Permanent residence-EU; application for permission
Foreigners from non-EU countries who have been legally resident in Germany for a long time and have integrated themselves both economically and socially can, under certain conditions, be granted "Permission for Permanent Residence in the EU".
Description
The EU long-term residence permit is an unlimited residence title and serves to consolidate a foreigner's residence in Germany. It entitles the holder to employment as an employee or to self-employment in Germany.
In this respect, the EU permanent residence permit is equivalent to a "national" settlement permit (see "Related topics").
On the other hand, the EU permanent residence permit is also the basis for obtaining a right of residence and permission to take up employment in another EU Member State under simplified conditions. In this way, a third-country national also acquires a degree of freedom of movement within the European Union. The holder of a "national" settlement permit, on the other hand, can only take advantage of the so-called Schengen freedom to travel in the member states of the European Union (stay only for visiting purposes for a maximum of 90 days per period of 180 days).
The conditions for issuing this permit essentially correspond to those of the "national" settlement permit (see "Related Topics"). However, stricter requirements are imposed than in the case of the "national" settlement permit, for example with regard to securing the livelihood of the foreigner and his or her dependants, whom he or she must support.
The following are excluded from the granting of a permit for permanent residence in the EU:
- Holders of some residence titles on humanitarian grounds, as well as foreigners who have applied for one.
- Foreigners who have applied for humanitarian protection status in another Member State, pending a decision on this.
- Diplomats
- persons staying in the territory for the purposes of study or vocational training.
Prerequisites
A foreigner is to be granted a permit for permanent residence in the EU if
- he/she has been residing in the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany with a residence title for an uninterrupted period of five years,
- his livelihood and that of his dependants, whom he has to support, is secured by fixed and regular income,
- he has sufficient knowledge of the German language,
- he has a basic knowledge of the legal and social order and of living conditions in the Federal territory,
- reasons of public security or order, taking into account the severity or nature of the breach of public security or order or the danger posed by the foreigner, taking into account the duration of previous residence and the existence of ties in the Federal territory, do not stand in the way, and
- he/she has sufficient living space for him/herself and his/her family members living with him/her.
Links to more information
Status: 12.04.2022
Responsible for editing: Bayerisches Staatsministerium des Innern, für Sport und Integration
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