Residency Permits: Temporary and Permanent
Many expats want to know how to become a permanent German resident because the country offers a good quality of life.To qualify, you must live in the country for at least five years. Until then, expats interested in staying in Germany long-term will need to apply for a temporary residence permit.
Regardless of their country of origin, all foreign residents from non-EU member states must have a residence permit for stays longer than 90 days. Note that a short-term (90-day) visa for visitors can only be extended under special circ*mstances, such as if you fall seriously ill before your intended date of departure.
Nationals from EU states and the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the Republic of Korea can obtain a permit after arriving in Germany.
For a typical expat moving to Germany, the following residence permits may be of interest:
- Temporary residence permit.
- EU Blue Card.
- EC long-term residence permit.
- Permanent settlement permit.
How to Get Permanent Residency in Germany
Just like obtaining a German visa, the German permanent resident application and its related requirements are strongly tied to your nationality and your reasons for coming to Germany. Nationals of EU or EEA member states do not need a residence permit. For those who do, the permanent resident fee for Germany stands at 255 EUR (300 USD).
If you are moving to Germany for work or study or have a way to financially support yourself, you can enjoy full mobility within the EU. But remember that upon arrival, you still need to register with the local authorities.
If you have graduated from a German university and hold a temporary residence permit for paid employment, you can submit your German permanent residency application form after two years.
Germany Permanent Resident Application—The Immigration Office
Whether or not you have already obtained a visa before your arrival in Germany and are a non-EEA national, you will still have to go to the local immigration office (Ausländerbehördeor aliens office) in order to get a regular residence and/or work permit, if applicable.
If you do not need a visa to enter Germany, then you have three months to apply for a residence permit at the immigration office.
Germany Permanent Resident Visa Requirements and Documents
To confirm your residency in Germany as a foreign national, the following documents may be required:
- Your registration card from the municipal authorities (Einwohnermeldeamt)
- A valid passport
- Recent biometric passport photographs
- For employees and jobseekers: an employment contract
- For students: an official confirmation of student enrollment at a local university
- For pensioners: proof of retirement benefits
- Evidence of financial support (e.g. a student grant, letter from your employer, salary slip, or a recent bank statement)
- Proof of health insurance plan
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
These requirements may vary according to your country of origin and the reason for your stay in Germany. If you are not sure which documents to bring with you, call or email your local immigration office.
Last but not least, check with your nearest embassy or consulate if you need to register there as well. This is completely independent of any registration with the German authorities and depends on your country of origin’s own regulations.
German Permanent Residency Fees
The fees can differ from city to city and by case. For example, in Munich it costs about 100 EUR (113 USD) to obtain a residence permit for one year.
Residency in Germany
Once you have moved to Germany, you need to register with the local authorities (polizeiliche Anmeldungor police registration). The local registration procedure is mandatory if you have applied for a German visa from abroad. Note that you need to apply for a residence visa first.
You must schedule an appointment for a personal interview—you cannot just turn up at a German mission and apply for a visa. The residence visa costs between 55 and 100 EUR (65 and 120 USD) to be issued and 50 to 95 EUR (60 and 115USD) for an extension. Turkish citizens must pay a maximum of around 30 EUR (35 USD).
All residents, whether they are German citizens, EU nationals, or third-country nationals, have to report their residence to the local authorities (Einwohnermeldeamt). Every change of address must be reported within two weeks of moving to a new residence, or within two months of living at a hotel or a friend’s place. When moving to another town, you need to register once again at your new location.
In many cities, you can register at a special municipal office (KVR,Bürgerbüro,Stadtbüro,Bürgerservice,Meldestelle, etc). There you receive a registration card—a paper slip with your address and the date of your move. This is not a substitute for a residence permit. It is merely an official document that shows where you are currently living.
Documents Needed for Local Registration in Germany
You need the following documents to register where you live in Germany:
- A simple registration form (which you can get at the town hall or download from their official website)
- A valid passport
- A copy of your contract for renting a home in Germany (or a written statement from whomever is providing your accommodation)
A landlord might ask you for a residence permit before handing out a rental agreement, to ensure that you are legally allowed to reside in the country on a long-term basis. In this case, you can register with the temporary address of your first residence (e.g. a hotel, a serviced apartment, or a friend’s home).
Once you have obtained the official residence permit, a change of address requires minimal effort. There can be a small fee for registering with the local authorities, usually less than 10 EUR (11 USD).
Application for German Temporary Resident Permit
A temporary residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) is generally valid for one year. How often it has to be renewed depends on your employment status, occupation, and nationality.
For example, a US expatriate who has a permanent job contract with a company based in Germany may receive a permit that needs to be renewed after three years. If the same person only has a limited employment contract for the next two years, their residence permit will expire after around two years as well.
German Temporary Resident Permit: Requirements and Fees
If you plan to come to Germany for no more than 90 days in a 180-day period, and you are not from the EU or the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, or the Republic of Korea, then you will need a short-term or Schengen visa for a legal stay.
German Short-stay Visa Fees
60 EUR (70 USD):
- Airport transit visa
- Stays up to 30 days
- Stays from 31 to 90 days (single entry)
- Stays from 31 to 90 days (several entries)
75 EUR (90 USD):
- National visas (e.g. family reunion, study, etc)
Free of charge:
- for scholarship holders from a German science organization;
- for spouses of EU citizens.
As long as your personal situation does not change, the renewal of your residence permit is mostly a formality. However, if you change employers, stop working, separate from your spouse, etc., all this can impact your residence status.
In such cases, it is best to contact the localAusländerbehörde(Aliens Registration Office) immediately and consult with an immigration lawyer.
Benefits German Permanent Residence
If you are relocating to Germany long-term, you should review the process you need to follow to get a permanent residence permit. For instance, you have to legally live in Germany for five years before you can apply for permanent residency. There are many benefits to obtaining permanent residence in Germany.
Germany permanent residence benefits include:
- unlimited residence in Germany;
- the ability to work for any organization in Germany;
- free movement in the EU and outside the EEA;
- access to education and other training;
- welfare benefits;
- easier access to grants and loans;
- social security.
Germany Fiancé and Family Visa Processes
If you want to join a partner or relative in Germany, you could choose to go through the spouse or family reunion visa process. You can get permanent residency by joining a spouse or parent living in Germany.
If you want to join your spouse in Germany on a family visa you must be at least 18 years old. As a couple you must fulfil these permanent resident visa requirements:
- Your spouse in Germany has a residence permit allowing them to work.
- You have some knowledge of the German language.
- Your spouse in Germany has health insurance cover and sufficient finances to support the family.
- Your spouse in Germany has accommodation big enough to house the family.
If the partner already living in Germany fulfils one of the following criteria, their spouse will not need to know the German language to obtain a visa or residence permit:
- Have an EU Blue Card.
- Be in Germany as a researcher or highly skilled person.
- You or your spouse is a citizen of Japan, Israel, Australia, the United States, Canada, or the Republic of Korea.
How to Get a Family Reunification Visa
If you want to join your spouse or family member in Germany, you will need a visa. You must:
- apply at the German embassy or German consulate in your country;
- register with the localEinwohnermeldeamtonce you move to Germany.
Your spouse or family member in Germany must go to their local German embassy and:
- show their passport;
- show your marriage certificate or proof of your civil or registered partnership;
- ask their local embassy or consulate if they require other documents.
The family visa costs 75 EUR (88 USD) for adults and 37.50 (45 USD) for children under 18.
The duration of your relative’s residence permit will often reflect their personal situation, i.e. their living and working conditions. Getting an extension is usually not a problem if their situation does not change. For example, if they keep working for the same company year after year, their residence permit should be easily renewed.
