Home Visa routes Permanent residence German for Settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis)
Permanent residence. The route and the German level depend on the permit you hold now.
German level: A1, B1
Exams that count: Goethe-Zertifikat, telc Deutsch, ÖSD, DTZ
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Rules for this route
Blue Card → settlement permit (standard) Last checked 2026-09-30
Settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) after 27 months of Blue Card employment.
Goethe A1 format
Conditions 27 months of employment with a Blue Card Pension contributions for the same 27 months Basic German (A1) Basic knowledge of the legal and social order (Leben in Deutschland test) Enough living space and money to support yourself Watch-outs Which months count (only Blue Card months, or also earlier time a Blue Card could have been issued) is interpreted differently; check with your Ausländerbehörde. Time on another EU country's Blue Card does not count. Official sources Blue Card → settlement permit (fast) Last checked 2026-09-30
Settlement permit after 21 months of Blue Card employment, 6 months sooner than with A1.
Goethe B1 format
Conditions 21 months of employment with a Blue Card Pension contributions for the same 21 months German B1 Basic knowledge of the legal and social order (Leben in Deutschland test) Enough living space and money to support yourself Watch-outs Which months count (only Blue Card months, or also earlier time a Blue Card could have been issued) is interpreted differently; check with your Ausländerbehörde. Time on another EU country's Blue Card does not count. Official sources Skilled worker → settlement permit Last checked 2026-09-30
Settlement permit after 3 years as a skilled worker (Fachkraft).
Goethe B1 format
Conditions 3 years with a residence permit under § 18a, 18b, 18d or 18g A job your permit allows you to do 36 months of pension contributions German B1 Basic knowledge of the legal and social order (Leben in Deutschland test) Enough living space and money to support yourself Watch-outs With vocational training or a degree completed in Germany, it is 2 years and 24 months of contributions. Official sources Settlement permit after 5 years Last checked 2026-09-30
Settlement permit after 5 years with a residence permit, whatever the purpose of your stay.
Goethe B1 format
Conditions 5 years with a residence permit 60 months of pension contributions German B1 Basic knowledge of the legal and social order (Leben in Deutschland test) Enough money and living space for you and your family Watch-outs Completing an integration course (Integrationskurs) proves both the German and the Leben in Deutschland requirement. Official sources FAQ Blue Card → settlement permit (standard) Settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) after 27 months of Blue Card employment. Last checked 2026-09-30
Blue Card → settlement permit (fast) Settlement permit after 21 months of Blue Card employment, 6 months sooner than with A1. Last checked 2026-09-30
Skilled worker → settlement permit Settlement permit after 3 years as a skilled worker (Fachkraft). Last checked 2026-09-30
Settlement permit after 5 years Settlement permit after 5 years with a residence permit, whatever the purpose of your stay. Last checked 2026-09-30