Reviewed on March 3, 2026
Apply for settlement permit for skilled workers
As a skilled worker in Germany, you can apply for an unlimited settlement permit after 3 years.
At a glance
How do you obtain an unlimited settlement permit as a skilled worker?
Have you been working as a skilled worker in Germany for at least 3 years? Do you hold a vocational qualification, an academic degree, or work in research? Then you have a right to a settlement permit. The authority must grant it to you if you meet all the requirements. The settlement permit is unlimited — so it applies permanently.
The deadline is reduced to 2 years if you completed your vocational training or studies in Germany. For pension provision, you then also only need to provide proof of 24 instead of 36 months of contributions to the statutory pension insurance. You must also still be employed as a skilled worker. Your livelihood and that of your close family members — i.e. spouse and children — must be secured through your own income. You may not receive Bürgergeld or social assistance, nor be entitled to them. Your main residence must be in Berlin. A secondary residence is not enough.
You also need sufficient German language skills at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference. You must have health insurance in Germany — foreign health insurance is generally not sufficient. Basic knowledge of the German legal and social order is also required. The State Office for Immigration (Landesamt für Einwanderung) (LEA) recognises this knowledge, for example, if you have completed an integration course. A school or vocational qualification in Germany or at least one year of training in Germany also counts. If you have previous convictions or there is an ongoing investigation against you, the LEA may not process your application. Even fines can prevent the permit from being granted.
You submit the application online with the LEA. Use the Quick-Checks beforehand to assess whether your application is likely to be successful. Upload all documents as PDF files if possible. JPG, JPEG and PNG are also allowed. The total size of all files must not exceed 100 MB. A single file may be a maximum of 7 MB. Before submitting, you must pay the processing fee — by credit card (Visa, Mastercard) or PayPal. You then receive a PDF confirmation. This certifies that your current residence title remains valid beyond its previous expiry date. Note: this does not apply if you hold a Schengen visa (C-visa). Be sure to save and print the confirmation.
The LEA then reviews your application and gets back to you as quickly as possible. If necessary, the LEA will request further documents. If the result is positive, you receive an on-site appointment. Due to the high volume of applications, this can take some time. If you hold an EU Blue Card, different deadlines and requirements apply for you. Find out more under the service "Niederlassungserlaubnis für Inhaber einer Blauen Karte EU" (settlement permit for EU Blue Card holders).
Requirements
How to apply
First check with the Quick-Checks on the website of the State Office for Immigration (LEA) whether your application is likely to be successful.
Gather all required documents and save them as PDF, JPG, JPEG, or PNG — each file maximum 7 MB, all files together maximum 100 MB.
Pay the processing fee before submission — by credit card (Visa, Mastercard) or PayPal.
Submit your application online with the LEA and save the PDF confirmation afterwards — it shows that your current residence title remains valid (does not apply if you hold a Schengen/C-visa).
Wait for the response from the LEA — this can take some time; the LEA will request further documents if needed and invite you to an on-site appointment if the result is positive.
Done! The LEA must grant you the unlimited settlement permit if you meet all the requirements — for example, you have worked as a skilled worker for at least 3 years (or 2 years with a German qualification) and speak German at level B1.
Highly qualified skilled workers with academic education – processing fee (in the online application)
- Highly qualified skilled workers with academic education – issuance fee (at the appointment)73,50 EUR
- Skilled workers in all other cases – processing fee (in the online application)56,50 EUR
- Skilled workers in all other cases – issuance fee (at the appointment)56,50 EUR
- Turkish nationals up to age 24 – processing fee (in the online application)13,80 EUR
- Turkish nationals up to age 24 – issuance fee (at the appointment)13,80 EUR
- Turkish nationals from age 24 – processing fee (in the online application)23,00 EUR
- Turkish nationals from age 24 – issuance fee (at the appointment)23,00 EUR
Good to know
For your settlement permit, the authority does not need approval from the Federal Employment Agency. This makes the process faster and simpler for you.
Liegen die Erteilungsvoraussetzungen vor, ist eine Zustimmung der Arbeitsagentur nicht erforderlich.
VAB A.18c, S. 196-198
Have you already worked in Germany with a national visa? This time counts. It is credited towards the required employment period.
Die Zeit des Besitzes eines nationalen Visums ist nach § 6 Absatz 3 Satz 3 gleichfalls anzurechnen, soweit der Inhaber währenddessen schon einer entsprechenden Beschäftigung nachgegangen ist.
VAB A.18c, S. 196-198
Did you previously hold an EU Blue Card? Then you retain your EU mobility right even after the settlement permit. This is noted on your electronic residence title.
Er verdeutlicht, dass der Ausländer das Wanderungsrecht aus Art. 21 der Richtlinie (EU) 2021/1883 ableiten kann. Dieses Recht knüpft an den vorherigen Besitz der Blauen Karte an und entsteht kraft Unionsrecht. Es erlischt nicht durch den Wegfall der Blauen Karte mit der Erteilung der Niederlassungserlaubnis.
VAB A.18c, S. 196-198
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Apply for settlement permit for skilled workers
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 settlement permit is issued as an electronic residence title and can be collected.