Germany permanent residence route
2 current source-backed permanent residence pathways. Verify the responsible authority before applying.
This page contains 2 current routes for this destination, with the available eligibility, requirements and duration details.
Source-backed legal route · Checked 2026-08-28
Current route records
| Route | Conditions | Effective or checked | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent Residence route | Applicants generally need five years of lawful residence in Germany, self-support, sufficient living space, 60 months of pension contributions, German and civic knowledge; settlement residence permits employment without the temporary-purpose restriction. | 2026-07-13 | Official source |
| Permanent Residence route | Applicants generally need five years of lawful residence in Germany, self-support, sufficient living space, 60 months of pension contributions, German and civic knowledge; settlement residence permits employment without the temporary-purpose restriction. | 2026-07-14 | Official source |
Can you work on this route?
Route-specific work rights and conditions stay separate from shortage-list status and individual eligibility.
| Route | Published work answer | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent Residence route | The exact official route source states route conditions including: er permission from the Foreigners Authority has been granted. Permanent residence German law makes a distinction between a settlement permit and the EU long-term residence permit. Settlement permit To obtain a settlement permit, you must prove the following: residence for at least five years on the German territory with permit; sufficient resources to support yourself and your dependants; health insurance; adequate housing/accommodation; in general, 60 months social security contributions (or equivalent contribution to a private scheme); you have the right to work or to be self-employed; sufficient knowledge of the German language and basic civic knowledge. The above terms will be less for foreign nationals who graduated from a German university. They may apply for a settlement permit, if they have held a residence permit as migrant worker for two years and have contributed to the pension fund for at least 24 months. Your application may be rejected if you threaten public policy or public security. More on settlement permits EU long-term residence To obtain an EU long-term resident status, you must provide the fo | Official source |
| Permanent Residence route | The exact official route source states: ers Authority has been granted. Permanent residence German law makes a distinction between a settlement permit and the EU long-term residence permit. Settlement permit To obtain a settlement permit, you must prove the following: residence for at least five years on the German territory with permit; sufficient resources to support yourself and your dependants; health insurance; adequate housing/accommodation; in general, 60 months social security contributions (or equivalent contribution to a private scheme); you have the right to work or to be self-employed; sufficient knowledge of the German language and basic civic knowledge. The above terms will be less for foreign nationals who graduated from a German university. They may apply for a settlement permit, if they have held a residence permit as migrant worker for two years and have contributed to the pension fund for at least 24 months. Your application may be rejected if you threaten public policy or public security. More on settlement permits EU long-term residence To obtain an EU long-term resident status, you must provide the following: residence on the Germ | Official source |
| Permanent Residence route | The exact official route source states route conditions including: er permission from the Foreigners Authority has been granted. Permanent residence German law makes a distinction between a settlement permit and the EU long-term residence permit. Settlement permit To obtain a settlement permit, you must prove the following: residence for at least five years on the German territory with permit; sufficient resources to support yourself and your dependants; health insurance; adequate housing/accommodation; in general, 60 months social security contributions (or equivalent contribution to a private scheme); you have the right to work or to be self-employed; sufficient knowledge of the German language and basic civic knowledge. The above terms will be less for foreign nationals who graduated from a German university. They may apply for a settlement permit, if they have held a residence permit as migrant worker for two years and have contributed to the pension fund for at least 24 months. Your application may be rejected if you threaten public policy or public security. More on settlement permits EU long-term residence To obtain an EU long-term resident status, you must provide the fo | Official source |
| Permanent Residence route | The exact official route source states: ers Authority has been granted. Permanent residence German law makes a distinction between a settlement permit and the EU long-term residence permit. Settlement permit To obtain a settlement permit, you must prove the following: residence for at least five years on the German territory with permit; sufficient resources to support yourself and your dependants; health insurance; adequate housing/accommodation; in general, 60 months social security contributions (or equivalent contribution to a private scheme); you have the right to work or to be self-employed; sufficient knowledge of the German language and basic civic knowledge. The above terms will be less for foreign nationals who graduated from a German university. They may apply for a settlement permit, if they have held a residence permit as migrant worker for two years and have contributed to the pension fund for at least 24 months. Your application may be rejected if you threaten public policy or public security. More on settlement permits EU long-term residence To obtain an EU long-term resident status, you must provide the following: residence on the Germ | Official source |
Official sources
ImmigrationDB does not provide immigration services, legal advice or application handling, and it does not assess anyone's eligibility. This section publishes links to the responsible official authority and short quotations from that authority's own published text, so the rule can be read at its source and checked there before acting.