EU permanent residence; applying for a permit

The EU permanent residence permit is an unlimited residence title and serves to consolidate a foreigner's stay in Germany. It entitles the holder to work as an employee or to pursue self-employment in Germany.
In this respect, the EU permanent residence permit is equivalent to a "national" settlement permit (see "Related topics").

On the other hand, the EU permanent residence permit is also the basis for obtaining a right of residence and permission to take up employment in another EU Member State under simplified conditions. In this way, a third-country national also obtains a certain degree of freedom of movement within the European Union. The holder of a "national" settlement permit, on the other hand, can only make use of the so-called Schengen freedom of movement in the member states of the European Union (stay only for visiting purposes for a maximum of 90 days per 180-day period).

The conditions for issuing the permit are essentially the same as for the "national" settlement permit (see "Related topics"). However, there are stricter requirements than for the "national" settlement permit, for example with regard to securing the livelihood of the foreigner and their dependants, whom they must support.

Exceptions to the granting of an EU permanent residence permit are

• Holders of some residence permits on humanitarian grounds, as well as foreigners who have applied for such a permit.
• Foreigners who have applied for humanitarian protection status in another member state as long as a decision has not yet been made.
• Diplomats
• Persons staying in the territory for the purpose of study or vocational training.

A foreigner is to be granted an EU permanent residence permit if

• he/she has resided in the federal territory with a residence permit for five years without interruption,
• his or her livelihood and that of his or her dependants, to whom he or she is obliged to provide maintenance, is secured by fixed and regular income,
• they have sufficient knowledge of the German language,
• they have a basic knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in the federal territory,
• there are no reasons of public safety or order to the contrary, taking into account the severity or nature of the violation of public safety or order or the danger posed by the foreigner, taking into account the duration of previous residence and the existence of ties in the federal territory, and
• he has sufficient living space for himself and his family members living with him in the same household.

• The documents to be submitted may vary considerably.
  Erkundigen Sie sich bitte bei der örtlich zuständigen Ausländerbehörde. Erforderlich sind aber in der Regel u.a. die folgend genannten Unterlagen:
• valid passport
• Current biometric photograph (frontal view)
• Proof of secure livelihood
• Proof of sufficient living space
• Proof of health insurance cover
• Proof of completed integration course

109 Euro