With Settlement permit you can live in Germany forever and you will never have to extend your stay again. In this comprehensive article, we explain everything you need to know about Settlement permit . We will show you the benefits of Settlement permit and the requirements you need to meet. You will also receive important tips on how to apply and what you should look out for. Finally, we also answer all the questions we frequently receive from our clients.
What is the Settlement permit?
The Settlement permit is an unlimited right of residence in Germany. With the Settlement permit you can stay in Germany legally forever. Once you have received the Settlement permit , you can no longer be deported from Germany. In addition, your right of residence no longer needs to be extended at Foreigners' office .
The Settlement permit is therefore one of the most valuable residence rights. Most foreigners are not aware that temporary residence rights are only extended if the legal requirements for the granting of a new temporary residence right are met at the time the temporary residence right expires.
What does Settlement permit mean?
The Settlement permit is an unlimited right of residence. This means that the Settlement permit does not need to be extended. It is valid forever and you never have to go to Foreigners' office again to extend your residence.
The word "Settlement permit" contains the two German words Niederlassen and Erlaubnis.
Settling down
The first part "settling down" means that you arrive, stay and live in Germany. Germany becomes your new home.
Permission
The second part "permission" means that you receive approval, consent or simply a "yes".
Together, the word "Settlement permit" thus results in the "consent: to live permanently in Germany".
Can't get an appointment, having problems with Foreigners' office or your application has been rejected? We are sure that we can help you too!
What does Settlement permit mean?
You will receive permission to settle in Germany, and for good! As the Settlement permit is an unlimited right of residence, it does NOT have to be extended. In addition, you can no longer be deported. In this case, unlimited means forever!
The Settlement permit is a so-called residence status that is available to all citizens from countries that do not belong to the European Economic Area. You can find out which countries belong to the European Economic Area on Wikipedia. If you are not from the EU or Norway, Liechtenstein or Iceland, you can generally obtain Settlement permit .
What am I allowed to do with a Settlement permit?
The Settlement permit greatly expands your rights as a foreigner in Germany. In legal terms, you are placed on an almost equal footing with traditional Germans or people who have already been naturalized. Whether in your professional or private life, many restrictions, fears and anxieties that you have without the Settlement permit will no longer apply. Once you have obtained the Settlement permit , you will have many opportunities in Germany. Regardless of whether it concerns the Naturalization, family reunification, creditworthiness or professional life. Only when you have the Settlement permit will you understand how stressful life was without a permanent right of residence. In particular, you will no longer have to go to the Foreigners' office on a regular basis.
The advantages of the Settlement permit
The Settlement permit is not just any right of residence, but the guarantee that you can stay in Germany forever. The fact that the Settlement permit is unlimited means that your right of residence no longer needs to be extended. Although most people are aware of this advantage, there are numerous other benefits to being a holder of the Settlement permit card.
- Secure and permanent residence
Settlement permit is one of the best residence rights. - Easier to obtain German citizenship (German passport)
It is much easier to become naturalized with Settlement permit . - Without the Settlement permit , Naturalization is sometimes impossible
There are temporary residence rights that prohibit naturalization (student visas, deportation bans, etc.) - Simplified family reunification
Settlement permit will make it much easier for you to bring your family to Germany. - You can finally take out loans
Loans enable you to make larger investments, e.g. to buy a house. - Enter and leave Germany freely whenever you want
Finally, you can travel to any country in the world, including your home country. - Working legally in Germany and abroad
You can change jobs or set up a company without any problems. - The permit is not tied to any specific purpose
Settlement permit The permit does not simply cease to be valid when studies, training or marriage ends. - Planning security for the future
A major advantage lies in the future prospects that you receive with Settlement permit . - No more appointments at Foreigners' office
With permanent residence status, you are largely spared the need to go to Foreigners' office . - No more fear of deportation
With very special exceptions, the Settlement permit cannot be taken away from you.
You can find further and more detailed explanations in our blog post 9 advantages of Settlement permit or in the following video:
Prerequisite Settlement permit
In order to obtain Settlement permit , you must meet a large number of requirements. The requirements you must meet depend on the legal basis under which you can or must apply for it. In principle, the requirements for obtaining the Settlement permit are based on the Residence Act. If no special regulations apply to you, you must apply for Settlement permit in accordance with Section 9 of the Residence Act.
General requirements according to § 9 Residence Act
You can read the legal requirements directly in the law in § 9 AufenthG. As the requirements are sometimes very complicated for a layperson to understand, we have summarized the most important requirements for you in simplified form below:
- You must have lived in Germany for 5 years.
- You must be financially integrated, i.e. be able to support yourself from your own resources.
- You must have made provisions for your old age.
- You must not have a criminal record.
- They must be culturally integrated, i.e. have a German language certificate and have completed an integration course "Test Leben in Deutschland".
- You must have a valid passport or passport replacement.
We have deliberately not mentioned all the requirements and exceptions here. Otherwise the article would be too complex and technical. To find out immediately whether you are eligible for Settlement permit , simply take our free test. Here you can find out in just 2 minutes whether you are eligible for Settlement permit .
When will I receive the Settlement permit?
How can I obtain Settlement permit more easily and quickly?
There are a number of special regulations that enable you to obtain Settlement permit more quickly and under simpler conditions.
Special regulations
In addition to Section 9 of the Residence Act, the Residence Act provides for a total of 12 bases of entitlement for the issue of Settlement permit . You now need to determine which basis of entitlement is best for you.
- § Section 18c (1) (skilled workers),
- § Section 18c (2) (holders of an EU Blue Card),
- § Section 18c (3) (highly qualified specialists),
- § Section 19c (4) (civil servants),
- § Section 21 (4) (self-employed persons),
- § Section 23 (2) (Admission programs),
- § Section 26 (3) (persons entitled to asylum and GRC refugees),
- § Section 26 (4) (beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and prohibition of deportation)
- § Section 28 (2) (family members of Germans),
- § Section 31 (3) (independent right of residence of foreign spouses),
- § 35 (foreigners raised in the federal territory) and
- § Section 38 (1) sentence 1 no. 1 (former Germans)
In detail, the requirements vary greatly depending on the basis of entitlement that applies to you. Depending on the basis of entitlement, you can receive Settlement permit in less than 2 years.
To make it easier to understand, we have created an overview that shows you which requirements you need to meet depending on the relevant basis of entitlement. We have only included the most important bases of entitlement in the chart.
Exceptions
In addition to the many special regulations, there are many other exceptions that make it even easier for certain people to obtain Settlement permit .
a) Exemptions for sick and disabled people
Section 9 (2) sentence 2, 6 of the Residence Act exempts you from certain requirements if you can prove that you are disadvantaged due to a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability. In this case, you do not have to fulfill the following requirements:
- Living expenses do not have to be secured from own resources
- No 60 pension insurance contributions necessary
- No presentation of a language certificate
- No submission of an integration test "Living in Germany"
b) Exemption for spouses or life partners
In addition, spouses and life partners can obtain the Settlement permit under simpler conditions. This is regulated in § 9 para. 3 sentence 1 of the Residence Act. One exception is particularly valuable in this context. It is sufficient for the spouse or life partner if only one person fulfills the following requirements:
- 60 Pension insurance contributions paid
c) Exemption for pupils, trainees and students
There is also a very interesting exception for pupils, students and trainees. This exception can be found in § 9 para. 3 sentence 2 AufenthG. This group of people is exempt from the following requirement:
- No 60 pension insurance contributions necessary
d) Exemption from receiving state benefits
In the vast majority of cases, when applying for Settlement permit you must prove that you are able to support yourself from your own resources. This means that you are not allowed to receive any state benefits. However, there are a total of 7 exceptions to this rule, which are regulated in Section 2 (3) of the Residence Act. Even if you receive the following state benefits, you can still apply for Settlement permit :
- Child benefit
- Child supplement
- Parental allowance
- Parental allowance
- BAföG (as a student) and BAB (as a trainee)
- Public funds that enable residence in the federal territory
- Benefits under the Maintenance Advance Act
e) Derogation: No integration test necessary
In almost all cases, you will have to prove that you are culturally integrated before you are granted a residence permit at Settlement permit . You must prove this by taking the "Living in Germany" test. However, the legislator has also created exceptions for this in Section 9 (1) sentence 5 AufenthG. In the following cases, you do not need an integration test if you can communicate orally in German in a simple manner and:
- if there is a recognizably low need for integration ( § 44 Para. 3 No. 2 AufenthG)
- Participation in the integration test is permanently impossible or unreasonable (Section 44a (3) no. 3 AufenthG)
Free test to the Settlement permit
You don't know whether and under what conditions you can obtain the Settlement permit ? Under which regulation do you now have to apply for Settlement permit ? We have a solution for that!
At this point we recommend our free test at this point. If you are eligible for Settlement permit , you will receive a free consultation after the test in which we will examine in detail how you can obtain Settlement permit as quickly and easily as possible and what requirements you need to meet.
When will I receive the Settlement permit?
Application Settlement permit: How do I get the Settlement permit now ?
If you meet the requirements, extensive legal steps are necessary to obtain the Settlement permit .
Settlement permit Requirements 2022
Below you can find out what steps you need to take to obtain Settlement permit in 2022. The legal requirements change every few years. If you currently meet all the requirements, we recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible. If the law changes again at any time, you may no longer meet the requirements. The first step is to find out which entitlement basis should be used to apply for Settlement permit . Unfortunately, Foreigners' office does not always choose the most favorable alternative for you.
Request Settlement permit
You must first submit an application for the Settlement permit to your Foreigners' office . You must also ensure that you have proof of receipt of the application at the relevant Foreigners' office . Unfortunately, very many foreigners in Germany do not submit the application, but only seek advice from Foreigners' office . In this case, you will often receive the answer that the Settlement permit cannot yet be applied for, even though you already meet the requirements or will do so in a short time.
In this case, you will not receive a notification from Foreigners' office stating the reasons for the rejection of your application. If the employee at Foreigners' office is wrong, you will not receive this, although you are entitled to it.
This means that you have the right to an unlimited right of residence and still do not receive it.
Written application Settlement permit
As a rule, you should submit the application for the Settlement permit in writing. You should also ask Foreigners' office to confirm in writing when the application was received. This will ensure that you have proof that the application has been submitted. If Foreigners' office has not processed the case over a longer period of time (at least 3 months), you can have Foreigners' office obliged to do so by submitting an Lawsuit for failure of act to the competent administrative court.
A number of immigration authorities in Germany, such as Foreigners' office Berlin, have linked the application form for Settlement permit on their websites.
Unfortunately, the application procedures at the many hundreds of immigration authorities are not standardized. The documents you have to fill in also vary greatly. Many immigration authorities have the following document on their homepage:
- Settlement permit Application PDF
The application document is also not uniformly named. The most common names for it are
- Application PDF
- Settlement permit PDF
- Application Settlement permit PDF
As a first step, we recommend that you visit the homepage of your Foreigners' office and download the application form. You should always read the application in detail beforehand, as you will already know which documents you need. Unfortunately, there are also numerous immigration authorities that do not make the application available online. In this case, you can make an appointment at Foreigners' office and have the application handed out to you.
Online application Settlement permit
In addition, some immigration authorities in Germany now offer the option of applying for the Settlement permit online. For example, Foreigners' office Hamburg has been offering the option of applying for the Settlement permit online since 2021. This has the great advantage that you can prove that you have submitted the application. In addition, the processing times are usually shorter in this case.
Submit documents Settlement permit
Once the application has been submitted, you must submit numerous documents as copies and/or originals. Which documents are required in detail depends largely on the basis of which entitlement you can or must apply for Settlement permit . As a rule, the following documents are required:
- residence permit
- Employment contract
- Wage statements
- Employer confirmation
- Tax assessment notice, business analysis and certificate from the tax consultant
- Training contract
- Certificate of enrollment
- School, interim and final certificates
- Pension notifications from the German pension insurance
- Language certificate
- Test "Living in Germany"
- Rental agreement
- Landlord confirmation
- Proof of rent payment (bank statement)
- Certificate of good conduct
- Certificate that you do not receive any benefits from the state (social assistance, ALG I and II, housing benefit)
- Simple and extended registration certificate
- Passport or passport replacement
- Proof of identity such as birth certificate, family book, register entry
Some immigration authorities not only want the documents mentioned, but also many more. In our experience, many foreigners in Germany do not receive the Settlement permit simply because they are unable to submit all the documents to Foreigners' office in full. In our blog post Settlement permit - Which documents are required, you can find out everything you need to know about documents in the application process.
How the process works with Migrando
What does the decision depend on?
In principle, the decision depends on whether you meet all the requirements. If you meet all the requirements and have submitted all the documents, the permanent right of residence can be granted.
Problems often arise because the legislator has not clearly regulated all the requirements. There are numerous regulations where it is disputed whether they are fulfilled or not. For example, the law does not clearly regulate whether you need a fixed-term or permanent employment contract. Specialized lawyers can prove with current judgments that fixed-term employment contracts are sufficient.
There are also conditions where Foreigners' office has discretionary powers. In the case of students, Foreigners' office must generally make a prognosis as to whether you will be able to support yourself in Germany on a permanent basis. There is no right or wrong in this prognosis. The better the prognosis decision is substantiated, the higher the probability that the Foreigners' office will grant you the Settlement permit .
Who decides on the Settlement permit?
After the immigration authorities have received your complete application with all the necessary documents, the person responsible for you will first decide whether Settlement permit will be issued. If the application is rejected, an appeal procedure can be carried out in some federal states. In this case, legally trained staff will usually check whether the decision in the application procedure was correct or incorrect. If you take legal action before the competent administrative court to obtain the Settlement permit , a judge will decide on the merits of your application.
Which biometric data must be submitted
Once your application has been received, all documents have been checked for completeness and there are no legal objections to the issue of the Settlement permit , you will usually receive an appointment for the issue of the Settlement permit within 1-12 months. At the appointment, you must submit a biometric passport photo, your fingerprints and a personal signature.
When will I receive the Settlement permit?
a) Settlement permit Processing time
In our experience, the application procedure takes approx. 6 - 18 months, depending on Foreigners' office . In the case of smaller immigration authorities, the procedure times are generally shorter, but in the case of very large immigration authorities, the length of the procedure depends heavily on the department responsible, but takes significantly longer due to the enormous overload.
If the application procedure is carried out with a lawyer for Immigration law who has sufficient experience, the procedure usually takes 2-6 months. The background to this is that the lawyer can and usually does submit Lawsuit for failure of act after 3 months.
b) How long does it take to print the settlement permit card?
After the Settlement permit has been issued, only the Settlement permit card needs to be produced by Bundesdruckerei. Experience has shown that it takes approx. 4-8 weeks for the card to be printed and delivered.
What does the Settlement permit
If all requirements are met and the permanent right of residence is granted, fees will be charged by Foreigners' office . These fees are generally regulated in § 44 of the Residence Ordinance.
a) What is the fee for the Foreigners' office
The fees for issuing the Settlement permit are generally between 113.00 euros and 147.00 euros.
- for highly qualified persons 147,00 Euro
- for self-employed persons 124,00 Euro
- for all others 113,00 Euro
b) Who is exempt from the fee
There are also a number of situations in which you are exempt from the fees. You will find the regulation on this in particular in § 52 AufenthV. The exemption from fees applies in particular to:
- Persons entitled to asylum, international protection (refugee status and subsidiary protection) and resettlement refugees
Settlement permit Application: Our conclusion
As you can see, it can be very complicated to obtain Settlement permit . For even more detailed information, read all about the application process in our blog post Settlement permit - What to look out for when applying.
Your application for Settlement permit has been rejected
Unfortunately, it happens time and again that your application is rejected. This is usually due to the fact that not all requirements have been met. In our experience, around 50% of all rejections are unlawful. In this respect, it is worth having it checked whether you are entitled to the Settlement permit . The quickest way to find out whether you can obtain a permanent right of residence is to take our free test.
If your application has been rejected, there are basically two ways in which you can still obtain the Settlement permit .
Appeal against the rejection notice
In any case, you can lodge an objection or appeal against the decision of Foreigners' office . Whether an official appeal procedure is initially permissible or whether you have to file an action directly with the competent administrative court depends on the federal state in which you have submitted your application. Instructions on how to appeal are attached at the end of the rejection notice. This will tell you the time limit within which you may lodge an appeal, which legal remedy (objection or legal action) is the correct one and where the appeal must be lodged.
New application for the issue of the Settlement permit
Of course, it is always possible to simply submit a new application. However, there are a few things to bear in mind. The problem with a new application within the same Foreigners' office is that, in case of doubt, the same case officer will decide on your case. It is rather unrealistic that they will come to a different conclusion and grant you the Settlement permit . A new application makes sense in most cases, especially if you apply to a different Foreigners' office because you have moved to a different city.
Our recommendation
If you have received a rejection notice, we recommend that you first check whether you actually meet all the requirements for the issue of Settlement permit . You can check this easily and simply in the first step with our free test.
Never again appointments in the Foreigners' office
If you receive a positive test result, you will receive a free consultation from us. During the phone call, we will check in detail whether all your information was correct and whether you actually meet all the requirements for Settlement permit . If you then decide to instruct our lawyers, the lawyer will check whether it is better to lodge an objection or complaint or whether it would be quicker to submit a new application directly.
9 reasons why immigration authorities wrongly do not issue Settlement permit
Unfortunately, applications are often wrongly rejected by immigration authorities. This happens time and time again because the Foreigners' office does not check your application carefully enough or applies the wrong basis for entitlement. The nine most common reasons why the Settlement permit is wrongly refused are
- Pension insurance contributions are wrongly requested or incorrectly calculated.
- BAMF revocation procedure has ended, but the Foreigners' office is not known.
- Safety check has been completed, but Foreigners' office is not known.
- Students must provide proof of income and pension insurance payments despite statutory exemption.
- Trainees must provide proof of income and pension insurance payments despite statutory exemption.
- Foreigners' office wrongly rejects simplified bases for claims.
- The Settlement permit is not issued because the income was calculated incorrectly.
- The application is not processed or not decided due to Corona.
- The Settlement permit is not issued because the temporary right of residence is still valid for more than 12 months.
You can also take a look at our YouTube video.
Is the Settlement permit as Residence permit really open-ended?
We are repeatedly asked whether the Settlement permit is issued for an unlimited period or only for a limited period. This question is completely justified and results from the fact that an expiration date is noted on the Settlement permit card.
It is incredibly important to understand what the difference is between a temporary right of residence and the permanent Settlement permit . Firstly, you should understand why you should not delay another day if you can obtain the permanent Settlement permit right now. The reason for this is that if you have been granted a temporary right of residence, you will have to meet all the requirements and provide all the necessary evidence again once the time limit has expired in order to obtain a new temporary right of residence. This does not apply to Settlement permit ! There is no re-examination and no further proof is required for the Settlement permit card to be extended.
Secondly, you need to be aware of the few exceptions as to how you can lose the Settlement permit again, even though the Settlement permit is unlimited.
Why does the Settlement permit card have an expiration date if it is a permanent right of residence?
Many foreigners in Germany believe that the Settlement permit is only a temporary right of residence because there is an expiration date on the settlement permit card.
The expiration date does not mean that your permanent Settlement permit expires. Your right of residence was issued by Foreigners' office for an indefinite period. The Settlement permit as a right of residence is and remains valid. In this case, it is only a question of extending the Settlement permit card as an identity document.
How long is the settlement permit card valid for?
Your settlement permit card must be renewed after 10 years at the latest, but usually after 4 years. Almost all identity documents in Germany have to be renewed at regular intervals. When renewing the Settlement permit card, it is also only ensured that you can identify yourself in Germany with a current biometric photo. Don't worry, there is no legal check when renewing the Settlement permit card, nor do you have to hand over extensive documents for the renewal of the Foreigners' office .
General information on the settlement permit card
Once you have received the Settlement permit from the responsible Foreigners' office , you will receive a written confirmation. Immediately afterwards, Foreigners' office will send the so-called Settlement permit card, the so-called electronic Residence permit (eAT), to the Federal Printing Office for printing. After completion, the settlement permit card is usually sent to you by post. In some cases, the Settlement permit card must be collected in person from Foreigners' office . The Settlement permit card or the so-called eAT (electronic Residence permit) can theoretically be used via the Internet for official services. For example, you can use it to re-register online at the residents' registration office. You do not have to use the online ID function, as this is voluntary.
What does a Settlement permit card look like?
The Settlement permit card is a plastic card in credit card format.
The card contains an electronic storage medium (chip) on which various personal data, biometric features and ancillary provisions are stored. The following information is regularly contained on your card:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Address
- Photograph
- Fingerprints
How can the Settlement permit be dropped again?
You have already learned that the Settlement permit is valid for all times. However, there are some situations in which you may lose your Settlement permit .
- You travel abroad for too long
- You are committing a serious criminal offense
How long can you stay abroad with Settlement permit ?
Unfortunately, many holders of the Settlement permit do not know that you automatically lose your permanent right of residence if you leave Germany for more than 6 months at a time. This even applies if you are only going on a trip around the world or are abroad for more than 6 months for professional reasons. The Residence Act clearly states that you will lose your Settlement permit in this case. This is literally stated in § 51 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 8 AufenthG:
"[...] if the foreigner has left the country and has not re-entered within six months or a longer period specified by Foreigners' office [...]"
Under no circumstances should you travel abroad for more than 6 months at a time.
What do I need to bear in mind if I am abroad for longer than 6 months?
Of course, there are reasons why you may need or want to travel abroad for longer than 6 months at a time. If you follow the two tips below, you can travel abroad for much longer.
You already know before you leave the country that you will be traveling abroad for longer than 6 months
In this case, inform Foreigners' office before you leave the country that you will be traveling abroad for longer than 6 months. You must provide Foreigners' office with detailed reasons as to why you will be abroad for longer than 6 months. Please ensure that you obtain written confirmation from Foreigners' office that you are permitted to stay abroad for longer than 6 months. The written confirmation must state that the Settlement permit does not expire in this case. It should also state a date by which you are permitted to leave the country without losing your Settlement permit .
You realize during your stay abroad that you will be abroad for longer than 6 months
There can be many reasons why you realize during your stay abroad that you will be abroad for longer than 6 months. Be sure to inform Foreigners' office as clearly as possible before the end of the 6-month period why you need to stay abroad for longer. In this case, Foreigners' office must also confirm the extension in writing. A phone call is not sufficient under any circumstances! In particular, the content of the telephone call is not verifiable!
If you notice a few days or even on the day of departure that you will not be re-entering the country before the 6-month period expires, contact Foreigners' office immediately by telephone and in writing. First explain the reasons for the extended stay abroad by telephone and then send the reasons again by e-mail, fax or even express mail. In this case, we recommend that you immediately instruct a lawyer who will explain the reasons for the extended stay in detail with supporting documents and send them by fax with a lawyer's acknowledgement of receipt.
When does Foreigners' office permit an extended stay abroad of more than 6 months?
First of all, these reasons must generally be documented with written evidence. The mere assertion is particularly ineffective if you only inform Foreigners' office about the extended stay abroad shortly before the 6 months expire. The most important reasons are
- Inability to travel due to illness
- Serious family reasons abroad (death; serious accident; serious illness of family members abroad)
- Re-entry already rejected abroad, e.g. due to quarantine
- Passport loss abroad
- and many more
How can I get Settlement permit back?
Unfortunately, it happens again and again that the Settlement permit is lost because the 6-month period has been exceeded without prior consent. As soon as you realize that the 6 months have expired, contact a lawyer immediately. Under no circumstances should you make statements without legal advice and without having checked them legally. In this case, the lawyer will check what options and evidence can be provided to get the Settlement permit back.
When can the Settlement permit be revoked in other cases?
Even if the Settlement permit is basically an unlimited right of residence, there are other ways in which you can lose it. This applies in particular if you commit serious crimes (e.g. murder) in Germany. In this case, the Settlement permit will generally be revoked immediately. In this case, it is generally only possible to regain it after ten years at the earliest and a ban on submitting applications or Residence permit will then apply for this period.
Do you still have questions?
FAQ - The most important questions and answers about Settlement permit
The Settlement permit is an unlimited right of residence. With the Settlement permit you can stay in Germany legally forever. Once you have received the Settlement permit , you can no longer be deported from Germany. In addition, your right of residence no longer needs to be extended at Foreigners' office . Only the card must be renewed every 4 - 10 years.
Yes, there are no longer any legal reasons why you are not allowed to travel to your home country. Refugees in particular are no longer prohibited from traveling to their home country, as they no longer have a right of residence on humanitarian grounds.
In principle, you can travel to all countries. However, Foreigners' office will not issue you with a national passport. If you have neither a valid national passport nor a valid passport replacement, you may travel abroad, but it will be practically impossible for you to enter or leave a non-EU country. If you have passport problems, it is advisable to apply for the Naturalization (German passport) as soon as possible.
Children can obtain the Settlement permit from the age of 16 under very simple conditions. It is not possible to obtain Settlement permit before the age of 16. If your children are younger than 16, you should check whether your children can be naturalized. This is already possible at birth, provided that all requirements under the Citizenship Act are met.
If you are at least 16 years old and meet all the requirements, you can obtain Settlement permit .
In principle, you can receive Settlement permit . As a rule, trainees and students can also receive the Settlement permit if their living expenses are covered by BAföG or BAB, for example, and no or too few pension insurance contributions have been paid.
It depends. If you have been sentenced to a fine of more than 90 daily rates or a prison sentence, it is usually only possible to obtain the Settlement permit after 5-10 years.
Yes, there are no longer any legal residence concerns in this case.
