Settlement permit for highly qualified persons

Description

Are you from a third country (i.e. not from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland) and a highly qualified professional with an academic qualification? If so, you may apply for a settlement permit under certain conditions.

The settlement permit is a residence permit of indefinite duration, allowing you to live and work in Germany without any restrictions on time or location.

Application and appointment

You can submit your application and the required documents online:

• Please upload your documents as PDF files where possible.
• Once you have submitted your application, a confirmation will be displayed. You can save this as a PDF file for your records.
• This confirmation states that your current residence permit remains valid in Germany beyond its previous expiry date and that you may continue to work to the same extent as before (legal fiction).
• You can present this confirmation as proof to the authorities or at your place of work.
• Once your application has been assessed, you will be given an appointment.

Requirements

In particular, "highly qualified" in this sense means

• Scientists with special specialised knowledge or
• Teachers in a prominent position or
• academic staff in a prominent position.

These examples are not exhaustive. In individual cases, other groups of people may also be considered as highly qualified employees. If in doubt, please contact the Service Centre for Immigration and Naturalisation.

Another prerequisite is that you are registered in Munich and that you are able to integrate into local living conditions and secure your livelihood without state assistance.

Required documents

• a fully completed application form
• a valid passport or passport substitute
• a recent biometric passport photograph, submitted digitally by a certified photography studio or chemist’s. Alternatively, you may use one of the photo terminals at the Immigration and Naturalisation Service Centre for a fee.
• University degree certificate or doctoral degree certificate (for foreign qualifications, a certified German translation must be submitted, along with formal recognition where applicable; in the case of a university professorship, the doctoral degree certificate must also be provided)
• Evidence of high-level qualifications (for example, an expert assessment from an academic institution or organisation, notable publications, evidence of academic awards, international reputation, or a statement from the ‘recruiting’ body)
• Proof of monthly accommodation costs and living space:
  • Tenancy agreement or property purchase contract specifying the square metreage and bank statements showing the rent amount, or
  • Certificate of accommodation

Note

• The documents submitted (such as proof of identity and language certificates) will be checked for authenticity. We will consistently report any forgeries to the police.
• ​ Should we require any further documents, we will write to you.

Legal basis

§ Section 18c (3) Residence Act