Residence Cards and Certificates of Permanent Residence for Persons Entitled to Freedom of Movement; Application Process

EU citizens do not need a visa to enter Germany, nor do they need a residence permit to stay in Germany. Nationals of the EEA states—Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein—are treated as equivalent to EU citizens under the provisions of the Act on the General Freedom of Movement of EU Citizens (Freedom of Movement Act/EU—FreizügG/EU) are treated as EU citizens, without, however, acquiring the status of an EU citizen or a family member of an EU citizen.

EU citizens who identify themselves with a valid passport or national ID card enjoy freedom of movement and thus also the right to reside for more than three months as employees, to seek employment or pursue vocational training, as self-employed persons with a business establishment, as providers and recipients of services, and as holders of permanent residence permits. Non-working EU citizens are entitled to freedom of movement if they have adequate health insurance coverage and sufficient means of subsistence.

The issuance of a certificate confirming the right to freedom of movement is no longer required by law.

EU citizens who have resided legally and continuously in Germany for five years have the right to enter and reside in the country (right of permanent residence), regardless of whether they continue to meet the requirements for the right to free movement, see Section 4a of the Freedom of Movement Act (FreizügG/EU). Upon application, the Foreigners’ Registration Office will issue them a certificate confirming their right of permanent residence.

Family members (spouses or registered partners, children up to age 21, and, under certain conditions, other family members) of an EU citizen entitled to freedom of movement are also entitled to freedom of movement if they accompany that person or join them later. However, family members entitled to freedom of movement who are not EU citizens (so-called third-country nationals) generally require an entry visa (see “Related Topics” – “National Visa”). After entry, the Foreigners’ Registration Office will, ex officio, issue them a residence card for family members of EU citizens within six months of their providing the necessary information; this card is valid for five years. The family member will receive a certificate confirming that the required information has been provided without delay. Third-country nationals who are family members of EU citizens are entitled to permanent residence if the EU citizen is entitled to permanent residence and they have resided lawfully and continuously with him or her in Germany for five years. The Foreigners’ Registration Office will issue them a permanent residence card within six months of the application being filed.

Note: An absence of more than two consecutive years for a reason that is, by its nature, not merely temporary will result in the loss of the right to permanent residence.

For further information on the right of permanent residence, certificates of the right of permanent residence, residence cards, and the right of residence for family members (for example, in the event of divorce from an EU citizen entitled to freedom of movement, or the citizen’s relocation or death), please contact the Foreigners’ Registration Office responsible for your place of residence on a case-by-case basis.

Certificate of Permanent Residence:

• Citizenship of an EU Member State or citizenship of one of the EEA states—Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Norway.
• Five years of continuous lawful residence in Germany (or earlier, if applicable, in the cases specified in Section 4a(2) of the Freedom of Movement Act (FreizügigkeitsG/EU))

Residence Card:

• A third-country national who is a family member (spouse or registered partner, children up to age 21, and, under certain conditions, other family members) of an EU citizen entitled to freedom of movement
• Accompanying this EU citizen or joining them

Permanent residence card:

• Third-country national family member (spouse or registered partner, children up to age 21, and, under certain conditions, other family members) of an EU citizen entitled to permanent residence
• Five years of continuous lawful residence in Germany with the EU citizen holding permanent residence status

Note: Depending on the circumstances of the individual case, additional requirements may need to be met. Please check with the relevant immigration office in each specific case.

• Residence Cards: Required Documents
  The documents you need to submit can vary greatly. Please check with your local immigration office. However, the following documents are generally required, among others:
• Identification card or passport
• a recent biometric passport photo
• For a residence permit:
  
  • Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate/birth certificate for each child—with an apostille or legalization stamp, if required
  • For documents in a foreign language: a certified German translation. A translation is not required only for international, multilingual documents.
  • If applicable, a certificate of residence for the EU citizen whom the family members are accompanying or joining

Permanent Residence Certificate: 10.00 euros

Residence card or permanent residence card (for persons under 24 years of age): 27.60 euros

Residence card or permanent residence card (for individuals over the age of 24): 46.00 euros