Permanent residence

Permanent residence is a separate milestone

A German settlement permit allows long term residence without a fixed end date. It is not German citizenship. If you hold an EU Blue Card, you may become eligible to apply sooner than under some other routes.

Tell us about your circumstances

At a glance

A German settlement permit allows long term residence without a fixed end date. It is not German citizenship.
If you hold an EU Blue Card, you may become eligible to apply sooner than under some other routes.
The responsible foreigners authority assesses each application and its evidence.
Naturalisation has separate rules.

When can a Blue Card holder apply?

Official guidance says eligible holders may apply after 27 months of Blue Card employment with A1 German, or after 21 months with B1 German, if all other conditions are fulfilled. The responsible foreigners authority assesses each application and its evidence.

What needs reviewing?

Your residence and employment history, ability to support yourself, required contributions, health cover, language and housing documents can all matter. A change of job or residence title can affect the assessment, so simply counting months is not enough.

residence and employment history
ability to support yourself
required contributions
health cover
language
housing documents

Must you obtain permanent residence before citizenship?

Naturalisation has separate rules. A settlement permit can establish your residence status clearly, but some residence titles that can lead to a permanent right of residence may also meet the residence title requirement for naturalisation. Your present status and local authority's requirements need checking.

Review my residence position

Related routes

Citizenship and passport
A German passport follows German citizenship. Neither a Blue Card nor a settlement permit is a passport. Naturalisation has its own residence, language and financial requirements.
See this route: Citizenship and passport
Family, study and vocational training
Family reunification, university study and vocational training each have separate rules. Tell us about your family or education plans in the contact form so the correct route can be considered.
See this route: Family, study and vocational training
EU Blue Card
An EU Blue Card job contract, with no language certificate required and matched to what you want and to your background. If you do not yet have a job offer, there is no need to worry: finding the right opportunity is what we do for you.
See this route: EU Blue Card