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Created on Monday, 15 December 2008 16:05
Last Updated on Sunday, 17 February 2013 18:43

Settlement Permission (Permanent Residence)

Living here for a significant period, you will surely like to know when your residence is finally permanent. LG2G will tell you below.

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I have lived here in Germany and worked as an employee for over six years now. I have now decided I do not want to go back to my country of origin. I want to stay here for good. However, I am reluctant to give up my citizenship. I have an “Auf­ent­halts­er­laub­nis” which I regularly have to renew. What is required to live here permanently?

To permanently remain in Germany, it is not at all necessary to give up your citizenship (§9 AufenthGAufenthaltsgesetz (Gesetz über den Aufenthalt, die Erwerbstätigkeit und die Integration von Ausländern Bundesgebiet) Residency Act, Gainful Employment and Integration of Foreigners on the Federal Territory of Germany – new law!! ). You are entitled to permanent residency (Niederlassungserlaubnis) if

  1. you have had a residence permit for five consecutive years,
  2. your livelihood is secured,
  3. you have paid at least (not necessary consecutive) 60 premiums to an old-age pension scheme,
  4. you have not been sentenced for a deliberate crime with imprisonment of at least six months or with a pecuniary punishment of at least 180 daily fines during the last three years.
  5. you are working legally, supposing you are an employee,
  6. you possess all requirements to permanently follow your profession,
  7. have sufficient knowledge of German,
  8. have basic knowledge of legal and social order and the Germany way of life, and
  9. have sufficient accommodation for you and your dependents living with you.       
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Aren’t there any exceptions? My spouse does not plan to work and is reluctant to search for a job. My job sustains for both us.

Sure. There is no rule without an exception. It suffices if one of you meet requirements no. 3, 5, and 6 – as long as the cohabitation remains. There are still some other not so very important exceptions.
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You just told me that I needed to be here for five years, but my neighbor got it after three years. How can this be?

Yes, that can be. After meeting all other above prerequisites, the officer can grant you a settlement permit. There are only three situations where this is true:

  1. for the purpose of performing a self-employed occupation,
  2. by reason of their status as recognized refugees, or
  3. in the case of relatives of a German citizen.
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