Permanent settlement permit for self-employed persons

If your residence permit has been issued for self-employed entrepreneurial activities, you may be granted a permanent settlement permit after 3 years.

In particular, in order to be eligible, you

• must have established your enterprise successfully, and
• the income generated must be sufficient to maintain yourself and the members of your family.

Prerequisites

• Application in writing
  
  Please file an application with the Berlin Immigration Office. You will either receive an invitation for a personal interview or a notification of charges.
  Please enclose with your application a copy of the documents specified in the section “Documents required”.
• A 3-year residence permit for an entrepreneurial activity (not a freelance activity)
  
  Your residence permit must have been issued pursuant to § 21 subs. 1 or subs. 2a AufenthG for self-employed entrepreneurial activities.
  
  If you are a freelancer and your residence permit has been issued pursuant to § 21 subs. 5 AufenthG, you may be granted a permanent settlement permit at the earliest after 5 years and subject to other requirements. For more information, please refer to the section “More information”.
• Adequate income
  
  The income generated by your entrepreneurial activities must be sufficient to maintain yourself and the members of your family. Income generated by members of your family or profits from capital may not be considered.
• Sufficient health insurance
  
  Secured means of support include an adequate health insurance for you and the members of your family:
  

  • If you have a statutory health insurance, you are adequately insured.
  • If you have a private health insurance, please make sure that type and scope of your health insurance are adequate.

  For more information, please read the Leaflet on the Health Insurance (under “Forms").
• Old-age provision
  
  When reaching the age of 67, you must
  

  • either receive a monthly pension of no less than EUR 1,332.36 (for at least 12 years),
  • or have assets in the amount of EUR 194,631.00.
• No criminal record
  
  Even fines may prevent the granting of a permanent settlement permit.
• Main residence in Berlin
  

Documents required

• Valid passport, together with your residence permit
  Your residence permit must have been issued pursuant to § 21 subs. 1 or subs. 2a AufenthG.
  If you are a freelancer, you may be granted a permanent settlement permit at the earliest after 5 years.
  For more information, please refer to the section “More information”.
• 1 current biometric photo
  35mm x 45mm, frontal shot with neutral facial expression and closed mouth, looking straight into the camera, light background
• Form "Antrag auf Erteilung einer Niederlassungserlaubnis"
• Form "Prüfungsbericht" (filled out)
  Together with the documents listed therein, e.g. extract from the Commercial Register.
  The audit report must be completed by a tax consultant, auditor or tax agent.
• Lease or proof of home ownership
  Proofs of living space and of monthly rent or cost of housing of own property (house or apartment) have to be supplied.
• Health insurance
  Please submit either the insurance card issued by your statutory health insurance, or the insurance policy issued by a private health insurance company.
• Old-age provision
  You can provide evidence of adequate retirement benefits (see section "Prerequisites") by:
  

  • a private pension or life insurance,
  • own assets,
  • acquired pension rights or
  • operating assets
• Integration course certificates
  • "Zertifikat Integrationskurs" (Integration Course Certificate) about the successful participation in the integration course or
  • Certificate of the results obtained in the final tests of the Integration Course
• Proof of main residence in Berlin
  • Certificate of registration at the main residence or
  • lease and written confirmation of occupancy from the landlord

Forms

• Application for the issue of a permanent settlement permit
• Audit report form (Prüfungsbericht) for entrepeneurs, self-employed persons and freelancers
• Leaflet "Health insurance"

Fees

Legal basis

• Section 21 para 4 Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG)

More information

• Permanent settlement permit (general)
• Certificate of registration at the main residence (Meldebestätigung)
• Example: confirmation of occupancy from the landlord

Responsible authorities