A settlement permit offers you many advantages. We at migrando have therefore made it our business to assist you in applying for this important permanent residence title. In today’s post, we’ve summarized what documents you need for a settlement permit and why.
Summary
Settlement permit – documents
The immigration authorities require documents from the foreigner in order to decide whether the settlement permit can be issued. In this respect, the requirements of the various foreigners authorities are very different. Some immigration authorities require you to submit a lot of documents, others only require the most important documents. In addition, some of the documents for the settlement permit must be handed over in the original. Sometimes, however, it is sufficient to hand in a copy.
The most important documents for the settlement permit at a glance
These documents must always be submitted to the immigration office
- Current residence title
The Aliens Department wants to make sure that the applicant is the right person. - Passport
If no passport is available, identity can be proven by presenting other documents
(for example, photo document, birth certificate, family book, etc.). - Biometric photo
For the issuance of the settlement permit card, an original biometric photo must be submitted. - Rental agreement
The rental contract is one of the most important documents for the settlement permit, since the Aliens’ Registration Office recognizes through it whether the applicant as in § 9 para. 2 No. 9 Residence Act has sufficient living space of its own. - Language certificate
For a settlement permit you must have sufficient language skills.
In principle, the presentation of a B1 language certificate is sufficient for this. Other applies to Persons with refugee status (according to. § 26 para. 3 Sentence 1 No. 3 AufenthG: A2) and for Persons with refugee status who need the settlement permit after 3 years (§ 26 para. 3 Sentence 3 No. 3 AufenthG). - Integration test “Living in Germany
Without the proof of the integration test the settlement permit will not be granted, cf. § 9 para. 2 No. 8 Residence Act. - Federal Central Register extract
The foreigners authority checks whether the applicant has committed a criminal offense. In the case of minor penalties, the settlement permit is granted. In the case of higher penalties (91 daily sentences, suspended sentences, prison sentences), there is a negative Federal Central Register entry. In this case, a permanent right of residence cannot be granted as a rule. You can find more information about the Federal Central Register here.
When do I get the settlement permit?
We check for you according to which legal regulation you can obtain the settlement permit the fastest and easiest way. Let us advise you!
Employees:settlement permit documents
In addition to the general documents, employees may be required to submit additional documents for the settlement permit, namely:
- Employment contract
This is considered proof that the livelihood is secured, cf. § 9 para. 2 No. 2 Residence Act. You can find out here when the authorities consider your livelihood to be secure. - Employer’s certificate (not older than 14 days).
This is used by the Foreigners’ Registration Office to check whether the employment relationship still exists in the case of older employment contracts. - Wage statements
These documents for applying for a settlement permit serve as actual proof of income. - Proof of income (additional income, e.g. mini-job)
With the help of additional proof of income, you can improve your chances of obtaining a settlement permit, as you are entitled to a residence permit according to the German law. § 9 para. 2 No. 2 Residence Act have to prove that their livelihood is secure. You can find out how much you need to earn to obtain a permanent residence permit here. - Bank statements
The Aliens’ Registration Office uses these documents to check whether rent payments are being made and Wage payments received. This is how the authority recognizes that it is not just a matter of fictitious employment contracts. - Pension insurance notification/pension insurance notice
In principle, employees must have paid 60 months’ contributions (5 years) into the German pension insurance scheme.
Exempt from this requirement are: Pupils, trainees, students, cf. § 9 para. 2 Set 3 Residence Act and Applicants with refugee status, § 26 para. 3 Residence Act. The pension insurance notification is issued every year in March by the German pension insurance and is sufficient. However, if you need proof of German pension insurance during the year, you can request a pension insurance certificate. This is regularly issued only to attorneys. - Jobcenter notice
If the family receives a Jobcenter notice although the applicant is working and earning money, it must be checked whether the livelihood is secured, i.e. whether at least 51% of the livelihood is covered by own means. - Housing allowance notice
If the employee earns too little money and therefore receives housing allowance, it must be checked whether the livelihood is secured. - Negative test BAMF (for decision whether revocation/return procedure regarding the asylum decision has been completed).
This document is only requested for foreigners who have applied for asylum and received a positive asylum decision (refugee status, subsidiary protection, ban on deportation). The BAMF examines a few years after the asylum decision has been issued whether it was rightly issued. This examination process sometimes takes years. A lawyer can speed up this process tremendously, giving you proof much faster.
Trainees: Never derlassification permit documents
Trainees, unlike employees, are not required to submit a copy of their employment contract or proof of pension insurance. For this, the Aliens Department may require other documents from you for the settlement permit, namely:
- BAB notice
The foreigners authority checks whether the livelihood is secured.
BAB (more on the vocational training allowance can be found here) is not considered to be a use of public funds pursuant to. § 2 para. 3 No. 5 AufenthG. - Training contract
The Foreigners’ Registration Office checks whether you are really a trainee. If so, simpler requirements for the settlement permit apply to you. - Interim reports
Since you will receive the settlement permit under eased conditions, the Foreigners’ Registration Office will check whether a positive prognosis decision can be made. Since you will be granted an unlimited right of residence in Germany, it must be ensured that you really successfully complete your training and can then support yourself from your own resources. - Proof of income (additional income, e.g. mini-job).
You will need these documents to prove any additional income.
If you have a job in addition to your education, this can help to ensure that the prognosis decision is positive. - Health insurance certificate
For a settlement permit, documents regarding your health insurance must be submitted, as the Aliens’ Registration Office will check whether you have health insurance. - Housing allowance notice
If you do not earn enough money during your training and therefore receive housing allowance, it must be checked whether your livelihood is secured. - Negative test BAMF (for decision whether revocation/return procedure regarding the asylum decision has been completed).
This document is only requested for foreigners who have applied for asylum and received a positive asylum decision (refugee status, subsidiary protection, ban on deportation). The BAMF examines a few years after the asylum decision has been issued whether it was rightly issued. This examination process sometimes takes years. A lawyer can speed up this procedure enormously and thus obtain the proof much faster.
Students: Settlement permit documents
Just like trainees, students are exempt from proving some settlement permit documents such as the employment contract and the pension insurance certificate. You may need to submit other additional documents for this, namely:
- Bafög notice
The Aliens’ Registration Office checks whether the livelihood is secured. Vocational training allowance (BAB) does not count as use of public funds, cf. § 2 para. 3 No. 5 Residence Act - Certificate of enrollment
The Aliens’ Registration Office needs these documents to determine whether you are really a student. If this is the case, simpler conditions for the issuance of the settlement permit apply to you. - Interim reports
Since you will receive the settlement permit under eased conditions, the Foreigners’ Registration Office will check whether a positive prognosis decision can be made. Because the settlement permit is an unlimited right of residence, it must be ensured that you successfully complete your education and subsequently support yourself from your own resources. - Proof of income (additional income, e.g. mini-job).
If you have a job in addition to your studies, this can help ensure that the prognosis decision is positive. - Health insurance certificate
The Aliens’ Registration Office will check whether you have health insurance. - Housing allowance notice
If the employee earns too little money and therefore receives housing allowance, it must be checked whether the livelihood is secured. - Negative test BAMF (for decision whether revocation/return procedure regarding the asylum decision has been completed).
This document is only requested for foreigners who have applied for asylum and received a positive asylum decision (refugee status, subsidiary protection, ban on deportation). The BAMF examines a few years after the asylum decision has been issued whether it was rightly issued. This examination process sometimes takes years. A lawyer can speed up this procedure enormously and thus obtain the proof much faster.
Self-employed persons/entrepreneurs:documents settlement permit
The application of self-employed persons or entrepreneurs is sometimes subject to additional requirements, namely:
- Proof of income
The Aliens’ Registration Office must check whether you can secure your livelihood. Various documents are required for this purpose:- Tax assessment of the previous year
- Annual financial statement or income statement
- Business management analysis (BWA) of the current year
- Business registration / trade license
- Tax number
- Tax identification number
- if necessary Commercial register excerpt
- Housing allowance notice
If you do not earn enough money and therefore receive housing benefit, it must be checked whether your livelihood is secured. - Negative test BAMF (for decision whether revocation/return procedure regarding the asylum decision has been completed).
This document is only requested for foreigners who have applied for asylum and received a positive asylum decision (refugee status, subsidiary protection, ban on deportation). The BAMF examines a few years after the asylum decision has been issued whether it was rightly issued. This examination process sometimes takes years. A lawyer can speed up this procedure enormously and thus obtain the proof much faster.
Summary
For a successful application for a settlement permit (you can read here what you have to pay attention to), it is essential to have an overview of the many necessary documents. We have presented the most important points on the subject of settlement permit documents here and explained them for you, although this list also does not include can be 100% conclusive.
Migrando helps you to submit a legally secure application and thus to obtain the settlement permit as quickly as possible. Our lawyers know exactly what is involved and have the necessary experience with the relevant authorities. So if you too would like to finally obtain a permanent residence permit, feel free to take our free test at www.migrando.de/test.
No more appointments at the immigration office
With the settlement permit, annoying appointments and tedious waiting times at the Foreigners' Registration Office are a thing of the past!
