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?

In this case, you will be granted a permanent settlement permit after 5 years and upon application if you meet the requirements.

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-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 für Asylberechtigte und anerkannte Flüchtlinge“

• 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

• 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.
  • 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.
• 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.

  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.
  • Do you live in shared accommodation? If you have sufficient living space, you also meet the requirements.
• 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.

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 "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
• 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
  
  • 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
• 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 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

Forms

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

Fees

None

Legal basis

• Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 26 Abs. 3

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

• Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
• Health insurance leaflet (Berlin Immigration Office)
• Certification of tax-related matters (service)
• Permanent settlement permit (general) - application (service)

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

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