How to get permanent residence in Germany

Moving to Germany can be a thrilling experience. It’s a nation full of individuals from all walks of life, and the future prospects are limitless in the country. There are lovely cities as well as the beauty of nature. You will have a bright future ahead if you make a move. The disadvantage is that you will have to jump through a few hoops before settling in. Germany is a bureaucratic country, so you will have to undergo a few procedures to get a permanent residence in Germany.

What Exactly Is a German Resident Permit?

If you intend to visit Germany for tourist purposes, you do not need a residency permit. A tourist visa permits you to stay in Germany for up to 90 days to see the nation and its numerous attractions. However, staying beyond the 90-day limit is impossible without residency authorization.

A German residence permit allows you to stay in Germany longer than the standard 90-day period. You can study, work, or participate in other activities in the country throughout that time.

How can you know if you require a residency permit?

Except for EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Lichtenstein citizens, any other foreign nationals wishing to stay in Germany for longer than 90 days must get a residence permit.

Many foreign nationals apply for a residency permit in Germany from their home countries or obtain a Schengen visa to enter Germany for 90 days. However, people from several countries can enter Germany without a visa within the first 90 days and apply for a resident permit from within the country.

Residence Permit Types

Many German residence permits are available depending on your period of stay and the standards you meet. Generally, three residency permits allow you to stay in Germany for varying lengths.

Permit for Temporary Residence

The Temporary Residence Permit or Limited Residence Permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) is intended for shorter stays in Germany, as the name implies. You can only stay in Germany for one year with this residence permit. However, it may extend if your circumstances do not alter and you meet the standards.

Foreign nationals are awarded a Temporary Residence Permit, provided they have a specific purpose for remaining in Germany. When you apply for this form of permit, you must explain why you wish to stay, and the card you receive outlines this. Following that, you are not permitted to engage in any activity not permitted in your residence permit.

For example, applying for a temporary residency visa indicate that you are only permitted to study and not work. The same is true the other way around.

The temporary residence permit is the first form of permission most foreign immigrants obtain. It lays the groundwork for a prolonged stay in Germany. One of the prerequisites for permanent permission is holding the temporary permit for a certain amount of time. Only people with special circumstances can exceed this criterion.

Permit for employment purpose

Finding work in Germany allows you to apply for a temporary residence permit. You can begin your job search in your home country, obtain a Germany Job Seeker Visa, and travel to Germany to look for work. Apply for a temporary residence permit if you are offered a job in the country. You are not permitted to begin working until you have received the document.

Before you can work in Germany with a residence visa, you must first fulfill several requirements. Some of them require German proficiency, and you and your company must demonstrate that the employment post could not be filled by other German citizens, EU citizens, or priority workers. Priority workers are individuals who have lived in Germany for the longest period of time. You must also obtain authorization from the Federal Employment Agency, often known as the Bundesagentur fur Arbeit.

You can apply for a residence permit after receiving approval and meeting the prerequisites. Your job contract determines the length of time you can keep your permit.

Permit for study purpose

Students pursuing an undergraduate, graduate, or vocational degree in Germany are also granted temporary residency permits. They are usually granted a residency permit for the duration of their program. The students can work full-time for 120 days or part-time for 240 days during their study. They can also participate in work-study programs. They cannot, however, enter into long-term commitments.

Students can renew their temporary permission for another 18 months after finishing their degree to find work in Germany. German authorities permit this to keep educated people in the country. If the students find work, they can apply for an Employment Residence Permit.

Permit allotted due to marriage to a German spouse

If you marry a German citizen or someone with a permanent residence permit in Germany, you will be able to stay in the country, but you will still require a residence permit. No single German residence permit is obtained through marriage, but you will be granted permission to remain in the country for family union purposes. Same-sex couples are likewise accepted in Germany and can receive residence permits after marrying.

The qualifications include a good command of the German language at the B1 level, and they are identical to the standards for other types of residence permits. The residence visa will be temporary, but after a few years of marriage (often two years) and three years in Germany, the spouse will be eligible for permanent residency.

The EU Blue Card

The EU Blue Card is comparable to the Temporary Residence Permit. However, it is intended for different people and has a longer validity period. The EU Blue Card is for non-EU nationals who are highly skilled in a profession and wish to work in Germany.

Highly qualified employees have completed a higher education degree, such as a bachelor’s or master’s. Those with an IT or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) background are more likely to be granted the EU Blue Card.

Permanent Residence in Germany-Requirements

To be eligible for permanent residence in Germany, you must have worked as a skilled worker in Germany for at least four years.

You must also meet the following requirements

• You must be able to afford your living expenses without relying on government aid.
• You must have made at least 48 months of contributions to the statutory pension insurance fund (mandatory or voluntary).
• Your employment should be relevant to your academic or vocational training.
• You have at least a B1 level of German.
• You can adequately accommodate yourself and your family members.
• Some, such as German university graduates or highly competent employees, can get permanent residency permits more quickly.

Documents Required to Apply for a Settlement Permit in Germany

• Passport.
• Settlement Permit Application Form (Antrag auf Erteilung der Niederlassungserlaubnis).
• A recent biometric picture. Make sure it follows the German visa picture guidelines.
• Health insurance certificate. If you are enrolled with statutory insurance, submit a confirmation from your provider. If you are enrolled with private health insurance, submit the insurance policy and proof of paid contributions.
• German language proficiency certificate.

For employed individuals

• Employment contract.
• The employer issued the current certificate within the previous 14 days.
• Your salary statements from the previous six months.
• The pension insurance institution certificate.
• For self-employed and freelancers-
• A tax consultant, auditor, or tax agent completes an audit report.
• Your last tax assessment notice.
• Any additional documentation as requested.

For pensioners

• Notice of pension entitlement
• Document of home ownership or a lease agreement. This is to prove you can adequately accommodate yourself and any family members.
• Proof of address registration. You need a Certificate of Registration proving Germany is your main place of residence.
• Notice of pension information issued by the German Pension Fund.
• Proof you have paid your social security contributions.
• German university degree or vocational certificate. If you attended university/training in Germany.
• Marriage Certificate. If you are married to a German national.
• Your professional license. If you are a highly qualified professional.

The Ausländerbehörde could request any additional documents.

Key takeaways

• Germany has a quality education, economic benefits, and, most importantly, excellent opportunities for international highly trained employees.
• Relocating to Germany can be a thrilling experience. It’s full of people from all walks of life, and the future prospects are limitless in the country. It has lovely cities as well as the beauty of nature.
• To get permanent residence in Germany, you must meet some requirements and keep all the necessary documents ready for inspection, which helps you get a visa.

Did you find this blog informative? If so, please share your thoughts in the comments section below. Click here to contact us for more information on permanent residence in Germany. We would be happy to assist you with your queries.

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FAQs

Q1. Does permanent residency in Germany expire?

Ans- Your permanent settlement permit will expire if you leave Germany for more than six months. If you have a permanent residence permit from the EU, it will expire after a 12-month stay outside the EU.

Q2. What are the benefits of PR in Germany?

Ans- The main benefits of Permanent Residency in Germany include the following-

• No visa extension is required.
• Entitlement for any employment, including self-employment.
• Freedom of traveling in the EU/EEA.
• Permission for education and vocational training.
• Guaranteed social security and health insurance.
• Guaranteed social benefits.

Q3. How much salary is required for PR in Germany?

Ans- In Germany, a job post must be compensated with a gross yearly remuneration of at least €56,400. (as of 2022).