDF format. Depending on the individual situation, further documents may be required in individual cases.
The total size of your files must not exceed 50 MB. A single file must not exceed 5 MB in size.
Before you can send off the application, you need to pay the service fee.
At the end you will receive a PDF document to confirm your application. This document will certify that your current residence title remains valid in the federal territory beyond the previous validity date. (This does not apply if you hold a Schengen visa (C visa) for a short-term stay).
Please therefore make sure to save this document and print a copy if possible.

3. Once you have carried out the online application, we will check it and then contact you as soon as possible. Where necessary, we will request further documents.

4. If your application is considered to be successful, you will be given an appointment for an in-person interview.

Because of the high number of applications, however, this can take some time. We ask you for your understanding and patience.
Please bring all documents in the original specified in the invitation letter.

Prerequisites

You have reached the age of 18 and are therefore of legal age
Possession of a residence permit for at least 5 years
- Your current residence permit was issued for the purpose of living with a foreign family member, employment, self-employment or freelance work or for humanitarian reasons for a stay that is not merely temporary.
- These periods are also counted towards the possession of a residence permit: Possession of a national visa, an EU Blue Card or a probationary permit (Fiktionsbescheinigung). Half of the period of legal residence for purposes of study or vocational training is taken into account.
- Was your residence permit issued on humanitarian grounds? In this case, periods of asylum proceedings are generally taken into account for up to 2 years. Periods in which only a short-term stay permit (Duldung) was issued cannot be taken into account.
- A settlement permit cannot normally be issued if you hold a residence permit for the purpose of training or studying. This also applies to humanitarian residence permits for a temporary stay (Section 24, Section 25 (4) sentence 1 or Section 25 (4a) AufenthG).
Possession of a residence permit for 3 years: for spouses or same-sex partners of holders of a permanent settlement permit for skilled workers
If your spouse/life partner has a permanent settlement permit in accordance with Section 18c AufenthG, 3 years of holding a residence permit is sufficient under these conditions:
- You live with him/her in a marital partnership.
- You yourself work at least 20 hours per week.
- Your residence permit was not issued on humanitarian grounds.
Secured livelihood through own income
- Your livelihood and that of your close family members (spouse/life partner and children) is secured. You must not receive or be entitled to any benefits from a job center or social welfare office under the second or twelfth German Social Code (such as the Bürgergeld citizen's allowance or social assistance).
- In the case of a domestic partnership in the context of a marriage or same-sex civil partnership, proof of income can also be provided by the spouse or civil partner.
- This requirement is waived if you are permanently unable to secure your livelihood due to physical, mental or psychological illness. A specialist medical certificate is required for this.
Adequate health insurance

You have health insurance in Germany, either in the statutory health insurance system or a comparable private health insurance.
Foreign health insurance is not sufficient. For more information, please read the leaflet.
Old-age provision
- You have paid contributions to the statutory pension insurance scheme for at least 60 months. Expenses for an entitlement to comparable benefits from a private insurance company or a pension institution are also accepted.
- Periods of absence from work due to childcare or care at home are taken into account accordingly if you were in gainful employment before or after this period.
- Self-employed persons can also prove that they have adequate private pension provision through their own assets or business assets.
- In the case of a domestic partnership in the context of a marriage or same-sex civil partnership, proof of old-age provision can also be provided by the spouse or civil partner.
In certain cases: No proof of old-age provision required
- If you are age 67 or
- in the event of a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability as determined by a specialist, or
- if you do not have a humanitarian residence permit and your spouse/partner has a settlement permit in accordance with Section 18c AufenthG, or
- if you do not have a humanitarian residence permit and you are in training leading to a recognised school or vocational qualification or a university degree.
No indications of a threat to public safety or order
- Fines alone can prevent the granting of an permanent settlement permit.
- An application for an permanent settlement permit may not be processed while investigation proceedings are ongoing.
- You pose no threat to the free democratic basic order or the security of the Federal Republic of Germany.
- You are not involved in acts of violence in pursuit of political or religious goals, do not publicly call for the use of violence and do not threaten to do so.
Sufficient command of German
- Sufficient German language skills corresponding to level B 1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
- The fulfilment of this requirement can be proven in particular by successful completion of an integration course.
- Proof of language proficiency is not required if learning German is unreasonable due to a permanent physical, mental or psychological illness. A specialist medical certificate is required for this.
Basic knowledge of the German legal and social order and living conditions in Germany
Basic knowledge is assumed to be present in particular if
- an integration course or the "Living in Germany" orientation course has been successfully completed,
- an educational or vocational qualification was obtained in Germany or
- you have completed at least one year of schooling or vocational training in Germany.
If no corresponding proof can be presented, the basic knowledge will be checked at the interview.
This basic knowledge is not required if it would be unreasonable to expect it to be acquired due to a permanent physical, mental or psychological illness. A specialist medical certificate is required for this.
Sufficient living space

You have sufficient living space for yourself and the family members living with you at home.
Main residence in Berlin

You live in Berlin. A second residence in Berlin is not sufficient.
Current email address

The Berlin Immigration Office will contact you via your current email address. Please also check your spam folder regularly.
For the online application: Consent to the electronic payment process
The following methods of payment are available to you:
- Credit card (Visa, Mastercard)
- Paypal

Documents required

Application for a permanent settlement permit (with Quick-Check)
- only possible online
- You will receive a PDF document to confirm your application. This document will certify that your current residence title remains valid in the federal territory beyond the previous validity date. (This does not apply if you hold a Schengen visa (C visa) for a short-term stay).
- Please therefore make sure to save this document and print a copy if possible.
In the case of an application being filed by an authorised representative: power of attorney stating the subject matter of the procedure
Passport copies (in color)

Copies of the data pages of your passport or passport replacement (with your photo and personal data) are required.
Copy of your current residence title
* If you or your spouse/life partner are employed: Proof of livelihood
- Employment contract,
- Proof of net salary for the last 6 months (wage slips, bank statements),
- current certificate from the employer (not older than 14 days) and
- Pension insurance history
If you or your spouse/life partner work self-employed or freelance: Proof of livelihood
- last tax assessment statement
- completed audit report form (Prüfungsbericht) together with the documents specified therein (the audit report must be completed by a tax consultant, auditor or tax agent) and
- certificate in tax matters from the tax office (see section "More information") and
- For self-employed persons: extract from the commercial register or business registration (if no entry in the commercial register is required)
- For freelancers: Registration as a freelancer with the tax office and chamber of commerce entry (if required)
If you are not gainfully employed: Proof of livelihood
For example:
- Assessment notice for Unemployment Benefit I (Arbeitslosengeld I)
- Pension assessment notice
- Proof of assets
- Notification of receipt of citizen's allowance (Bürgergeld) or social assistance (Sozialhilfe)
- Receipt of BAföG or vocational training allowance
Proof of other benefits

Depending on your life situation, you may need to upload further proof for the online application, for example: Parental allowance, child benefit, housing benefit, child supplement, orphan's pension, integration bonus (Einstiegsgeld), proof of maintenance payments
For pupils, trainees, students: certificates
- School certificate, training certificate or certificate of enrollment
- Training contract
- All school or vocational school certificates
Proof of health insurance in Germany
- for statutory health insurance: electronic health card with photo or an up-to-date confirmation of health insurance
- for private health insurance: certificate from the insurance company that states the type, scope and duration of the insurance. Please tell your insurance company that you need the certificate for a permanent residence title.
Proof of the size and cost of the living space
The floor space and the monthly rent or housing costs of your own property (house or apartment) must be demonstrated as follows.
In the case of a rental property:
- Tenancy agreement (without house rules or other annexes) and
- Proof of the current monthly costs (rent with utility costs included – “Warmmiete”), e.g. bank statements
In the case of an owned property:
- extract from the land register, third section,
- costs of the home-owner charges and
- possible monthly loan costs for the property
Proof of old-age provision
- Pension information from the German Pension Insurance or
- Proof of entitlement to comparable benefits from another insurance or pension institution
- Proof of income from own assets or business assets
After vocational training or studies in Germany: Proof of the degree achieved

Certificates
If you have NOT completed vocational training or a course of study in Germany: Proof of German language skills at level B1 of the CEFR
In particular, the following proof is possible:
- German test for immigrants
- German certificate or another language diploma
- Final test of an integration course
If no written proof is available, language skills will be checked at the interview.
If available: Evidence of knowledge of the German legal and social order
If you have not completed any school or vocational training in Germany, the following proof in particular is possible:
- Final test of an integration course
- Final test of the "Living in Germany" orientation course
- Successfully completed naturalisation test
In the case of physical, mental or psychological illness or disability: Medical certificate

Forms

Audit report form (Prüfungsbericht) for self-employed and freelancers

Fees

56.50 Euro: Processing fee (for the online application)
56.50 Euro: Issuing fee (for in-person appointments)

For Turkish nationals up to the age of 24

11.40 Euro: Processing fee (for the online application)
11.40 Euro: Issuing fee (for in-person appointments)

For Turkish nationals as from the age of 24

18.50 Euro: Processing fee (for the online application)
18.50 Euro: Issuing fee (for in-person appointments)

Note: A refund of the processing fee is not possible in the event that the application is withdrawn if we have already begun to process the application (by examining the required residence time and/or the documents you sent or sending you an appointment for an in-person interview).

Legal basis

Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 9

Average time to process request

You will receive an appointment for an interview if your application is reviewed positively. At the appointment, you will receive written confirmation of lawful residence until issue of the appointed residence title.

Following the appointment, it will take several weeks until the permanent settlement permit is issued as a electronic residence title and can be picked up.

More information

Notes on responsibility

The service can only be used at the Berlin Immigration Office (LEA) at the Friedrich-Krause-Ufer premises.

Your point of contact

Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA)
Berlin Immigration Office, Friedrich-Krause-Ufer
Berlin Immigration Office, Friedrich-Krause-Ufer
Contact
- Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA)
- Berlin Immigration Office, Friedrich-Krause-Ufer
- Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24 , 13353 Berlin
- Tel.: (030) 90269-4000
- Fax: -
- Contact form
- Home page
Explanation of symbols
Elevators in the houses A and C
more information