Family & Other
Settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) and EU long-term residence (Daueraufenthalt-EU)
For people already living in Germany who want permanent residence. Check the typical conditions and how to prepare.
- 5 yearsholding a residence permit, on the general routeSource: 5 years holding a residence permit, on the general route (opens in new tab)
- 21 monthsfor Blue Card holders with sufficient GermanSource: 21 months for Blue Card holders with sufficient German (opens in new tab)
- €113fee in most casesSource: €113 fee in most cases (opens in new tab)
Your local offices
City not listed? Find your Bürgeramt with the federal service search and your Ausländerbehörde with BAMF-NAvI, or see the guide for your state.
General information only. Check with your Ausländerbehörde.
Your local office: documents, fees, booking and waiting times are set by each Ausländerbehörde and differ from city to city. Pick your situation and city in the step finder to get a direct link to your own office, or see the local office guide for your state. You can also find your office with BAMF-NAvI or the federal service finder.
Who it's for
People with a temporary German residence permit who want a permanent (unlimited) one. Both titles are unlimited. (§ 9(1), § 9a(1) AufenthG, checked 2026-11-04)
Requirements
General route (§ 9 AufenthG) — checked 2026-11-04, source:
- Residence permit held for 5 years; livelihood secured; 60 months of pension contributions (or comparable); no public-security objections; work permitted; required professional permits; sufficient German ("ausreichende Kenntnisse", generally CEFR level B1 Not yet confirmed); basic knowledge of German law/society (proven e.g. by completed integration course); sufficient housing.
- Spouses: pension/work conditions can be met by one spouse.
- Study/training time in Germany counts half.
Skilled workers (§ 18c(1)) — source, checked 2026-11-04:
- 3 years with a permit under §§ 18a, 18b, 18d or 18g; job you may hold; 36 months pension contributions; sufficient German. Shortened to 2 years / 24 months if you completed a German vocational training or degree.
EU Blue Card (§ 18c(2)) — same source:
- 27 months of Blue Card employment with contributions + basic German ("einfache Kenntnisse", generally CEFR A1; "ausreichende", generally B1 Not yet confirmed); shortened to 21 months with sufficient German.
Highly qualified (§ 18c(3)) — e.g. scientists with special knowledge; can be granted directly in special cases. Same source.
Daueraufenthalt-EU (§ 9a) — source, checked 2026-11-04:
- 5 years in Germany with a residence title; secured livelihood from regular income; sufficient German; basic knowledge of society; no security objections; sufficient housing. Not available while on a study (§ 16b) or vocational-training (§ 16a) permit, among other exclusions.
Documents
Documents, fees and steps at your local office
Each Ausländerbehörde publishes its own document checklist, fees and booking or online-application process, so this guide doesn't copy one city's list. Pick your situation and city in the step finder for a direct link to your office's page, or open the local office guide for your state. Fees for residence permits are set nationwide in § 45 AufenthV; your office tells you the exact amount.
Fees
- Settlement permit for highly qualified (§ 18c(3)): €147; for self-employed (§ 21(4)): €124; all other cases: €113. (§ 44 AufenthV, checked 2026-11-04)
- Daueraufenthalt-EU: €109. (§ 44a AufenthV, checked 2026-11-04)
Processing notes
- Daueraufenthalt-EU is generally treated like the settlement permit unless the law says otherwise. (§ 9a(1), checked 2026-11-04)