Settlement permit for former Germans
Former Germans can apply for a settlement permit under certain conditions.
Description
The settlement permit is an unlimited residence title that allows you to live and work in Germany without any time or place restrictions.
Former Germans are entitled to a settlement permit if they have been habitually resident in Germany as Germans for five years when they lost their German citizenship and the application for a settlement permit is submitted within six months of becoming aware of the loss.
To apply and make an appointment, please use our online application form or send us your documents by post. After we have checked everything, you will be given an appointment with us.
Prerequisites
- You are registered in Munich.
- You have a recognised and valid passport.
- You have lost your German citizenship (for example, due to the acquisition of a foreign citizenship upon application or by renunciation).
- If you have lost your German citizenship, you have had your habitual residence as a German in Germany for five years.
- An application for a settlement permit was submitted within six months of becoming aware of the loss.
- Your livelihood is secured.
- You have adequate health insurance cover.
- You have no criminal record.
Required documents
- Fully completed application form
- Valid and recognised passport
- Current biometric passport photo (photo booths can be found at the Foreigners Office)
- Proof of loss of German citizenship (for example: certificate of renunciation, certificate of dismissal or assessment notice from the citizenship authority)
- Proof of acquisition of foreign citizenship (extract from the civil status register or certificate from the consulate general or embassy)
- Proof of five years of habitual residence as a German in the federal territory - you can also apply for an extended registration certificate from the Citizens Office for this purpose
- Proof of benefits such as parental allowance, child benefit, child allowance, childcare allowance, child-raising allowance, under the Maintenance Advance Act can also be enclosed.
- Proof of monthly housing costs. Declaration of domestic community, for rented flats: Rental agreement and statements of account showing the amount of rent or certificate of occupancy. For owner-occupied flats: Purchase contract stating the size of the flat in square metres and proof of instalment payments for loans and monthly housing benefit/house allowance.
Proof of secure livelihood
For employees:
- Salary statements (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 consultancy, current business statement)
- Proof of health insurance
- Business registration (if required under trade law)
- Certificate from the tax office (information on tax matters)
- Declaration of livelihood
Questions & Answers
If you have resided in Germany for less than five years but at least one year before losing your German citizenship, you may be eligible for a residence permit instead of a settlement permit, provided that the application is submitted within six months of becoming aware of the loss.
Gainful employment in Germany is permitted within the application period and, in the case of an application, until the Foreigners Office has made a decision on the application.
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.
As a rule, your residence permit 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).
If you would like to regain German citizenship, you can arrange a counselling appointment.
Legal basis
§ Section 38 (1) AufenthG
§ 5 AufenthG
Kreisverwaltungsreferat
Hauptabteilung II Bürgerangelegenheiten
Ausländerangelegenheiten
Phone
Postal address
Landeshauptstadt München
Kreisverwaltungsreferat
Hauptabteilung II Bürgerangelegenheiten
Ausländerangelegenheiten
Ruppertstraße 19
80466 München
Fax: +49 89 233-27501
Address
Ruppertstraße 19
80337 München
Lagehinweis: Eingang A