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Permanent settlement permit for persons recognized as entitled to asylum and recognized refugees - application
- Have you been recognised by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) as eligible for asylum or as a refugee under the Geneva Refugee Convention?
- Or have you been accepted by Germany as a resettlement refugee?
If you are well integrated linguistically and economically, you can obtain a permanent settlement permit after just 3 years.
You have a residence permit for other humanitarian reasons?
Then you can also obtain a permanent settlement permit after 5 years, but under different conditions. Please refer to the service "Permanent settlement permit (general) - application" (see "More information").
Procedure
1. Please note the following information before submitting an application:
- Please use the Quick-Checks 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 required” section.
- The online application is extensive, so it will take some time to complete. However, you can interrupt the application at any time, save it temporarily and continue at a later date.
- Please have all the necessary documents ready for this in PDF format if possible. However, you can also still photograph and upload the documents during the application process using your smartphone or tablet. The following file formats are accepted: PDF, JPG, JPEG, and PNG. The total size of your files must not exceed 100 MB. A single file must not exceed 7 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.
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.
You can also access this service online
Online processing
Prerequisites
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Possession of a residence permit as an asylum seeker or recognised refugee or resettlement refugee for 3 or 5 years
- Your current residence permit was issued under one of these legal bases: Section 25 (1) or Section 25 (2) (GFK) or Section 23 (4) Residence Act
- You have held the residence permit for at least 3 years. If you have held a residence permit for at least 5 years, it will be easier for you to meet the requirements for language skills and securing a livelihood.
- The periods of an asylum procedure or another permitted stay are also taken into account.
-
There are still grounds for entitlement to asylum or refugee status
BAMF has not informed you that the conditions for revoking or withdrawing your protection status have been met. -
Secured livelihood through own income
- You may not receive or be entitled to any benefits from a job center or social welfare office (such as the Bürgergeld citizen's allowance or social assistance).
- If you do receive such public benefits, these benefits may only account for less than 25% of your total income.
- If you have held a residence permit for 5 years, these benefits may only account for less than 50% of your total income.
- 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.
- With the Quick-Check (under “Do it online now”) you can check free of charge whether your income currently covers your living expenses.
- 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.
- It is also waived if you have already reached the age of 67 and have held the residence permit for at least 5 years.
-
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. -
German language skills
- If you have held a residence permit for 3 years: You must be fluent in German. This corresponds to level C 1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
- If you have held a residence permit for 5 years: You have at least elementary knowledge of the German language (level A 2 of the CEFR).
- 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.
-
No indications of a threat to public safety or order
- Fines alone can prevent the granting of a permanent settlement permit.
- An application for a 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.
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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 orientation course “Living in Germany” has been successfully completed,
- a school or vocational qualification has been obtained in Germany or
- school or vocational training has been completed in Germany for at least one year.
-
Sufficient living space
- You have sufficient living space for yourself and the family members living with you at home.
- Do you live in shared accommodation? If you have sufficient living space, you also meet the requirements.
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Main residence in Berlin
You live in Berlin. A second residence in Berlin is not sufficient. -
Current email adress
The Berlin Immigration Office will contact you via your current email address. Please also check your spam folder regularly.
Documents required
-
Application for a permanent settlement permit for persons recognized as entitled to asylum and recognized refugees (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 "Further 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)
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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
-
In the event of incapacity to work or reduced earning capacity due to a permanent physical, mental or psychological illness
- Assessment notification of pension due to disability or reduced earning capacity or
- Current expert opinion of the German Federal Employment Agency or
- Informative medical certificate from a specialist
-
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 -
Proof of health insurance in Germany
- If you have statutory health insurance: electronic health card (copy front and back) or a current confirmation from the health insurance company
- In the case of private health insurance: certificate from the insurer regarding the scope and costs of the insurance in accordance with § 257 Para. 2a SGB V. Please point out to your insurer 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
- extract from the land register, third section,
- costs of the home-owner charges and
- possible monthly loan costs for the property
-
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 certificates are possible:
- German test for immigrants
- German certificate or another language diploma
- Final integration course test
-
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
Fees
None
Legal basis
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 at least 4 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
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Related services
- Permanent settlement permit (general) - application
- Permanent settlement permit for children aged 16 years or older - application
- Permanent settlement permit for EU Blue Card holders - application
- Permanent settlement permit for family members of German citizens - application
- Permanent settlement permit for persons entitled to subsidiary protection or holders of a residence permit with a federal approval for admission (service)
- Permanent settlement permit for qualified skilled workers - application
- Permanent settlement permit for self-employed persons
- Residence title for former Germans