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How to apply for permanent Residency
All necessary information about the application for permanent reisdency
... where you can download the application form for an unlimited residence permit
... where you need to send the application form and your documents to apply for a permanent residence permit (especially if you are applying in Berlin)
... which documents are required to apply for a permanent residence permit (e.g. in Berlin)
... whether you need an appointment to apply for the settlement permit
HERE YOU LEARN ...
Written by: Attorney at Law (Berlin)
Publication date: 27.01.2024
Estimated reading time: 11 min.
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1. Apply for a settlement permit online
There are around 90,000 foreigners living in Germany who hold a permanent residence permit (settlement permit). Of these 90,000 holders of a settlement permit, around 60,000 were previously holders of a Blue Card. This means that around 2/3 of foreigners with a permanent residence permit previously held a Blue Card. The largest proportion of skilled workers with a permanent residence permit live in Berlin (approx. 1/5). In order to meet this immense demand (particularly in the major cities of Berlin, Munich, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main and Hamburg), the immigration authorities in these major cities have developed their own online systems which can be used to apply for a permanent residence permit. All forms can be completed online and the necessary documents can be uploaded as PDF files to the servers or electronic files of the immigration authorities if the necessary requirements for applying for a permanent residence permit are met.
The following explains how the application process for a permanent residence permit actually works and what you need to bear in mind (incl. application form, deadline, processing time).
To apply for a settlement permit, you must first complete the application form. The application for a settlement permit for skilled workers is usually uploaded as a PDF by the immigration authorities (see e.g. Application for a settlement permit (PDF) at the Munich Immigration Office). However, most large immigration authorities have now replaced the application in PDF format with an application in the online portal.
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For the larger immigration authorities, you can find the online portals for applying for a settlement permit for skilled workers here:
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There is no actual PDF application in Berlin. The State Office for Immigration (LEA) merely states on its website that the application for a settlement permit should be submitted "informally". This means that no specific form is required, but that the application can simply be submitted by letter or email (if necessary via the LEA contact form). The letter or email must then contain the words "I hereby apply for a settlement permit". Another option is to use the official LEA application form for all other residence permits. The settlement permit can then be entered there under "Purpose of residence". The application email (or the form) can then simply be submitted via the LEA contact form (e.g. to the B1, B2, B3 department for skilled workers).
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When using the LEA website in Berlin, please note that the Berlin Immigration Office has different websites for different settlement permits. In this respect, the LEA distinguishes between the following categories of permanent residence permits:
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Settlement permit (general)
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Settlement permit for holders of an EU Blue CardSettlement permit for skilled workers
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Settlement permit for self-employed persons
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Settlement permit for family members of Germans
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Settlement permit for children (aged 16 and over)
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Settlement permit for recognized persons entitled to asylum and refugees
When using the LEA's online form, care should be taken to ensure that the correct type of settlement permit is applied for. The following applies: From specific to general. So if you are a Blue Card holder, you must select the appropriate category (although the "skilled worker" category would also apply to you).
These explanations only apply if you live in one of the major cities mentioned and your foreigners authority actually provides an online form.If the application form is not available via the online portal of your foreigners authority (often e.g. at smaller foreigners authorities in rural areas), you must obtain information from your responsible clerk (e.g. by telephone or e-mail). If in doubt, you must book an appointment to obtain the necessary application form.
The documents required for the application for permanent residence can usually be found on the website of the respective foreigners authority. The documents sometimes differ considerably depending on the foreigners authority. For example, the foreigners authority in Munich (Kreisverwaltungsreferat (KVR)) has numerous additional documents that must be submitted when applying for a settlement permit for skilled workers and holders of an EU Blue Card (e.g. confirmation of employment (PDF), declaration of livelihood (PDF), declaration of domestic community (PDF) and certificate of residence (PDF)).
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If you have any doubts as to which documents are required to apply for a settlement permit for skilled workers (e.g. if the required documents are not listed on the homepage of your foreigners authority), it is advisable to refer to the standards of the Berlin Foreigners Authority (Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA)). The Berlin Immigration Office is by far the largest immigration office in Germany (approx. 800,000 foreigners live in Berlin), which is why the requirements of the Berlin Immigration Office may have a certain general validity.
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The documents required to apply for a settlement permit for skilled workers and holders of an EU Blue Card in Berlin can be found here:
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documents required for a settlement permit for EU Blue Card holders in Berlin,
Documents required for a settlement permit for skilled workers in Berlin (without an EU Blue Card).
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Accordingly, at least the following documents are required to apply for a settlement permit at the State Office for Immigration in Berlin:
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Application form
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Registration certificate (or tenancy agreement) of residence in BerlinValid passport
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Blue card (plastic card)
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Biometric photo
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Proof of income (employment contract, proof of salary for the last 6 months, employer's certificate)
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Rental contract (or real estate purchase contract)
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Pension insurance history of the pension insurance in Germany
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Health insurance certificate
Please note, however, that the checklists for a settlement permit for skilled workers in Berlin are only intended as a rough guide. If in doubt, you must ask your responsible case officer or consult a specialist lawyer for migration law.
The vast majority of documents for applying for a permanent residence permit are relatively easy to obtain. However, many foreigners usually (understandably) do not know where they can obtain the so-called "pension insurance history" and the most recent wage certificates. Both are regularly required for the application for a permanent residence permit. However, you can easily apply for both on the Internet. You can find the pension insurance history in the e-services of the German Pension Insurance (no registration required). You can (usually) download the necessary salary statements from Arbeitnehmer-Online (DATEV) (registration required).
Once you have collected all the documents and signed the application, you must submit the complete application documents to your foreigners authority. You can use the relevant online portals for this or send the documents by post or email.
In Berlin, you could still send your application documents by email to b1b2b3@lea.berlin until 2023. However, this email address has been switched off. From 2024, you will therefore only be able to submit your application via the contact form to departments B1, B2, B3 in the LEA or by post to the LEA.
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If you wish to submit the application by post, the Friedrich-Krause-Ufer (FKU) location of the LEA is responsible. You can reach the FKU by post as follows:
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State Office for Immigration (LEA)
Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24
13353 Berlin
Phone: (030) 90269-4000
If in doubt, you can also instruct a lawyer specializing in immigration law to apply for a permanent residence permit. Lawyers in Germany have the option of contacting the immigration authorities (i.e. also the State Office for Immigration (LEA)) via the electronic justice system (special electronic lawyer's mailbox (beA)). This generally leads to faster and less complicated application processing.
Once you have applied for a settlement permit, the Immigration Office will process your application. Once the application is complete, the immigration authority will assign you an appointment to issue the settlement permit for EU Blue Card holders and skilled workers. It is therefore not necessary to apply separately for an appointment at the Foreigners' Registration Office to obtain a settlement permit! At the appointment, the foreigners authority will check the documents that you have previously submitted via the online form. Once you have paid the fee, you will be issued the settlement permit for skilled workers. As with other electronic residence permits (eAT), you will initially only receive the letter of issue at the appointment and can then collect the plastic card from the offices of the Immigration Office after it has been printed by the Federal Printing Office after 3 - 6 weeks. If the authority has still not issued the settlement permit even after a very long processing time, you can speed up the application process by taking various measures.
5. FAQ (application for permanent residency)
