Settlement permit: When is your livelihood considered secure?
One of the key requirements for a Settlement permit a secure livelihood. Applicants therefore often ask themselves: How much do I need Settlement permit earn to Settlement permit a Settlement permit ?
There is no blanket answer to this question. The Foreigners' office each application individually. In doing so, the authority always considers the personal circumstances of the applicant or the entire household.
Typical factors that are considered are:
- Do you live alone or in a household with your spouse and/or children?
- How old are the children (standard requirements vary according to age)?
- How much is your rent including heating costs and, if applicable, any special additional requirements?
- Do you have public or private health insurance—and who else is covered, if applicable?
- Are there any regular obligations (e.g., alimony) or regular income (e.g., main job, side job, self-employment)?
- Is your income permanent, regular, and likely to remain secure in the future?
The means of subsistence for the permanent residence permit must generally be secured without recourse to public funds (i.e., without citizen's income, social benefits, or asylum seeker benefits).
This requirement arises from Section 9 (2) No. 2 of the Residence Act in conjunction with Section 2 (3) of the Residence Act.
Your livelihood is considered secure if all running costs (household expenses) can be covered from your own resources (household income). You must Foreigners' office to the Foreigners' office that your available livelihood (income) is sufficient to cover the entire needs of your household.
Put simply, the following applies:
Household expenses ≤ reliably available household income
Only when this calculation works out can the livelihood for the Settlement permit secure.
What is a community of need and who belongs to it?
When Settlement permit your Settlement permit application, the Foreigners' office only Settlement permit your personal financial situation. It is also crucial to determine whether the livelihood of all persons living in your household or financially dependent on you is secured. This is referred to as a "benefit community " or " household community."
These persons belong to your benefits community
The joint household includes spouses and registered partners, provided they live with you.
The same applies to partners in a stable, long-term relationship, even without marriage, if they share a household.
Minor children who live in the same household as you or for whom you regularly and actually provide financial support are also taken into account.
These individuals must have their overall livelihood secured.
These persons are NOT part of your benefits community.
Not included: Purely residential communities without family or partnership ties.
The living expenses of roommates in such a shared apartment Settlement permit play a role in the assessment of the Settlement permit .
Special cases: Individual review by the Foreigners' office
In certain situations, the Foreigners' office decides Foreigners' office case-by-case basis:
Adult children are not automatically included in the household community. They are only included if they are still financially dependent on you and live with you in a shared household.
German family members (e.g., German spouse or German child) are not considered part of the joint household, as their right of residence does not depend on Residence permit . However, their income may have a positive effect on the assessment of the applicant's ability to support themselves, for example, if rent and living expenses are shared.
If the applicant can fully support themselves, German family members are not taken into account. In this case, however, their income (e.g., the spouse's income or child benefit) is also not included in the calculation.
Other foreign family members such as parents, siblings, or other relatives are not Settlement permit taken into account for the Settlement permit —even if they live in the same household. The decisive factor is whether the applicant actually and permanently provides for their livelihood. Only in such exceptional cases can they be included.
How does the Foreigners' office calculate Foreigners' office ?
When calculating living expenses, the Foreigners' office bases its calculations Foreigners' office the standards set out in SGB II (Basic Security). This sets out standard requirements that serve as a basis for calculating the minimum requirements of a household.
What is the minimum requirement?
The minimum requirement consists of several components:
- Standard needs according to § 20 SGB II
Standard needs cover ongoing living expenses, such as food, clothing, electricity, household goods, and personal needs. The amount depends on the individual's living situation, for example, whether they live alone, in a partnership, and/or with children. - Costs for accommodation and heating (warm rent)
In addition to the standard allowance, the Foreigners' office takes into account Foreigners' office actual costs for rent and heating. However, these are only recognized to a reasonable extent. What is considered reasonable depends on the respective place of residence and local guidelines. - Health insurance:
In the case of private health insurance, the monthly premiums are calculated as an additional requirement. For those with statutory compulsory insurance, the premiums are already included in the net income and are therefore not assessed separately.
This means:
Standard needs + rent including heating + health insurance, if applicable = minimum needs
The Foreigners' office uses the Foreigners' office standard requirements in accordance with Section 20 of SGB II (Social Security Code II) for its calculations:
Single person | (Married) partner | Child (18-24 years old) | Child (14-17 years old) | Child (ages 6-13) | Child (0-5 years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
563 euros | 506 euros | 451 euros | 471 euros | 390 euros | 357 euros |
Important: These amounts relate exclusively to standard requirements. Costs for rent, heating, and, if applicable, health insurance are added on top and often make up the largest part of the minimum requirements.
Calculation: This is how high the cost of living must Settlement permit for the Settlement permit
Settlement permit income (minimum requirement) necessary for a Settlement permit on the composition of the household. The Foreigners' office with fixed guidelines for standard requirements (see table) and adds the appropriate costs for rent and heating, as well as health insurance contributions, if applicable.
Example 1: Single person (Mohammed)
For a single person, the Foreigners' office assumes Foreigners' office standard requirement of €563 per month. This amount covers general living expenses.
In addition:
- reasonable costs for rent and heating
- Health insurance contributions (if applicable, for private health insurance)
Sample calculation:
Demand | Costs |
|---|---|
Standard requirement: single person (Mohammed) | 563.00 euros |
Costs for rent and heating | + $650.00 |
minimum requirement | 1,213.00 euros/month |
For the calculation of living expenses, this means that the single person (Mohammed) must have at least €1,213 (minimum requirement) per month at their disposal in order for their livelihood Settlement permit secure for the Settlement permit .
Example 2: Household with two adults
If two adults (Mohammed and Halima) live together in one household, a standard allowance of €506 is set for each person.
Sample calculation:
Demand | Costs |
|---|---|
Standard requirement: Person 1 (Mohammed) | 506.00 euros |
Standard requirement: Person 2 (Halima) | + 506.00 euros |
Costs for rent and heating | + $650.00 |
minimum requirement | 1,662.00 euros/month |
The two-person household must have at least €1,662 (minimum requirement) per month at its disposal in order for its livelihood Settlement permit secure for the purposes of the Settlement permit
Example 3: Family with two adults and two children
This example concerns a family of four, i.e., two adults and two children of different ages. In addition, the applicant (Mohammed) pays into a private health insurance plan every month.
Sample calculation:
Demand | Costs |
|---|---|
Standard requirement: Person 1 (Mohammed) | 506.00 euros |
Standard requirement: Person 2 (Halima) | + 506.00 euros |
Standard requirement: Child 1 (0-5 years) | + $357.00 |
Standard requirement: Child 2 (6-13 years) | + 390.00 euros |
Costs for rent and heating | + $650.00 |
Costs for private health insurance | + $450.00 |
minimum requirement | 2,859.00 euros/month |
A family of four (including private health insurance) must have €2,859 (minimum requirement) available each month in order for their livelihood Settlement permit secure for the purposes of obtaining a Settlement permit .
Important: The amounts mentioned are only examples. The actual amount of income required can vary significantly depending on where you live, as the costs of rent and heating can vary accordingly.
The Settlement permit not Settlement permit the full net income from your pay slip. The Foreigners' office the net wage in a similar way to the citizen's income. Depending on your income level and number of children, flat-rate deductions are made (often between $0 and approx. $380). Important: Even after these deductions, your income must still exceed the minimum requirement in full.
What income counts toward the Settlement permit?
To obtain a Settlement permit , you Settlement permit prove that you can support yourself from your own income. It is not only the amount of income that matters. It is also crucial that the income is regular and sustainable.
The Foreigners' office a so-called forecast decision on this matter. It therefore not only reviews your past income, but also assesses how stable your income situation is likely to be in the future.
This income counts as revenue.
Depending on your individual situation, the following income will be Settlement permit for the Settlement permit :
- Net wages from employment, including regularly paid bonuses
- Income from self-employment, such as profits or regular withdrawals, with relevant supporting documents in each case
- Alimony payments, provided they are verifiable, regular, and legally secured
- Pensions and certain insurance benefits, depending on the type, amount, and duration of the payment
As a general rule, income must be permanently available. One-time cash flows or short-term special payments are not sufficient to prove that your livelihood is secure.
Common pitfalls in practice
In practice, there are some situations in which the Foreigners' office pays Foreigners' office attention:
- Fluctuating income
(e.g., for self-employed persons or commission-based work): In this case, average values over several months are often used for calculation purposes. In addition, the authorities check whether the income is likely to continue in the future. - Temporary jobs or consistently long hours
Income can be classified as insecure if it can only be achieved through consistently long working hours or is temporary in nature. - Exceptionally low rent
(e.g., subletting or free accommodation): Some authorities take a more cautious approach to assessing living expenses if the housing situation is considered uncertain and could be lost at any time.
Don't forget your health insurance
According to Section 2 (3) of the Residence Act, secure livelihood always includes health insurance coverage. In many cases, this is not a problem—for example, with statutory compulsory insurance.
However, the topic becomes relevant in the following cases:
- private health insurance
- Family insurance when your employment situation changes
- Independence, especially in the event of contribution arrears or tariff changes
The decisive factor is not the type of insurance, but whether the health insurance coverage is permanent, comprehensive, and without any outstanding premiums.
Social benefits and the Settlement permit
Settlement permit to the Settlement permit : Your livelihood must be secured without recourse to social benefits that secure your existence. This requirement is based on Section 2 (3) of the Residence Act (AufenthG).
In practice, benefits that directly serve to secure livelihoods are particularly problematic. These include, in particular:
- Citizen's income (SGB II)
- Social assistance (SGB XII)
Receiving such benefits generally means that your livelihood is not considered secure and that you Settlement permit meet the requirements for a Settlement permit .
Which social benefits are not detrimental to the Settlement permit?
However, the law provides for important exceptions. Not every public benefit Settlement permit precludes the granting of a Settlement permit . The decisive factors are the type of benefit, the amount, and the specific individual case.
Section 2 (3) of the Residence Act (AufenthG) expressly lists benefits thatdo not stand in the way of a Settlement permit .
These include, among others:
- Child benefit and child supplement,
- Parental allowance and child-raising allowance,
- Educational assistance benefits, e.g., BAföG,
- Benefits based on previous contribution payments, such as unemployment benefit I
- Advance maintenance payments under the Advance Maintenance Payments Act
Housing benefits and care allowances are also not considered detrimental. Although they are not taken into account as separate income when calculating living expenses, they do not prevent the calculation of a secure livelihood.
It is always crucial that public benefits are only received on a supplementary or earmarked basis.
Special cases: self-employment, part-time work, parental leave, illness
Not every employment situation is assessed Foreigners' office by the Foreigners' office . The authorities examine living expenses particularly carefully in atypical living and working situations.
Settlement permit self-employed persons
For self-employed persons, calculating the cost of living for the Settlement permit is Settlement permit more complex. The decisive factor is not turnover, but rather the sustainable profit after taxes that is actually available for living expenses.
The Foreigners' office generally Foreigners' office its assessment on:
- Tax assessment notices from recent years
- business management analyses (BWA)
- Forecasts for future income development
The decisive factor is whether the self-employed activity is permanently suitable for securing a livelihood. When assessing this, the Foreigners' office considers the profits of the past 2-3 years.
part-time work
Even part-time employment does Settlement permit automatically exclude the granting of a Settlement permit . The only decisive factor is whether the income is sufficient to cover the relevant needs.
Parental allowance or sick pay
You can Settlement permit a Settlement permit even if you currently receive or have received parental allowance or sick pay in the past. Receiving parental allowance or sick pay is not considered harmful use of public funds, but rather compensation for lost earnings.
Parental leave or sick leave are taken into account in the official prognosis decision and are not a problem as long as they are limited in time and a realistic return to work is foreseeable.
Short-term or temporary loss of income does not therefore automatically lead to rejection.
Exceptions in the case of illness or disability
In special cases, the Foreigners' office may Foreigners' office waive the requirement to provide proof of sufficient funds. According to Section 9 (2) sentence 6 of the Residence Act, this is possible if the applicant has a physical, mental, or psychological illness or disability.
The exception may apply in particular if:
- it is not possible or reasonable to earn a living independently for health reasons
- the ability to work is permanently or significantly restricted
What evidence is typically required?
The Foreigners' office usually Foreigners' office meaningful documentation, for example:
- medical certificates or reports
- Information on the degree of disability
- Information on the course of the disease and prognosis
Why is this a case-by-case assessment?
Whether the requirement of a secure livelihood is waived always depends on the individual case. The nature, severity, and duration of the illness, as well as the individual's personal circumstances, play a key role in this decision. There is no blanket decision.
The Foreigners' office decision on the forecast
The calculation of secure livelihood for the Settlement permit not a mere snapshot. Rather, the Foreigners' office a so-called forecast decision. This involves assessing whether livelihood will also be permanently secure in the future.
This forecast takes into account, among other things:
- the previous income situation in recent years
- the current income situation
- the reliability and sustainability of income
- career prospects and qualifications
In the case of fluctuating income—such as seasonal work, weekend work, tips, or self-employment—an average of the last six months is often calculated.
What documents do I need to prove my means of subsistence?
In order to obtain a Settlement permit , you Settlement permit Foreigners' office to the Foreigners' office that you are financially independent. The decisive factor here is not only your current income situation, but also whether your income is regular, reliable, and sustainable.
In practice, it is therefore worthwhile to compile the relevant documents early on and in full. Good documentation makes it easier for the authorities to review and can avoid queries or delays.
Checklist: Documents proving means of subsistence
Income from employment
- current pay slips (usually 3-6 months)
- Employment contract or current contract amendments
- For fixed-term contracts: proof of extension or employer confirmation
Income from self-employment
- Business analysis
- Tax assessments
- Forecasts for income development
- Bank statements as proof of regular income
housing costs
- Rental agreement
- current proof of heating costs
- For property: Proof of current liabilities (e.g., loans)
Health insurance
- current health insurance certificate
- For private health insurance: proof of the amount of contributions and regularity of payments
The more complete and comprehensible the documents are, the easier it is for the Foreigners' office . This can significantly improve the chances of a quick decision.
Common mistakes and misunderstandings regarding Settlement permit
In practice, applications for a Settlement permit fail not because of income itself, but because of incorrect assumptions or incomplete information. Many applicants assess their financial situation differently than the Foreigners' office. It is precisely these discrepancies that often lead to queries or even rejection.
Common mistakes when applying—and how to avoid them:
- State gross income instead of net income
The decisive factor is what you actually have available each month. The net income, i.e. the income after deduction of taxes and social security contributions, is decisive— not the gross amount stated on the employment contract or pay slip. - Plan for one-time special payments as permanent income
Vacation or Christmas bonuses, bonuses, or premiums are generally not considered reliable income if they are not paid regularly and permanently. For the authorities, a stable monthly income is what counts most. - Lack of evidence of long-term income security
The Foreigners' office not only Foreigners' office your current income situation, but also whether your livelihood is permanently secured for the future. Temporary employment contracts, ongoing probationary periods, or highly fluctuating income must therefore be well explained and documented with appropriate evidence. - Rent and ancillary costs not realistically taken into account
Often, only income is considered, without taking into account the actual costs of rent and heating. However, it is precisely these expenses that have a major influence on whether living expenses can be considered secure.
Summary
There is no fixed amount that you must Settlement permit to obtain a Settlement permit . The decisive factor is always your individual living situation. The Foreigners' office whether your regular income is sufficient to cover all of your household's needs on a permanent basis.
Standard needs + rent including heating + health insurance, if applicable = minimum needs
What matters here is not a high gross income, but a realistic, sustainable net income without social benefits such as citizen's income that secure one's livelihood.
Special circumstances such as self-employment, part-time work, parental leave, or temporary illness Settlement permit automatically exclude you from receiving a Settlement permit , but will be carefully evaluated as part of a forecast decision.
Those who prepare their application for a Settlement permit well, realistically assess their own needs, and submit all relevant documents in full significantly increase their chances of success. If in doubt, it is worth checking at an early stage whether your livelihood Foreigners' office secure according to the standards of the Foreigners' office —because this is precisely where applications often fail in practice.
Are you unsure whether your income is sufficient or whether special regulations apply to you? Take advantage of our free test and have your individual situation checked without obligation.
