Applying for a settlement permit for holders of a residence permit for international, humanitarian or political reasons

If you are in possession of a residence permit for reasons of international law, humanitarian or political reasons, you can, under certain conditions, obtain an unlimited settlement permit after five years.

As the holder of a residence permit for reasons of international law, humanitarian or political reasons, you can, under certain conditions, obtain an unlimited residence title (so-called settlement permit) after five years.

If you entered Germany before reaching the age of 18, please also inform yourself about the settlement permit for minor children and young adults, for which lower requirements have to be fulfilled (see service "Settlement permit issuance for minor children").

If you are in possession of a residence permit as a person entitled to asylum, a recognized refugee according to the Geneva Refugee Convention or a resettlement refugee, you can obtain a settlement permit under eased conditions (see service "Settlement permit issuance for holders of a residence permit as recognized persons entitled to asylum and refugees").

• Recognized and valid identity document (for example passport or passport substitute)
• Current biometric photo in passport format (45 x 35 mm)
• Proof of livelihood (for example, proof of income, employment contract, pension notice, proof of receipt of benefits such as parental or child support, alimony payments) or proof of illness or disability that prevents independent livelihood (for example, through a specialist medical opinion, proof of institutional care).
• Proof of health insurance coverage (for example, confirmation of health insurance coverage or insurance policy).
• Proof of contributions made to old-age provision (for example, pension information from the German pension insurance or proof of entitlement to comparable benefits from another insurance or pension institution) or proof of illness or disability that prevents independent old-age provision (for example, by means of a specialist medical opinion, proof of institutionalization).
• Professional license (e.g. approbation, professional permit) if practicing a regulated profession
• Proof of knowledge of the German language at level A1 or B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (e.g. language certificate, German school, training or university certificates or proof of successful participation in an integration course) or proof of illness, disability or other reasons that make learning the language permanently impossible or unreasonable (e.g. by means of a specialist medical opinion, proof of accommodation in a home).Proof of basic knowledge of the legal and social order in Germany (e.g. certificate or confirmation of successful participation in the integration course) or proof of illness, disability or other reasons that make learning the language permanently impossible or unreasonable (e.g. by means of a specialist medical opinion, proof of accommodation in a home).
• Proof of basic knowledge of the legal and social order in Germany (e.g. certificate or confirmation of successful participation in the integration course) or proof of illness, disability or other reasons that make learning the language permanently impossible or unreasonable (e.g. by means of a specialist medical opinion, proof of accommodation in a home).
• Proof of sufficient living space (rental or purchase contract providing information on living space).
• If there was an obligation to participate in the integration course: Certificate of successful participation in the integration course

The documents and information must always be presented in German. In individual cases, the Aliens' Registration Office may require less or further proof.

Forms available: No

Written form required: No

Informal application possible: Yes

Personal appearance required: Yes

• You are in possession of a valid residence permit for reasons of international law, humanitarian or political reasons (see Section 5 of the Residence Act).
• You have been in possession of the residence permit for at least five years (periods of asylum proceedings are counted).
• You and your spouse or registered partner are able to cover the living expenses (including health insurance) for yourself and your household members without claiming public benefits.
  Please note: The means of subsistence can also be provided by third parties (for example, spouses, registered partners, parents).
  Independent subsistence is not required if you have an illness or disability that prevents independent subsistence.
• You have made at least 60 months of compulsory or voluntary contributions to the statutory pension insurance or expenses for an entitlement to comparable benefits from an insurance company.
  Note: In a marriage or registered civil partnership, it is sufficient if the partner meets this requirement.
  The requirement does not have to be met if an illness or disability prevents this.
• You have a permanent employment permit and, if you work in a regulated profession, the required professional license (for example, approbation or professional permit).
  Please note: In a marriage or registered civil partnership, it is sufficient if the partner holds the permits.
• You have sufficient knowledge of German (level B1). If you were not entitled to participate in an integration course or were not required to participate, simple knowledge of the German language at level A1 is sufficient.
  Please note: The language skills do not have to be present if there is an illness, disability or other reasons that make learning the language impossible or unreasonable in the long term.
• You have a basic knowledge of the German legal and social system.
  Please note: The knowledge does not have to be proven if there is an illness, disability or other reasons that make the acquisition of the knowledge impossible or unreasonable in the long term.
• You have sufficient living space (for yourself and your family).
• You are not in possession of a humanitarian residence permit according to
  • § Section 24 (granting of residence for temporary protection),
  • § 25 paragraph 4 sentence 1 (residence permit for urgent personal or humanitarian reasons),
  • § Section 25 (4a) sentence 1 or Section 25 (4b) sentence 1 (residence permit for certain victims of crime) or
  • § Section 104a (1) sentence 1 (residence permit on probation)
    of the Residence Act ( no settlement permit can be issued for these).
• They have no previous criminal record.
• There is no interest in deportation against you

• Appeal against the decision of the Foreigners' Registration Office
• Action before the court named in the notice of appeal if the appeal is not granted

• The settlement permit must be applied for before the validity of your current residence permit expires.
• Find out whether your Aliens' Registration Office allows you to apply online or has a special application form.
• If the application can only be submitted in person, make an appointment at the Aliens' Registration Office. In the case of online application, the Aliens' Registration Office will contact you after receiving your application to schedule an appointment.
• During the appointment, your identity and documents will be checked (please bring your documents, if possible in original, to the appointment).
• If your application is approved, your fingerprints will be taken for the production of the settlement permit in the form of a new electronic residence permit (eAT card).
• The Foreigners' Registration Office will order the production of the eAT card from the Bundesdruckerei. Once it has been produced, you will receive information and can collect the eAT card from the relevant office. The eAT card must always be collected in person.
• If your application is rejected, you will receive a rejection notice.

Application deadline:

6 weeks to 8 weeks

At least six to eight weeks before the expiration of the current residence permit, the application should be received by the Foreigners' Registration Office.

Duration of validity:

The settlement permit is issued for an unlimited period. Only the electronic residence permit (eAT card) is issued for a limited period and must be renewed at the end of its validity.

Duration: approx. 6 weeks to 8 weeks

The processing time can vary depending on the workload of the Foreigners' Registration Office.

The production of the electronic residence permit by the Bundesdruckerei takes about 4 weeks to 6 weeks.

Free of charge

• The granting of a settlement permit is at the discretion of the competent foreigners authority. Applicants are therefore only entitled to a decision free of discretionary errors.

• Minors and young adults who have received a residence permit as a person entitled to asylum or as a recognized refugee before reaching the age of 18 should inform themselves about the service "Settlement Permit Issuance for Minor Children". This settlement permit is issued on a different legal basis under facilitated conditions from the age of 16 (Section 35 of the Residence Act).
  Please note: It is not sufficient to have entered Germany as a minor and to have been in an ongoing asylum procedure when reaching the age of majority.
• The procedure is usually conducted in German.
• A settlement permit can expire in the event of a stay outside Germany of more than six months, if this stay abroad was not previously agreed with the foreigners authority.
• Holders of a residence permit as a person entitled to asylum or as a recognized refugee (including resettlement refugees) can in principle also obtain a settlement permit under this provision, but for them a settlement permit under Section 26 (3) of the Residence Act will regularly be more favorable. Those affected should inform themselves about the service "Settlement Permit Issuance for Holders of a Residence Permit as Recognized Persons Entitled to Asylum and Refugees".
• All information provided to the Foreigners' Registration Office should be correct and complete to the best of your knowledge and belief, so that the request can be processed without major delays.
• Incorrect or incomplete information can slow down the procedure and be detrimental to the person concerned. In a serious case, incorrect or incomplete information that is not completed or corrected in time vis-à-vis the Aliens Department may result in the revocation of residence rights already granted, a fine, a prison sentence of up to three years, or expulsion from the Federal territory.
• Due to the complexity of the right of residence, this description is for information purposes only and is not legally binding.