How can I get the permanent residence permit?

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Find out in 9 steps how to get the Niederlassungserlaubnis (permanent residence permit). A quick overview:

Check if you meet the requirements regarding the duration of residence, pension contributions and income.
Take the B1 German test and the naturalization test (Einbürgerungstest).
Collect all necessary documents. Submit the complete application.

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For more information, click on the small numbers.¹

1. Inform yourself about the application process

Inform yourself about the requirements for the Niederlassungserlaubnis (permanent residence permit). These are:
- You have a residence permit since 5 years (see 2) and have paid into the pension system for 5 years (see 3). There are many exceptions.
- You have a sufficiently high income (see 4).
- You have passed the B1 German test and the naturalization test (Einbürgerungstest) (see 6).
Inform yourself about the process:
- If possible, book an appointment first.² Look for the appointment early on, as they are often hard to get.
- Alternatively, you can send the application and documents online or by post.³
You will have to pay a fee of between 113 and 147 euros.

2. Check if your residence period is sufficient

Check the required years of legal residence:
- Generally 5 years.
- Recognized refugees or those entitled to asylum⁴ with a german C1-certificate: 3 years.
- Skilled workers⁵: 3 years of residence as a skilled worker (if you have obtained your qualifications in Germany: 2 years).
- Additional more favorable regulations apply for the Blue Card⁶, self-employment⁷ and for family members of German citizens.⁸
Check if the duration of your asylum procedure counts:
- Generally: Only the time since you had a residence title counts. The time of asylum process and Duldung (tolerated stay permit) does not count.
- Resident permits as recognized refugees (Flüchtlingseigenschaft), those entitled to asylum and with subsidiary protection: The time of your asylum process counts.⁹
Additionally: You must have a valid residence permit, must usually not have been convicted of a crime, and your identity must be verified.

3. Check your pension contributions

Check the required years of pension contributions:
- Generally: 5 years (60 months).
- Skilled workers: 3 years (36 months) (in case of qualification in Germany: 2 years (24 months)).
- Additional more favorable regulations for the Blue Card.¹⁰
The following persons do not need contributions to the pension system:
- You are a recognized refugees or are entitled to asylum.¹¹
- You are a high-school student, university student, or trainee (Auszubildende).
- You were younger than 18 years old when you entered Germany.¹²
- You are a family member of a German citizen.
- You are not able to work due to illness or disability.
Pension contributions are usually paid during your working periods.¹³ You can also pay them voluntarily.¹⁴ Ask the pension insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) for your insurance history¹⁵ and check the months you have completed so far.

4. Check if your income is sufficient

Calculate if your income is sufficient.¹⁶ It usually has to be so high that you can’t get any money from the Jobcenter (citizen’s allowance) or social assistance (Sozialhilfe).
Enter your income¹⁷, rent, heating costs, and number of children into an online Bürgergeld calculator.¹⁸ If the calculator states that your Bürgergeld is €0, your income is likely sufficient.
In some cases, a lower income may be sufficient:
- Recognized refugees or those entitled to asylum¹⁹: After 5 years (with A2): at least 50% of the amount. After 3 years (with C1): at least 75% of the amount.
- If you are at school, at a university or a in a vocational training program (Ausbildung): BAföG (student allowance) or training salary+BAB (vocational training allowance) may possibly be sufficient.²⁰
- Incapacity to work due to illness or disability: No income required.

5. Consider naturalization as an alternative

The requirements for a Niederlassungserlaubnis (permanent residence permit) and German citizenship are similar. In these cases, naturalization might be easier:
- You have legally resided in Germany for 5 years or more, but have not paid pensions long enough.²¹
- You speak German at C1 level (e.g., university/Abitur).²²

6. Take the B1 German exam and the naturalization test

Check which tests you have to take:
- Generally: B1 language test (oral and written)²³ and the naturalization test²⁴.
- Recognized refugees or those entitled to asylum: A2 language test (oral)²⁵ and the naturalization test.
- With a German school diploma, vocational training (Ausbildung), or university degree: No tests required.
You can take the B1 course together with the integration course or at a language school. You can also take the exam without a course.²⁶ You can take the naturalization test with the integration course. The test is also offered by other organizations.
Register early for the tests. It is often difficult to get appointments.

7. Collect all documents

Check the website of your city or municipality to find out which documents you need and collect them all. Usually, you need:
- Application form from your immigration authority.²⁷
- B1 exam certificate and the naturalization test certificate.
- Insurance history of the pension insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung).
- Copy of your employment contract, letter from your company confirming that you are currently employed²⁸ and proof of income for the last 3 months or income tax assessment.
- Copy of the rental agreement, proof of current rent, and a copy of the heating costs bill.
- Copy of your passport, residence permit, and registration certificate, biometric photos.
- Membership certificate of your health insurance.
- Tip: Include a screenshot of your result of the online Bürgergeld calculator (see point 6).
If you submit your application in a personal appointment, bring all documents with you to the office.

8. Send your application or deliver it to the office

Check carefully if your application and the necessary documents are complete. You can also ask someone for help or contact an advisory center.²⁹
Pay the fee (113 to 147 euros), if required by the immigration authority.
Submit the application before your current residence permit expires and possibly apply for an extension of your residence permit at the same time.
Submit the application online³⁰ or by post (as a registered letter (Einwurfeinschreiben)³¹). If you have an appointment, bring all documents with you.

9. Get your residence permit

Once the immigration authority has reviewed everything, they will send you a letter and an appointment to pick up your permanent residence permit.
If the immigration authority does not respond after 2 months, you can ask about the status of your application. If you haven’t received a response after 3 to 6 months, you can consider to discuss a lawsuit for inactivity (Klage wegen Untätigkeit) with a lawyer.
If you have a residence permit and leave Germany for more than 6 months, the permit will become invalid. Make sure to get information before traveling for an extended period.³²

This page was realized with the support of the Postcode Lottery and lawyer Nora Ebeling (Last updated October 2024).
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Fußnoten

1
Example
2
In some cities or districts, the appointment can be booked online. If this is not possible, ask by phone or email how you can get an appointment.
3
In some cities or districts, there are no appointments or even after several attempts you do not get an appointment. You can also choose to send the application online or by post for other reasons.
4
Not for subsidiary protection or deportation ban.
5
You must be working as a skilled worker. Skilled workers perform jobs that require vocational training or a university degree.
6
21 months (with B1) or 27 months (with A1) of residence with a Blue Card.
7
3 years residence as a self-employed person
8
usually 3 years
9
In the case of a deportation ban, the time of your asylum procedure also counts, but you may additionally need to have had a residence permit for 3 years.
10
21 months (with B1) or 27 months (with A1).
11
Does not apply to subsidiary protection or deportation ban.
12
Under certain conditions (§ 35 AufenthG).
13
The months of pension contributions do not need to be consecutive. They can come from different jobs.
14
Minimum contribution approx. 100 € per month. Contributions can be paid retroactively until the end of March of the following year. If it’s important for your Niederlassungserlaubnis (permanent residence permit), make sure to pay pension insurance even with a mini-job.
15
Select “Insurance history”, enter your social insurance number and your first and last name. You will receive the information by post in a few days. With your electronic residence permit and PIN you can use the online login and download.
16
Rough estimate: The sum of your net income and child benefit should be greater than: €1,500 (1 person), €2,200 (2 people), €2,600 (3 people), €3,000 (4 people), €3,400 (5 people).
17
Possible income sources are work, pension, self-employment as well as unemployment benefits (only ALG1), child benefits, supplementary child allowance (Kinderzuschlag), child-raising allowance (Erziehungsgeld), parental allowance (Elterngeld), BAföG (student allowance), BAB (vocational training allowance) and advance maintenance payment (Unterhaltsvorschuss).
18
If you live with a partner, you must also enter their income.
19
Does not apply to subsidiary protection or deportation ban.
20
Under certain conditions (§ 35 AufenthG) no proof is required, if you entered Germany younger than 18 years old.
21
This can be the case, for example, with people with subsidiary protection who have been in Germany for 5 years but have not yet paid into the pension insurance for 5 years.
22
Naturalization may be possible after 3 years.
23
With a Blue Card or (under certain conditions) if you had a residence permit on 31.12.2004, you need A1.
24
The naturalization test and the integration test “Leben in Deutschland” are the same. You can take the test at the end of the integration course or indepedently
25
For permanent residence after 5 years.
26
This is possible, for example, at the Goethe-Institut or TELC. If you only take the exam, it is very important that you prepare well for it.
27

Only in case that there is an (online) application form available. Otherwise, the application can also be submitted without a form. In that case, write down since when you have been living in Germany and for how long you have had a residence title.
28
Possible example: “Hiermit wird bestätigt, dass (dein Name, Adresse) seit (Startdatum) bei uns in einem ungekündigten Arbeitsverhältnis beschäftigt ist. Das Arbeitsverhältnis ist (unbefristet / bis zum xxx befristet). Datum, Unterschrift, Firmenstempel” (“This is to confirm that (your name, address) has been employed with us since (start date) in an employment relationship that has not been terminated. The employment relationship is (permanent / limited until xxx). Date, signature, company stamp”). This certificate must not be older than 14 days.
29
If you are missing a few months of residence or pension insurance, you may possibly still be able to submit the application. This also applies if you are missing a document (e.g., the B1 certificate). In that case, attach a document stating what you will send later (e.g., appointment booking for the B1 exam).
30
You must be able to prove that you have sent the application. Take a screenshot of the confirmation. Save an email confirmation as a PDF.
31
The registered letter with proof of delivery is like a letter. But you get proof that it has arrived. It costs 3.10 €. To send it, you need to go to an office of Deutsche Post. The post office will give you a code with the delivery proof. Take a photo of the code and keep it.
32
There are exceptions if you have already lived in Germany for more than 15 years (§ 51 AufenthG)