GermanyPermanent residence

Open-ended settlement permit in Germany

An open-ended residence permit: the holder works in Germany without restriction. It can be reached through long residence in the country or by a faster route — for skilled workers, EU Blue Card holders, graduates of German universities and the self-employed. The decision is taken by the foreigners' authority, which checks whether the person has enough money of their own, knows German and understands the basics of the legal system. The permit does not need to be renewed.

Visa term

Open-ended

Threshold

The ability to cover living costs without state assistance

Work

The right to take up any employment

Source: gesetze-im-internet.de — § 9 AufenthG (Niederlassungserlaubnis)

Who can apply

German law provides several routes to an open-ended settlement permit. Each route is intended for particular categories of foreign national and has its own requirements as to timing and documents.

Standard route

Foreign nationals living in Germany on a valid residence permit
Those who have made the minimum contributions to the social insurance system
Those with German at level B1 or above
Those with sufficient financial means to support themselves

Accelerated schemes

Skilled workers with a university education or vocational training
EU Blue Card holders
Graduates of German higher education institutions
Researchers working at recognised research institutions

Self-employed persons

Foreign entrepreneurs with an operating business
Freelancers holding the necessary professional licences
People whose activity is demonstrably developing successfully
Those with sufficient income to support a family

Family members

Spouses of German citizens or of Blue Card holders
Children of foreign nationals permanently resident in Germany
Parents of minor children who are German citizens
Family members who meet the conditions on living together

When this programme will not suit you

Foreign nationals with a criminal record or who pose a threat to national security

Consult a lawyer about the possibility of rehabilitation; in some cases an entry ban can be lifted

People unable to support themselves and their family financially

Social benefits and integration programmes; seek employment before applying again

Those who have not reached the required level of German and cannot study

Intensive language courses; postpone the application until the required level is reached

Foreign nationals who have breached the conditions of their temporary residence permit

Put matters right, obtain certificates of good standing and apply again

What it costs

State fee for other categoriesStandard charge for issuing the permanent permit	113 EUR
State fee for highly qualified specialistsHigher charge for expedited handling and priority	147 EUR
State fee for the self-employedReduced rate for people working for themselves	124 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. the “State fee for the self-employed” branch replaces the “State fee for other categories” line — 271 EUR. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	260 EUR

Paid separately

Pension insurance contributions — These are a mandatory condition of eligibility, not a fee for the application itself
Cost of language courses — Borne by the applicant; not included in the fees for the permit

Documents to gather

An application for a permanent permit requires a complete set of documents showing that all the statutory requirements are met.

Valid passport or identity document
Valid residence permit for Germany
Address registration certificate
Documents evidencing financial self-sufficiency (statement of income, bank statements)
Statement from the social insurance system showing the level of contributions
Certificate or diploma showing German at level B1
Documents showing successful completion of an integration course (where applicable)
Proof of sufficient living space
Criminal record certificate
Birth certificate (a copy with a certified German translation)
Marriage certificate (where applicable)
Health insurance certificate

How the process runs

Obtaining the permanent permit runs through several stages, each requiring documents to be prepared and dealings with the relevant authorities.

1
Preparing documents and gathering evidence
3-6 weeks
Collect all the required documents. If your record of pension insurance contributions is incomplete, contact the social insurance office for a supporting statement. Foreign documents must be translated into German by a certified translator.
2
Booking an appointment at the foreigners' authority
1-2 weeks
In most cities an appointment must be booked in advance through the online booking system or by telephone. Check the booking procedure with your local office, as it varies from region to region.
3
Filing the application and handing in the documents
1 day
On the appointed day attend the foreigners' authority with all the documents and the original language certificate. An officer will check that the file is complete and accept your application.
4
Checking the documents and clarifying information
4-8 weeks
The authority checks that all the conditions are met. During this period you may be asked to provide further certificates or to clarify information by telephone. The office may request a statement from your employer about your length of service.
5
Decision and issue of the permit
2-4 weeks
Once the decision is positive you will be invited to collect the document itself — the permanent residence permit. The state fee is paid on collection. The document is issued as a plastic card stating that the residence status is unlimited in time.

Who you can bring with you

Family members can obtain a permanent permit on simplified conditions if they are in a particular family relationship with a person entitled to such a permit.

Spouse of a German citizen

At least three years of living together; a valid residence permit; no security concerns; compliance with the conditions on financial self-sufficiency

Spouse of an EU Blue Card holder

Three years on a temporary permit provided they work at least 20 hours a week; German at A1; compliance with the other requirements as to accommodation and finances

Minor child of a foreign national

A permanent permit may be issued without the five-year waiting period if one parent holds the corresponding status; exceptions are possible for children of German citizens

Parents of minor children who are German citizens

May obtain an accelerated permit where they have custody of the child; the language requirements may be relaxed in order to keep the family together

Trips, renewal and the grace period

The general period is 3 years on a residence permit under § 18a/18b/18d/18g with German at B1 and 36 months of pension insurance contributions. For the EU Blue Card — 27 months of qualified work with German at A1, or 21 months with B1. For graduates of German universities — 2 years on a skilled worker permit with 24 months of contributions, German at B1 and basic knowledge of the legal and social system. For the self-employed — 3 years of self-employed activity

The permanent residence permit is an open-ended document and does not need to be renewed or extended. Once issued it remains in force indefinitely, provided the holder does not breach the law or the conditions of residence. The physical document does, however, have an expiry date (usually a few years, as with a passport), and in that case the plastic card may need to be replaced. Replacing the document is a technical formality unrelated to any review of the status or of the right of residence.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Open-ended settlement permit	Political asylum	Refugee status
Visa term	Open-ended	Residence permit usually for 3 years; renewed while the grounds remain	Residence permit for 3 years; renewable; may be revoked if conditions improve
Grounds	Open-ended residence permit with the right to take up any employment	State persecution	Persecution
Money	The ability to cover living costs without state assistance	Support under the AsylbLG during the procedure	Support under the AsylbLG during the procedure
Work	The right to take up any employment	After recognition and the 3-year residence permit — full access to the labour market	Full access to the labour market after recognition

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to citizenship

Naturalisation after 5 years of residence

Frequently asked questions about Open-ended settlement permit

How long does it take to process an application for a permanent permit?

Processing usually takes from six to four months from the date all the necessary documents are filed. The time may vary depending on how complete the file is, the region where it is filed and the current workload of the foreigners' authority. If the authority requires further certificates, the processing time may be longer.

Can a person work with a permanent residence permit?

Yes, the permanent permit carries the right to take up any employment in Germany without restriction. The holder may work as an employee, become self-employed, practise a liberal profession or set up their own business. It is worth checking with an employer only to clarify the specific documents needed for a particular position.

What level of German is required for a permanent permit?

Level B1 (independent user) is normally required, meaning the ability to understand the main points of clear standard speech and take part in simple conversations. There are exceptions: people with physical or mental impairments who cannot reach this level may have the requirement waived. Graduates of German educational institutions may also be exempt from it.

What happens if I cannot make the required pension insurance contributions?

If you cannot make the required monthly contributions because of unemployment, disability or other reasons, the authority may consider alternative documents evidencing financial self-sufficiency, such as private pension savings or state benefits. Concessions are also possible for people raising children or caring for elderly family members, where the time spent caring may count towards the overall period.

Can I travel abroad with a permanent residence permit?

Yes, with a permanent residence permit you can leave Germany and return freely. When travelling within the Schengen area it is advisable to carry the valid permit, and a visa may be required for travel outside Schengen. After a long absence (more than several months in a row) it is worth checking with the competent authorities whether this breaches the law.

Other ways to move to Germany

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Germany.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.