Moving to Germany is an exciting adventure with many opportunities, but also a lot of red tape for those who want to settle in the country.
Those who want to move to Germany can run into a lot of red tape
An article published by Germany Visa showed you how to get a residence permit in Germany.
What is a residence permit in Germany?
If your sole objective is to visit Germany for tourist purposes, a tourist visa allows you to stay in Germany for around 90 days and explore the country and all it has to offer. Staying beyond the permitted 90 days is not possible unless you obtain such a permit.
With the exception of people from EU countries, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein, all other foreign nationals need a residence permit to stay in Germany for more than 90 days.
Many foreign nationals will need to apply for a residence permit for Germany from their home countries or obtain a Schengen visa to enter Germany for 90 days in any 180-day period. For some countries, however, it is possible to enter Germany without a visa for the first 90 days and apply for a residence permit from within the country.
Types of residence permit
Depending on the length of your stay and the requirements you meet, there are different types of residence permits in Germany. In general, three residence permits allow you to stay in Germany for different periods.
Temporary residency permit
As the name suggests, the temporary residence permit or limited residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) is for shorter stays in Germany. When you get this type of residence permit, you can only stay in Germany for one year. However, it is extendable provided your situation does not change and you meet the requirements.
The temporary residence permit is granted to foreign nationals if they have a specific reason to stay in Germany. When you apply for this type of permit, you state why you want to stay and the card issued to you specifies this. Afterwards, you cannot engage in an activity that your residence permit does not allow. For example, if you apply for a temporary residence permit for studies, it will say that you can only study and not work. The reverse also applies.
The temporary residence permit is the first type of permit that most foreign nationals receive. It creates a basis for a more permanent stay in Germany. One of the requirements then for the permanent permit is to have held the temporary permit for a specified period of time. Only those with exceptional cases can exceed this requirement.
There are many reasons why a person would want to have a temporary residence permit for Germany.
Employment Purposes
Finding a job in Germany qualifies you for a temporary residence permit. You can initially start your job search in your home country or you can obtain a German job seeker visa to look for one in Germany. However, after you receive a job offer, you can apply for a temporary residence permit. You are not allowed to start work before you get the document.
You have to meet several requirements before you are allowed to work in Germany with a residence permit. Some of them include knowledge of German, and then you and your employer have to prove that the job could not be filled by other German citizens, EU citizens or priority workers. Priority workers are those who have been in Germany for a longer time. In addition, you must obtain the approval of the Federal Employment Agency or the Bundesagentur fur Arbeit.
Once you are approved and meet the requirements, you can apply for a residence permit. Your contract of employment sets out the length of time you are entitled to hold your licence. If your contract is only for two years, your license will also be valid for two years. However, you can extend it as many times as you need as long as you maintain your employment status.
Study goals
Temporary residence permits are also granted to students who will complete a bachelor's, graduate or professional degree in Germany. They usually receive a residence permit for the duration of their program. During their education, they can work full-time for 120 days or part-time for 240 days. In addition, they can engage in work-study positions. However, they cannot enter into long-term contracts.
After completing their degree, students can extend their temporary permit for another 18 months to find a job in Germany. German authorities allow this because they want to keep educated people in the country. If students find a job, they can apply for a residence permit for employment.
The purposes of marriage
Marrying a German citizen or someone who has a permanent residence permit in Germany allows you to stay in the country, but you will still need a residence permit. Same-sex couples are also accepted in Germany and are eligible to obtain residence permits after they marry.
The requirements include a good understanding of the German language at a B1 level and are similar to the needs of other residence permits, which will be presented below. The residence permit will be temporary, but after several years of marriage (usually two years) and time spent in Germany (three years), the spouse becomes eligible to obtain permanent residence.
During this time, the spouse can apply for employment or study permits.
EU Blue Book
The EU Blue Card is similar to the temporary residence permit, but it targets a specific group of people and has a longer validity. The EU Blue Card is intended for foreign nationals from non-EU countries who are highly qualified in a profession and want to work in Germany. Highly qualified employees have completed a higher education degree, such as a bachelor's or master's degree. Those who are more likely to get an EU Blue Card have an IT or STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) background.
To qualify for the EU Blue Card, the applicant must find a job in Germany that allows them to practice the skills they have acquired during their degree. The post must be in the same field as their educational qualifications. In addition, their job should allow them to earn a minimum of €45,300 annually and they should have a high level of German language proficiency.
The EU Blue Card is valid for four years, and holders can immediately obtain permanent residence if they keep their jobs. They qualify for permanent residency after 33 months, but if they know enough German, they can get it after 21 months.
If you have an EU Blue Card, you can also bring your spouse to Germany. Your spouse does not necessarily have to have knowledge of the German language and can work after you have received your permanent residence.
Permanent residence permit
In order to be able to stay in Germany as long as you want, you need to obtain a German permanent residence permit. A permanent residence permit is also called a settlement permit or, in German, Niederlassungserlaubnis. With a permanent residence permit, you can work in Germany and travel in and out of the country whenever you need.
This permit is mainly granted to people who hold a temporary residence permit for several years or to those who hold the EU Blue Card. They must prove that they have worked for at least five years, that the Federal Employment Agency has approved their position, and that they have paid the required taxes and contributions to the government. In addition, the German language requirements are stricter, so you will need to know more advanced German.
If you have a permanent residence permit, your children and spouse are allowed to join you. They will first receive a temporary residence permit, and after a few years, they will be able to obtain a permanent permit.
German residence permit requirements
To apply for a residence permit in Germany, you must provide the following documents:
- You have a valid passport from another country.
- You have no criminal record.
- You know German at least at a B1 level.
- You have German health insurance.
- Pass a health check that proves you are healthy enough to work and/or study.
- Be financially stable and support yourself and your family.
- If you plan to work in Germany, you will need a letter from your employer with the job offer and job description.
- If you intend to study in Germany, you will need proof that you have been admitted to a university.
- If you plan to join your spouse in Germany, you will need proof of marriage, such as a marriage certificate.
- If you have all these documents and meet the requirements, you can start the application process.
