Consultation
Review of your situation and an action plan.
€90 / 45 min
Credited when you book the package
- Eligibility and timeline check
- Document list for your case
- Answers to all your questions
Permanent residence · Niederlassungserlaubnis
Permanent residence in Germany, done right
Living and working in Germany and want an unlimited residence permit? We check when you can apply, count your pension contributions, prepare the documents and submit your application to the Ausländerbehörde.
- From 21 months with the Blue Card
- After 3 years for skilled workers
- Unlimited, not tied to an employer
Updated: September 17, 2026
Timelines by legal basis
- EU Blue Card: 27 months with A1 German or 21 months with B1 (§ 18c (2) AufenthG).
- Skilled workers under § 18a or § 18b: 3 years and 36 months of pension contributions, B1 German (§ 18c (1)).
- Graduates of German universities and vocational training: 2 years of qualified employment (§ 18c (1)).
- Spouses of German citizens: 3 years, B1 German (§ 28 (2)).
- General rule: 5 years with a residence permit and 60 months of pension contributions (§ 9 AufenthG).
Key requirements
- A valid residence permit and the required period for your legal basis.
- Pension contributions for the required number of months (Deutsche Rentenversicherung statement).
- Secure livelihood without social benefits.
- German at the required level and, under the general rule, basic knowledge of the legal and social order (Leben in Deutschland test).
- Adequate housing and health insurance.
Free: BundID and your residence card's online ID
11 pages · PDF. What BundID is, access levels, PIN, Transport PIN, PUK and CAN, step-by-step registration via AusweisApp, Postfach, common problems and security.
Hello Vlad. I wanted to thank you once again for the consultation. Here's how our family reunion visa story ended: we joined my husband in Germany on 31 May this year. On 8 August we applied for our residence permits (that was the appointment we were given on arrival), and today the whole family received physical residence permit cards valid for four years. My husband and I were also referred to integration courses. The sooner we pass B1, the sooner they will reimburse half of the cost. Everything went very fast.
Calculator: when you can apply for permanent residence on your legal basis.
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Settlement permit package
Eligibility check, documents and application to the Ausländerbehörde until the decision
€750
Booked after a consultation
- Checking which legal basis applies and when you can apply
- Calculating the timeline and pension contributions for your permit
- Personal document checklist
- Application form and submission to the Ausländerbehörde (online via the LEA in Berlin)
- Correspondence with the authority and follow-up requests
- Fiktionsbescheinigung if your permit expires before the decision
- Chat support until the decision
Final prices, no VAT charged. The decision is made by the Ausländerbehörde.
No mistakes
10 mistakes that lead to follow-up requests or refusals
- 01
Submitting an employment contract without the Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis, or with an old version of the form
Read more → - 02
Invoicing clients as a freelancer while on the Opportunity Card
Read more → - 03
Writing a generic motivation letter for the Chancenkarte
Read more → - 04
Booking through the wrong channel: portal, embassy or visa centre
Read more → - 05
Buying travel insurance that doesn't cover a long-term stay
Read more → - 06
Translating documents without certification by a notary or sworn translator
Read more → - 07
Not checking your degree in Anabin or getting a ZAB evaluation in time
Read more → - 08
Entering on a Schengen visa hoping to get a residence permit locally
Read more → - 09
Missing the deadline to extend or change your residence permit
Read more → - 10
Applying for citizenship while still on § 24
Read more →
FAQ
How is permanent residence different from citizenship?
A Niederlassungserlaubnis is an unlimited residence permit: you keep your citizenship. Citizenship gives you a German passport and voting rights and usually requires 5 years of lawful residence.
Does time before the Blue Card count?
The 21/27 months count months of employment on the Blue Card with pension contributions. For the general five-year period, time on other permits counts too: we check your case.
What if my permit expires before the decision?
If you apply before your permit expires, your current status continues until the decision: the authority issues a Fiktionsbescheinigung.
How much does it cost?
The settlement permit package is €750. You can start with a €90 consultation, which is credited towards the package.
Related reading
§ 24 AufenthG and German citizenship: do years under temporary protection count?
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Freelance residence permit and pension contributions: why you shouldn't delay a § 21 application
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