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Settlement permit
If you have been staying in Münster or Germany for a certain amount of time with a residence permit, it is usually possible to apply for a settlement permit. The settlement permit is a permanent residence permit. It means that you are allowed to stay in Germany permanently and that you only need to go to the foreign nationals office if you have recently been issued a new passport.
This page describes the requirements which must be met by those seeking to apply for a permanent residence permit. If you have a residence permit as a skilled worker, a family member of a German citizen, a self-employed person, a refugee / person entitled to asylum, a young person or a EU Blue Card holder, you will find corresponding sub-sections and more specific requirements regarding how to obtain a settlement permit on the left-hand side.
In order to be granted a settlement permit, you generally need to have been living in Germany with a residence permit for five years. If this applies to you, you can apply for a permanent residence permit. Unfortunately, this is not possible if you have one of the following residence permits:
- Residence permit for study purposes
- Residence permit for vocational training
- Residence permit for medical treatment
- Residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment
An alternative to the German settlement permit is the EU permanent residence permit. This is a permanent certificate of residential status which makes it easier for you to move to another EU country and obtain a certificate of residential status there at a later date.
This page lists the requirements necessary to the granting of a settlement permit.
In addition, the settlement permit allows you to start the naturalisation process. Information on the requirements for naturalisation can be found on the web page of the naturalisation office.
Requirements
- Holder of a residence permit for five years
You must have held a residence permit for five years. If you have held a residence permit for the purpose of studying or vocational training, only 50 % of the corresponding periods is counted (ex.: if you have spent three years pursuing a Bachelor’s degree or vocational training, only 18 months of this will count towards your settlement permit).
- Covering living expenses
You must be able to cover your living expenses without applying for public benefits. This means that you must not receive any benefits from the Job Centre or housing benefit.
- Retirement provisions
You must provide evidence that you have made compulsory or voluntary contributions to the statutory pension insurance scheme over a period of at least 60 months.
The German Federal Pension Fund (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) will issue corresponding proof of this.
If you are married, proof can also be provided by your spouse.
If you have been a holder of a residence permit since 31 December 2004, you do not have to provide proof of compulsory contributions to the statutory pension insurance scheme.
- Health insurance
You and your family members must have sufficient health insurance cover. This is the case if you have statutory health insurance or equivalent private health insurance.
- No criminal offences
You must not commit any criminal offences in Germany. In this case, even fines may prevent the granting of a settlement permit.
- Sufficient knowledge of German
You must have sufficient knowledge of German (B1 level).
If you have been a holder of a residence permit since 31 December 2004, you only need a basic knowledge of German (A1 level).
- Basic knowledge of the legal and social systems
You must have a basic knowledge of the legal and social systems. You can prove this by passing the “Living in Germany” test or by having completed school or vocational training.
If you have been a holder of a residence permit since 31 December 2004, you do not have to prove that you have a basic knowledge of the legal and social systems.
In principle, all the requirements must be met. If you are unable to meet the requirements, please contact us. We will then check whether the requirements can be (partially) waived.
If you meet the requirements for the granting of a settlement permit, you can be issued a permanent certificate of residential status.
Please bring the following with you…
If you wish to apply for a settlement permit, please bring the following documents with you (if we do not already have them):
- Your valid passport
- A current passport photo
- A completed application form
- Employment contract
- Current salary statements (for the self-employed: net assets certificate)
- Tenancy agreement (and current rent certificate, if available)
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of compulsory contributions to the statutory pension insurance scheme
- B1 certificate (alternatively: degree certificate)
- “Living in Germany” test or citizenship test (alternatively: degree certificate)
- Fee: € 113.00
Further documents may be required in individual cases. If this applies to you, we will inform you accordingly.
Please note: An appointment is required to receive the settlement permit. Please send us an appointment request.
Paid employment
Pursuing paid employment is permitted if you have been issued a settlement permit. This means that you can take up employment or become self-employed.