Permanent settlement permit for family members of German citizens - application - Services - Service Berlin

You have held a residence title for at least 3 years and have been living in a family unit with a German spouse or same-sex partner, minor child or parent since then?

Then, you will be granted a permanent settlement permit upon application if you meet the conditions listed under “Prerequisites”.

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" 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 Familienangehörige von Deutschen“

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

Legal stay in Germany for at least 3 years with a residence title

Residence titles in this sense are in particular: national visa, residence permit and EU Blue Card.
Family unit with a German national
- The German family member can be your spouse or same-sex partner, your minor child or a parent.
- The family unit with the German must have existed without interruption for at least 3 years and must continue to exist in Germany.
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.
- 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.
Adequate health insurance

You and the family members living with you are insured against the risk of illness, either in the statutory health insurance or in a comparable private health insurance. Foreign health insurance is not sufficient. For more information, please read the leaflet.
No interest in expulsion
- 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.
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.
- Did you already have a residence permit before 06.09.2013 due to your German family member? Then, you only need basic knowledge of the German language (level A 1 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.
Main residence in Berlin during the residence for research purposes

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.
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 for family members of German citizens (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.
If you are married: Copy of the personnel document of your spouse/life partner

For example passport or identity card
Copy of your current residence title
If you are married: copy of the marriage certificate
If you are the parent of a minor German child: copy of the birth certificate
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)
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 and long-term care insurance in Germany
- for statutory health insurance: 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 German language skills at level B 1 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

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) § 28 para. 2

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
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