Applying for a residence title in Germany
Non-EU citizens who want to stay in Germany for more than 90 days will require a residence title. Be it for the purposes of study or work – a residence title is a central prerequisite for legal residence. But what types of residence titles are there? What documents are required, and where does the application have to be submitted? In this article, we answer these and other important questions.
What is a residence title?
If non-EU citizens want to stay in Germany for more than 90 days, they must apply for a residence title. The following residence titles can be issued:
- Residence permit: This is a temporary residence permit that allows you to work and study in Germany.
- EU Blue Card: The EU Blue Card is also a temporary residence title that allows the holder to work. You will have to fulfil certain other requirements to obtain an EU Blue Card. Learn more in our article “Work Visa Germany”.
- Settlement permit and EU long-term residence permit: These are both permanent residence permits and will only be granted if you have already held a residence permit for several years.
When do I have to apply for a residence permit?
In some cases, for example in the case of an EU Blue Card, you will have to apply for a residence title before entering Germany. To enter Germany from a non-EU country, you will also need a visa in advance. If you are arriving from Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland or the USA, you do not need to apply for a residence permit for work purposes until you enter the country.
Where do I apply for a residence title?
You have to apply for a residence title at the Immigration Office responsible for you.
Documents for applying for a residence permit
To apply for a residence permit, you will need the following documents:
- Valid passport (you may need to have your passport translated)
- Recent biometric photograph
- Proof of a secure livelihood
- Proof of sufficient living space
- Proof of health insurance coverage
- Proof of the purpose of stay
Note: All documents must be submitted to the German authorities in German, so documents in other languages must be translated into German and, under certain circumstances, certified.
You can find out which documents you need for the EU Blue Card in our article “Work Visa Germany”.
Costs of the residence title
To apply for a residence title, you can expect the following costs:
- Residence permit, EU Blue Card: approx. 100 euros
- Settlement permit: between 34.50 and 147 euros
- EU long-term residence permit: approx. 109 euros
FAQs: Applying for a residence title
You must have lived in Germany for at least five years without interruption with a valid residence permit and must meet additional specific requirements to obtain a settlement permit or an EU long-term residence permit.
No, in Germany it is not possible to apply for a residence title completely online. To apply, you have to go in person to the responsible immigration authority.
Yes, a settlement permit is an open-ended residence permit.
Author
Katharina Weckend, Content & SEO Manager
Katharina joined lingoking as a Content and SEO Manager in 2024. She handles our content and SEO strategy and writes texts for our website, guide and other lingoking media. “I am happy I get to pass on knowledge in our lingoking guide and help break down language barriers.”
Translation
Dr. Tracey Kimmeskamp
A native of Northern Ireland, Tracey has lived in Germany’s Ruhrgebiet for over 20 years. She has been working with lingoking as a translator since 2016, all the while diligently training for her dream career in mochi quality control.
