Settlement permit for family members of Germans

Under certain conditions, family members of Germans can apply for a settlement permit after three years of residence.

Description

The settlement permit is an unlimited residence title that allows you to live and work in Germany without any time or place restrictions.

Spouses and registered partners, children and parents of Germans can obtain a settlement permit after three years of residence if the family partnership with the German person continues.

To apply and make an appointment, please use our online application form or send us your documents and application by post. After we have checked everything, you will be given an appointment with us.

Prerequisites

  • You have been living in Munich for three years with a residence permit to live in a family partnership with a German child, parent, spouse or partner (in accordance with Section 28 (1) AufenthG).
  • The family partnership with the German person has existed for three years and continues to exist in Munich.
  • Your livelihood is secured.
  • You have sufficient knowledge of German (level B 1).
  • You have sufficient health insurance.
  • You have no criminal record.

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
If you are married or in a registered partnership, the proof of livelihood can also be from your partner. In the case of children in education (school, training, university), proof from the parents must be submitted.

For employees

For self-employed/freelancers

  • Proof of profit after tax (last income tax assessment) and
    • For self-employed persons: current profit and loss account from the tax consultant or current business statement,
    • For freelancers: current profit and loss statement from the tax consultant, fee contract, order invoices and account statements for the order invoices
  • Proof of health insurance (insurance card of your statutory health insurance or the insurance policy of a private health insurance company)
  • Business registration (if required under trade law)
  • Declaration of livelihood

Proof of benefits such as parental allowance, child benefit, child supplement, childcare allowance and maintenance can also be enclosed. You must be able to support yourself without public benefits under Social Security Code II or XII (unemployment benefit II or social assistance).

Proof of monthly housing costs:

  • Declaration of domestic community
  • For rented flats: Rental agreement stating the size of the flat in square metres and account statements on the rent amount or a certificate of occupancy
  • 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

  • Five annual school reports
    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.

Duration & Costs

Processing time

20 weeks.

Fees

  • Adults: 113 Euro
  • Children and young people: 55 euros
  • Turkish nationals authorised to associate: 37 euros (from 24 years of age) or 22.80 euros (up to 24 years of age)
  • Costs for sending the electronic residence permit (eAT): 5.70 euros

Payment methods available

Questions & Answers

  • For spouses and life partners: Both spouses/partners must attend the appointment at the Foreigners Office together to submit the required declaration of marital status.
  • The third-country national parent of a German child must have parental authority.

Your settlement permit is still valid even if your previous passport has expired and you have already received a new passport. You will need to show your old and new passports and your previous settlement permit. You can find information on passport transfer here.

Your residence permit usually expires if:

  • You leave the country for a reason that is not only temporary, for example:
    • Attending school abroad
    • Working abroad
    • Caring for a family member abroad
    • Marriage abroad
    • Settling abroad
  • You leave Germany and do not re-enter within six months or a longer period specified by the Foreigners Office (exception: you fulfil a compulsory military service in your home country and re-enter Germany within three months of completing it).

Further information can be found here.

Legal basis

§ Section 28 (2) Residence Act (AufenthG)

Landeshauptstadt München

Kreisverwaltungsreferat
Hauptabteilung II Bürgerangelegenheiten
Ausländerangelegenheiten

Postal address

Landeshauptstadt München
Kreisverwaltungsreferat
Hauptabteilung II Bürgerangelegenheiten
Ausländerangelegenheiten

Ruppertstraße 19
80466 München

Address

Ruppertstraße 19
80337 München

Lagehinweis: Eingang A
Room: Servicepoint, Bereich 31, 3. Stock

By appointment only

Related services

Spouse reunification from abroad

If you have a residence permit for Germany, you can usually allow your foreign spouse/registered partner to join you

Family reunification with EU citizens and nationals from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein

You come from a so-called third country and want to move in with a family member who comes from an EU country or Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

Residence permit for family members of Germans

Foreign family members of Germans receive a residence permit for family reunification.

Reunification of children from abroad

Germans or foreigners who have a residence permit can have their foreign, underage and unmarried children join them.