Reviewed on March 3, 2026
Apply for the EU long-term residence permit
After 5 years in Germany, you can secure your unlimited EU long-term residence.
At a glance
How do you get an unlimited EU long-term residence permit in Germany?
Have you been living legally in Germany for at least 5 years? Then you have a right to the EU long-term residence permit. The authority must grant it to you if you meet all the requirements. It is unlimited and applies permanently.
The EU long-term residence permit gives you more freedom of movement than the settlement permit. With it, you can stay in and move around within and outside the EU more easily. You must be of legal age and hold a valid residence title. You also need a secured livelihood, health and long-term care insurance, and sufficient living space in Berlin. You must provide proof of German skills at level B1 and have basic knowledge of the German legal and social system. An adequate pension provision from age 67 is also required. Exceptions to the language proof and pension provision apply if a permanent illness or disability makes the learning or the expense impossible. For this you need a medical specialist''s certificate.
In certain cases, you cannot obtain the EU long-term residence permit. It is excluded if your current residence title was issued for reasons of international law, humanitarian or political reasons. An exception applies to residence titles under § 23 (2), § 23 (4), § 25 (1) or § 25 (2) AufenthG. It is also excluded for a residence title for studies or for vocational training and further training, as well as for a residence title for a temporary purpose. In these cases, a settlement permit might be possible instead. Fines or ongoing criminal investigations can also prevent the permit from being granted.
Certain periods are credited towards the 5-year residence period. Times of an asylum procedure count if a residence title under § 25 (1) or § 25 (2) AufenthG was subsequently issued. Times with a residence title for studies or for vocational training are credited at half. If you have held an EU Blue Card issued by Germany for at least 2 years, prior residence periods in another EU member state can also be credited. Times with a residence title for a temporary purpose, as well as times with or before a Duldung (toleration), are not credited.
Submit your application online to the State Office for Immigration (Landesamt für Einwanderung). Prepare all documents as PDFs if possible. Individual files may be a maximum of 7 MB and all files together may not exceed 100 MB. You must pay the processing fee before submitting. Payment methods are credit card (Visa, Mastercard) or PayPal. After application, the Landesamt für Einwanderung reviews your application and contacts you as soon as possible. You then receive a confirmation as a PDF document. This certifies that your current residence title remains valid. However, this does not apply if you hold a Schengen visa (C visa). Be sure to save and print the confirmation. Due to the high number of applications, it may take some time before you receive an in-person appointment.
Requirements
How to apply
Check whether you meet all the requirements: at least 5 years of legal residence in Germany, legal age, valid residence title, secured livelihood, health and long-term care insurance, sufficient living space in Berlin, German language skills at B1 level, basic knowledge of the German legal and social system, and an adequate pension provision from age 67.
Prepare all documents as PDFs: individual files may be a maximum of 7 MB, all files together a maximum of 100 MB.
Submit your application online to the State Office for Immigration (Landesamt für Einwanderung) and pay the processing fee before submitting — by credit card (Visa, Mastercard) or PayPal.
Save and print the confirmation you receive as a PDF document — it shows that your current residence title remains valid (does not apply to a Schengen visa/C visa).
Wait for your in-person appointment at the Landesamt für Einwanderung — due to the high number of applications, this may take some time.
Done! The authority must grant you the EU long-term residence permit if you meet all the requirements — it is unlimited and applies permanently.
Processing fee for the online application (Turkish nationals up to age 24)
- Issuance fee for the in-person appointment (Turkish nationals up to age 24)54,50 EUR
- Processing fee for the online application (Turkish nationals aged 24 and over)13,80 EUR
- Issuance fee for the in-person appointment (Turkish nationals aged 24 and over)13,80 EUR
- Processing fee for the online application23,00 EUR
- Issuance fee for the in-person appointment23,00 EUR
Good to know
Has your spouse paid 60 pension contributions? Then you do not need to prove your own contributions. It is sufficient if one spouse meets the requirement.
Nach § 9 Abs. 3 Satz 1, dem sogenannten Ehegattenprivileg, ist es ausreichend, wenn nur ein Ehegatte die Voraussetzung der 60 Pflichtbeiträge erfüllt.
VAB A.9, S. 90-99
Are you waiting for the extension of your residence permit? The time with the Fiktionsbescheinigung is credited. The condition is that your residence permit is actually extended afterward.
Zeiten der Fortgeltung einer Aufenthaltserlaubnis aufgrund Fiktionswirkung nach § 81 Abs. 4 AufenthG werden auf den erforderlichen fünfjährigen Besitz der Aufenthaltserlaubnis angerechnet, wenn dem Betroffenen daraufhin die Aufenthaltserlaubnis erteilt bzw. verlängert worden ist.
VAB A.9, S. 90-99
Do you have a physical, mental, or psychological illness or disability? Then the authority must waive the language and integration knowledge requirements. The illness must make fulfillment impossible.
Von den Voraussetzungen der Nr. 7 und 8 wird nach § 9 Abs. 2 S. 3 abgesehen, wenn eine körperliche, geistige oder seelische Erkrankung oder Behinderung die Erfüllung der Voraussetzungen unmöglich macht.
VAB A.9, S. 90-99
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Apply for the EU long-term residence permit
If your application is approved, you will receive an appointment. At the appointment, you will receive a written confirmation of your lawful residence until the ordered residence title is handed over. After the appointment, it takes at least 4 weeks until the EU long-term residence permit is issued as an electronic residence title and can be collected.
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