Settlement permit for family members of Germans
Under certain conditions, family members of Germans can apply for a settlement permit after three years of residence.
Description
The settlement permit is an unlimited residence title that allows you to live and work in Germany without any time or place restrictions.
Spouses and registered partners, children and parents of Germans can obtain a settlement permit after three years of residence if the family partnership with the German person continues.
Application and deadline
Please submit the application form and the required documents online or by post. After submitting your online application, you can download a completed document as a PDF for your records. The document will confirm your application and the authorisation/continuation of your previous residence. Once we have checked your application, you will receive an appointment for a personal interview.
Prerequisites
- You have been living in Munich for three years with a residence permit to live in a family partnership with a German child, parent, spouse or partner (in accordance with Section 28 (1) AufenthG).
- The family partnership with the German person has existed for three years and continues to exist in Munich.
- Your livelihood is secured.
- You have sufficient knowledge of German (level B 1).
- You have sufficient health insurance.
- You have no criminal record.
Required documents
Fully completed application for a permanent residence permit
- Valid passport or passport replacement
- Current biometric passport photo
Proof of secure means of subsistence
If you are married or in a registered partnership, the proof of livelihood can also be from your partner. In the case of children in education (school, training, university), proof from the parents must be submitted.
For employees
- Salary slips (certificates of earnings for the last three months)
- Confirmation of the employment relationship
- Declaration of livelihood
For self-employed/freelancers
- Proof of profit after tax (last income tax assessment) and
- For self-employed persons: current profit and loss statement from the tax consultant or current business statement,
- For freelancers: current profit and loss statement from the tax consultant, fee contract, order invoices and account statements for the order invoices
- Proof of health insurance (insurance card of your statutory health insurance or the insurance policy of a private health insurance company)
- Business registration (if required under trade law)
- Declaration of livelihood
Proof of benefits such as parental allowance, child benefit, child supplement, childcare allowance and maintenance can also be enclosed. You must be able to support yourself without public benefits in accordance with Social Security Code II or XII (unemployment benefit II or social assistance).
Proof of monthly housing costs:
- Declaration of domestic community
- For rented flats: Rental agreement stating the size of the flat in square metres and statements of account showing the rent amount or a certificate of occupancy
- For owner-occupied flats: Purchase contract stating the size of the flat in square metres and, if applicable, proof of instalment payments for loans and monthly housing benefit/house allowance.
Proof of sufficient knowledge of German
- Five annual school reports
Or - Certificate from a German school, training or university degree
Or - Certificate of German language proficiency according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) at least at level B1
Or - other proof of language proficiency
Further documents may be required in individual cases.
Questions & Answers
- For spouses and life partners: Both spouses/partners must attend the appointment at the Foreigners Office together to submit the required declaration of marital status.
- The third-country national parent of a German child must have parental authority.
Your settlement permit is still valid even if your previous passport has expired and you have already received a new passport. You will need to show your old and new passports and your previous settlement permit. You can find information on passport transfer here.
Your residence permit usually expires if:
- You leave the country for a reason that is not only temporary, for example:
- Attending school abroad
- Working abroad
- Caring for a family member abroad
- Marriage abroad
- Settling abroad
- You leave Germany and do not re-enter within six months or a longer period specified by the Foreigners Office (exception: you fulfil a compulsory military service in your home country and re-enter Germany within three months of completing it).
Further information can be found here.
Legal basis
§ Section 28 (2) Residence Act (AufenthG)
Kreisverwaltungsreferat
Hauptabteilung II Bürgerangelegenheiten
Ausländerangelegenheiten
Phone
Postal address
Landeshauptstadt München
Kreisverwaltungsreferat
Hauptabteilung II Bürgerangelegenheiten
Ausländerangelegenheiten
Ruppertstraße 19
80466 München
Address
Ruppertstraße 19
80337 München
Lagehinweis: Eingang A
Room: Servicepoint, Bereich 31, 3. Stock
By appointment only