Permanently living in Rhineland-Palatinate

Do you already live and work in Rhineland-Palatinate and could imagine staying here? With a settlement permit in accordance with Section 9 AufenthG (German Residence Law), this is actually possible. With this unlimited residence permit, you and your family members are free to live and work in Germany without any restrictions. Nationals from so-called third countries can apply for a settlement permit. This includes all countries except the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. To be able to apply for such a permit, you must generally meet the following requirements:

• You have held a residence permit for at least five years
• You have paid a minimum of 60 months of statutory pension insurance contributions
• Your living expenses (if necessary, also that of your family) are secured
• You have a permanent employment
• You have fundamental knowledge of the legal and living conditions in Germany

Important: Certain groups of people benefit from simplified requirements for obtaining a settlement permit. This includes the following: 

• Qualified professionals who hold a residence permit in accordance with Sections 18a, 18b, 18d AufenthG (German Residence Law)
• Blue card holders
• Graduates of a university degree program or individuals that have completed vocational training in Germany
• Self-employed individuals
• Highly qualified individuals

Find out which requirements apply to these individuals on "Make it in Germany". 

Apply for a settlement permit by submitting a written application to your local foreigners authority. At the Citizens and Business Service of Rhineland-Palatinate (Bürger- und Unternehmensservice Rheinland-Pfalz), you will be able to find your local point of contact as well as further information on how to obtain a settlement permit.

Settlement permit for skilled workers

Are you considered a “skilled worker” according to the Residence Act (AufenthG)? If yes, you can check whether you can apply for a settlement permit for skilled workers which allows you and your family to permanently live in Germany, for example. You can find out whether you are considered a skilled worker and what requirements you have to fulfil on “Make it in Germany”.

Permission for a permanent residence in the EU

If you would like to work not only in Germany but also throughout the EU, a permanent EU residence permit could be a solution. With this residence permit you can live and work in Germany - but are also entitled to move freely within the European Union. This means: As long as you meet the simplified requirements you are eligible to receive a temporary residence permit in the other member states as well. For a permanent EU residence permit, you must meet the following requirements: 

• You have held a residence permit for at least five years
• You have paid a minimum of 60 months of statutory pension insurance contributions
• Your living expenses (if necessary, also that of your family) are secured
• You have sufficient living space (if necessary, also for the family)
• You have an adequate knowledge of German (usually at the B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR))
• You have fundamental knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany

To be granted a permanent EU residence permit, please submit a written application to the competent foreigners' authority. At the Citizens and Business Service of Rhineland-Palatinate (Bürger- und Unternehmensservice Rheinland-Pfalz) you will be able to find your local point of contact as well as further information on how to obtain a permanent EU residence permit.

Naturalisation

Would you like to not only live and work in Germany, but be able to participate in political elections and hold a German passport? In such case naturalisation may be the right solution for you. Find out how to become a German national here.