Settlement Permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis)

Choose the actual settlement branch: general Section 9 usually requires 5 years of qualifying permit; skilled workers 3 years; eligible German-trained graduates 2 years. EU Blue Card qualifying employment is 27 months with A1 German or 21 months with B1, plus the other conditions. Other special branches and credited periods need separate assessment. Apply the selected branch's pension rule: general Section 9 normally 60 months or qualifying equivalent provision; skilled-worker branch 36; eligible German-trained graduate branch 24; Blue Card pension contributions linked to the qualifying 27/21-month employment period. Statutory exemptions, spouse rules and credited care periods require documented assessment. Use the selected branch: general/skilled-worker settlement normally requires B1 German; Blue Card 27-month branch A1, or 21-month branch B1. Check statutory language/integration exemptions and the other settlement conditions with the competent authority; the language level alone does not establish eligibility. Show secured livelihood, applicable health-insurance cover and adequate housing under the selected settlement branch. Check recognised statutory exceptions and the legal treatment of benefits with the authority; do not assume every public benefit is disqualifying. Employment and professional permissions apply where the selected branch requires them. The at-least 20-hours-per-week condition specifically belongs to Section 9(3a), for qualifying spouses cohabiting with a holder of a Section 18c settlement permit and meeting its 3-year/other conditions; it is not a universal settlement requirement. Knowledge of Germany’s legal and social system and way of life is required in the applicable general/skilled-worker/Blue Card branch. An accepted integration-course completion or Living in Germany test may evidence it; statutory health/disability/hardship and other exemptions need assessment. The authority assesses whether public-order or security grounds preclude the permit, considering the severity/nature of an offence or danger, residence duration and ties in Germany. Provide truthful information and any evidence actually requested; this is not an automatic refusal for every past conviction or a universal foreign police-certificate requirement. The reviewed federal portal describes a status-dependent fee up to approximately EUR 150. Confirm the exact fee with the local foreigners authority. Processing time is not stated on the reviewed official page; ask the local foreigners authority. Residence/employment qualifying periods are eligibility rules, not decision times.