Start Visa-Wege Permanent residence Deutsch für Settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis)
Permanent residence. The route and the German level depend on the permit you hold now.
Deutschniveau: A1, B1
Anerkannte Prüfungen: Goethe-Zertifikat, telc Deutsch, ÖSD, DTZ
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Regeln für diesen Weg
Blue Card → settlement permit (standard) Zuletzt geprüft 2026-09-30
Settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) after 27 months of Blue Card employment.
Goethe-A1-Format
Bedingungen 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 Hinweise 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. Offizielle Quellen Blue Card → settlement permit (fast) Zuletzt geprüft 2026-09-30
Settlement permit after 21 months of Blue Card employment, 6 months sooner than with A1.
Goethe-B1-Format
Bedingungen 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 Hinweise 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. Offizielle Quellen Skilled worker → settlement permit Zuletzt geprüft 2026-09-30
Settlement permit after 3 years as a skilled worker (Fachkraft).
Goethe-B1-Format
Bedingungen 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 Hinweise With vocational training or a degree completed in Germany, it is 2 years and 24 months of contributions. Offizielle Quellen Settlement permit after 5 years Zuletzt geprüft 2026-09-30
Settlement permit after 5 years with a residence permit, whatever the purpose of your stay.
Goethe-B1-Format
Bedingungen 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 Hinweise Completing an integration course (Integrationskurs) proves both the German and the Leben in Deutschland requirement. Offizielle Quellen FAQ Blue Card → settlement permit (standard) Settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) after 27 months of Blue Card employment. Zuletzt geprüft 2026-09-30
Blue Card → settlement permit (fast) Settlement permit after 21 months of Blue Card employment, 6 months sooner than with A1. Zuletzt geprüft 2026-09-30
Skilled worker → settlement permit Settlement permit after 3 years as a skilled worker (Fachkraft). Zuletzt geprüft 2026-09-30
Settlement permit after 5 years Settlement permit after 5 years with a residence permit, whatever the purpose of your stay. Zuletzt geprüft 2026-09-30