Residence cards and certificate of permanent residence for persons entitled to freedom of movement; application

A residence card or permanent residence card is issued to family members of Union citizens entitled to freedom of movement and permanent residence who are not Union citizens themselves. EU citizens can apply for a certificate.

EU citizens do not require a visa to enter or a residence permit to stay in Germany. Citizens of the EEA states Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are treated as EU citizens in accordance with the provisions of the Act on the General Freedom of Movement of EU Citizens (Freizügigkeitsgesetz/EU - FreizügG/EU), but without acquiring the status of EU citizens or family members of EU citizens.

EU citizens who identify themselves with a valid passport or identity card enjoy freedom of movement and thus also the right to stay for more than three months as employees, to seek work or for vocational training, as established self-employed persons, as providers and recipients of services and as permanent residents. EU citizens who are not gainfully employed are entitled to freedom of movement if they have adequate health insurance cover and sufficient resources.

The law no longer provides for the issuing of a certificate on the right to freedom of movement.

EU citizens who have been legally resident in Germany for five years have the right of entry and residence (right of permanent residence), regardless of whether the conditions for freedom of movement are still met, see § 4a FreizügigkeitsG/EU. Upon application, the foreigners authority will certify their right of permanent residence.

Family members (spouse or registered partner, children up to the age of 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 or join the EU citizen. 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"). The immigration authorities will issue them with a residence card for family members of EU citizens, which is valid for five years, ex officio within six months of them providing the required information. The family member will immediately receive a certificate confirming that the required information has been provided. Family members of EU citizens who are third-country nationals are entitled to permanent residence if the family member is entitled to permanent residence and has resided legally with the family member in Germany for five years. They will be issued a permanent residence card by the immigration authority within six months of submitting their application.

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

For further information on the right of permanent residence and certificates on the right of permanent residence as well as residence cards and the right of residence of family members (e.g. in the event of divorce from an EU citizen entitled to freedom of movement or their departure or death), please contact the foreigners authority responsible for your place of residence on a case-by-case basis.

• Residence cards Required documents

  The documents to be submitted may vary considerably. Please enquire at your local foreigners authority. As a rule, however, the following documents are required:

• Valid identity card or passport
• Current biometric ID picture
• For the residence card:
  • marriage certificate or registered partnership certificate/birth certificate for every child - including an apostille or legal authentication note, where required
  • for foreign-language official documents: certified translation to the German language; only international official documents executed in several languages do not require a translation.
  • if necessary, the EU citizen's certificate of residency who is accompanied or subsequently followed by family members

Permanent residence certificate:

• Citizenship of an EU member state or citizenship of one of the EEA states Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway.
• Five years of permanent legal residence in Germany (in the cases regulated in § 4a Para. 2 FreizügigkeitsG/EU, possibly even earlier)

Residence card:

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

permanent residence card:

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

Note: Depending on the circumstances of the individual case, further requirements may need to be met. Please ask the relevant immigration authority in each individual case.

Permanent residence certificate: 10.00 euros

Residence card or permanent residence card (persons up to the age of 24): 22.80 euros

Residence card or permanent residence card (persons after the age of 24): 37,00 Euro