Can you get permanent residence after 21 or 27 months on a Blue Card?

An eligible Blue Card holder may apply for a German settlement permit after 27 months of qualifying Blue Card employment with A1 German. With B1 German, the application point may be 21 months. These are eligibility periods for an application. They are not promises of a decision or of when a physical card will arrive.

The foreigners authority examines residence status, employment, ability to support yourself, required contributions, insurance and supporting records. Someone may have lived in Germany for 21 months without having worked under a Blue Card for that whole period. A job change or switch between residence titles can make the calculation less straightforward.

Keep employment contracts, payslips, insurance information and language certificates organised from the beginning. If you hope to use the 21 month route, do not leave B1 preparation until the final weeks. Exam dates and results can affect when a complete application is possible.

A settlement permit is a long term residence status. Citizenship is membership of the German state; a German passport can be requested after citizenship is acquired. Receiving permanent residence at 21 months does not make a passport available at 21 months. The general naturalisation rule in 2026 requires at least five years of lawful residence, along with other conditions.