Apply for a settlement permit

Description

The settlement permit is an unlimited residence title that allows you to live and work in Germany without any time or place restrictions. You will usually receive the settlement permit after a five-year stay in Germany.

Registering your place of residence

You must first register your main place of residence in Munich at the Citizens Office.

Prerequisites

• You have been living in Germany for five years with a residence permit (previous periods of study and training are counted as half).
• You have a valid residence permit that was not issued for a temporary purpose (such as studying or training).
• Your livelihood is secured.
• You have adequate health insurance.
• You have sufficient pension provision (at least 60 months of compulsory or voluntary contributions to statutory pension insurance or comparable benefits).
• You have sufficient living space for yourself and your family members.
• You have sufficient knowledge of German (level B1) and basic knowledge of the legal and social system in Germany.
• You have no criminal record.

Different requirements apply for the following stays:

• Skilled workers
• EU Blue Card
• Particularly highly qualified skilled workers
• Civil servants
• Recognised persons entitled to asylum, refugees and resettlement refugees
• International law, humanitarian or political reasons
• Children aged 16 and over
• Family members of Germans
• Separated spouses of foreign nationals with permanent residence permits
• Former Germans

Required documents

• Fully completed application for a permanent residence permit
• Valid passport or passport substitute
• Current biometric passport photo (photo booths are available at the Foreigners Office)

Proof of secure means of subsistence and accommodation:

In the case of family cohabitation in a marriage or registered civil partnership, the proof of livelihood and pension provision can also be provided by the spouse or civil partner.

For employees

• Pay slips (certificates of earnings for the last three months)
• Confirmation of the employment relationship
• Declaration of livelihood

For self-employed/freelancers

• Proof of profit after tax (last income tax assessment, current profit and loss account from tax advisor)
• Proof of health insurance
• Business registration (if required under trade law)
• Certificate from the tax office (information on tax matters)
• Declaration of livelihood

Proof of benefits such as parental allowance, child benefit, child supplement, childcare allowance and maintenance can also be enclosed.

Proof of sufficient pension provision:

• Waiting period information from the German Pension Insurance (at least 60 months of compulsory or voluntary contributions to statutory pension insurance). Information on the waiting period information can also be obtained from the municipal insurance office in the district administration department.

or

• Proof of entitlement to comparable benefits from an insurance or pension institution or an insurance company.

Proof of sufficient living space:

• Declaration of domestic community
• For rented flats: Tenancy agreement stating the size of the flat in square metres and account statements showing the amount of rent

or

• Housing certificate

or

• For owner-occupied flats: Purchase contract stating the size of the flat in square metres and, if applicable, proof of instalment payments for loans and monthly housing benefit/house allowance.

Proof of sufficient knowledge of German and basic knowledge of the legal and social system in Germany:

• Proof of successful participation in an integration course

or

• Certificate from a German school, training or university degree

or

• Certificate of German language proficiency according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) at least at level B1

or

• other proof of language proficiency

Further documents may be required in individual cases.

Legal basis

§ Section 9 Residence Act