The EU Long-Term Residence Permit: Germany

If you’re looking to settle down in an EU country, especially Germany, you’ll need to know all about the EU Long-Term Residence Permit. In Germany, this is also known as the Niederlassungserlaubnis and allows you to live in the country on a permanent basis.

So, let’s dive in and find out more about the EU Long-Term Residence Permit. 

What is the EU Long-Term Residence Permit?

So, if you want to live in Germany on a permanent basis, sometimes referred to as settled status, you’ll need to apply for the EU Long-Term Residence Permit.

However, unlike getting a permanent residency permit in just one country, the EU Long-Term Residence Permit allows you to get residency permits in a variety of European Union nations.

Once you’re approved, you can migrate around different EU countries and get residency permits in each one.

It’s not always a guaranteed or quick process, but it’s labeled as a “facilitated process”, so having this Residence Permit definitely removes some of the bureaucratic hurdles if you want to stay and work in different nations in the EU. 

Who is Eligible for the EU Long-Term Residence Permit?

So, who can actually apply for the EU Long-Term Residence Permit? Well, in Germany, you need to:

• Have lived in Germany legally for at least five years
• Show that you can financially support yourself and your family members, with proof of income
• Be able to speak and understand German to a B1 level
• No criminal record
• Have a basic knowledge of the German legal and social system
• Show that you have enough accommodation for yourself and your family
• Prove that for at least 60 months, you’ve paid the compulsory or voluntary contributions to statutory pension insurance

How Can You Apply for the EU Long-Term Residence Permit?

As far as visas and residency permits go, applying for the EU Long-Term Residence Permit is pretty straightforward. You simply fill in the application form, attach the documentation, pay the fee, and then wait for a decision.

The fee is 113.00 EUR (56.50 when you send the application and 56.50 when approved).

In terms of documentation, you’ll need to send:

• A completed and signed application form
• A valid passport
• Passport photo
• Proof of income through either a contract of employment, salary statements for the past six months, a self-employed audit report, a tax assessment, or bank statements showing regular income.
• Proof of home ownership or rental lease
• Proof that you have adequate retirement benefits, though paying into the German Pension Fund, a private pension, or life insurance. 
• Proof of health insurance
• Certificate of registration at the main residence