A settlement permit in Germany
The open-ended status: no expiry date, no tied purpose, any work allowed, and the road to citizenship opens. Five years on a residence permit as a rule — faster for skilled workers and Blue Card holders.
- Skilled workers holding a residence permit under § 18a
- 18b
- 18d or 18g AufenthG
Years under §24 do not count towards the five, and the application will not be accepted on that status. First the switch to a work or family permit — the clock starts there.
Student years count at half rate, and while you hold a student permit the general route is closed anyway. Graduates of German universities have a faster road: two years working as a skilled worker and 24 months of contributions.
Who it suits
- Skilled workers holding a residence permit under § 18a
- 18b
- 18d or 18g AufenthG
- EU Blue Card holders
- Graduates of German universities
- The self-employed
- People who have lived in Germany for five years on a work or family permit
- Skilled workers: three years is enough, or two with a German qualification
- Blue Card holders: 27 months, or 21 with German at B1
Packages
Documents
We assemble the pack, you file it
- Checking eligibility and choosing the ground
- Counting the period, including credits for visa time, study and absences
- Assembling and checking the document pack
- Correspondence with the office until a decision
End to end
We carry it to the decision
- Checking eligibility and choosing the ground
- Counting the period, including credits for visa time, study and absences
- Assembling and checking the document pack
- Filing the application and corresponding with the office until a decision
- Attending the in-person appointment with you
We fix the exact package after reviewing your case. You pay the expert directly.
Residence permit in Germany: comparing the options
The difference is not the price — it is who each option suits. The “Best for” column is the business profile the option is built around.
| Option | Best for | Timeline | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A settlement permit in Germanyyou are here | People who have lived in Germany for five years on a work or family permit, skilled workers: three years is enough, or two with a German qualification, blue Card holders: 27 months, or 21 with German at B1 | 1–12 months | from $895 |
| Switching from a §24 permit to a work permit in Germany | People on temporary protection who have found work and want to stay for the long term, graduates who need a status that leads to settlement, anyone tired of depending on the next extension of temporary protection | 1–6 months | from $1,460 |
| Residence permit in Germany through family reunification | Families moving to join a sponsor, children under 18 joining their parents | 3–6 months | from $2,240 |
| Chancenkarte in Germany (the opportunity card) | Qualified professionals, looking for work in Germany | 2–4 months | from $2,350 |
| EU Blue Card in Germany | IT specialists, engineers, doctors, researchers | 2–3 months | from $3,360 |
| Fachkräfte — residence permit for qualified professionals in Germany | Mid-level technical staff, nurses, construction workers, electricians | 3–5 months | from $3,360 |
| Freiberufler — freelancer residence permit in Germany | IT freelancers, designers, consultants, journalists | 2–4 months | from $3,920 |
| Residence permit in Germany for remote workers (the equivalent of a Digital Nomad Visa) | Tech employees with a foreign contract, digital nomads | 2–4 months | from $3,920 |
| Relocation of IT teams to Germany | IT companies, startups, corporate HR | 3–6 months | Upon consultation |
Official terms
Financial requirement
The ability to cover living costs without state assistance
Timelines and rights
Right to work
The right to take up any employment
Residence conditions
- 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
Documents and programme requirements
- 1Five years on a residence permit as a rule; time on a national visa counts, study time counts by half
- 2German at B1 and basic knowledge of how the country works — both covered by completing an integration course
- 360 months of pension contributions; for spouses, one of you paying is enough
- 4Income without benefits from the Jobcenter or the social welfare office
- 5Adequate housing: the federal guidance takes 12 m² per person over six as the benchmark
- 6Health insurance in Germany; a foreign policy is usually not enough
What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship
Route to citizenship
Naturalisation after 5 years of residence
Frequently asked questions
How many years do I need in Germany?
How does this differ from EU long-term resident status?
What if the office goes silent for months?
Does the time on a visa count, before the permit was issued?
We'll check your case before you pay
Send an enquiry — we will check your case and help you arrange “A settlement permit in Germany” in Germany. No markup on top.
We'll cover: whether you qualify, the full cost with fees, realistic timelines, the document list. If it's not for you, we'll say so.