Applying for a settlement permit for highly qualified persons

Professionally or academically highly qualified foreign nationals can, in special cases, receive a permanent settlement permit immediately following the visa.

Note: Your husband or wife or your partner and your children under the age of 18 are entitled to family reunification. They are also permitted to pursue gainful employment.

• For the issue of a national visa before entering Germany: the German mission abroad (embassy, consulate)
  Tip: The Federal Foreign Office provides a list of German missions abroad on its website.
• After entering Germany: the foreigners authority in whose district you usually reside. Foreigners authorities in Hesse are the district councils and mayors of the independent towns and towns belonging to districts with more than 50,000 inhabitants

Proof

• fulfillment of passport and visa requirements
• a secure livelihood and that your integration into the living conditions of the Federal Republic of Germany is assured (usually by submitting a job offer)
• professional or academic qualifications

The requirements for a settlement permit are:

• You fulfill the passport and visa requirements.
  For the passport requirement, it is sufficient if you havea replacement identity document.
• Your livelihood is secured without you drawing on public funds.
  Your livelihood is considered secure if you
  • income amounting to the basic social assistance rate (e.g. 391.00 euros for a single person) plusplus
  • costs for accommodation and heating and
  • any health insurance contributions.
• There are no grounds for deportation against you.
• Your stay does not jeopardize or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.
• You belong to the following groups of people:
  • Scientists or academics with special expertise
  • Teachers or academic staff in a prominent position
• Their integration into the living conditions of the Federal Republic of Germany is assured.

• §Section 5 Residence Act (AufenthG) (General requirements for granting aresidence permit)
• §Section 19 Residence Act (AufenthG) (Settlement permit for highly qualified persons)
• §Section 44 Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) (Fees for the settlement permit)
• §Section 284 of the Third Book of the German Social Code (SGB III) (EU work permit for nationals of the new EU member states)
  

Before entering Germany, you must apply for a national visa in your home country.

After entering the country, you must apply for a settlement permit in writing to the immigration authority before your visa expires.

4 - 6 weeks

The fee for issuing the permit is €147 (half must be paid when the application is submitted).

You will receive the settlement permit in the form of a check card with additional electronic functions. You can find more information on this under "Applying for an electronic residence permit (eAT)".

Nationals of European Union (EU) member states have access to the German labor market due to their right to freedom of movement. They can be self-employed in Germany within the scope of their right of establishment. The same applies to other nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals.

Transitional regulations for the free movement of workers and freedom to provide services apply to Croatian nationals. You must obtain a work permit from the employment agency before taking up employment.

If you do not meet the academic or professional requirements, you may be able to obtain the following residence permits after entering the country:

• Residence permit for the purpose of employment
• Residence permit for the purpose of self-employment

You can clarify your choice of residence title during the visa procedure.