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Residence permit in Germany
In most cases, foreigners need a so-called residence title to stay in the Federal Republic of Germany. Depending on the duration and purpose of the stay, there are also different residence titles - from the visa for usually short-term tourist trips to the unlimited settlement permit to special residence titles for the economy. In the following text you will learn which residence title you need for your purposes and how to obtain it.
The most important facts in a nutshell:
- As a rule, foreigners need a residence title to stay in Germany.
- A distinction is made between temporary (visa, residence permit, Blue Card, ICT card) and permanent residence titles (settlement permit, EU long-term residence permit).
- Special provisions apply to nationals of certain countries
Temporary residence permits
Visa
The visa is probably the most frequently issued residence title. First of all, the visa entitles you to enter the Federal Republic of Germany. It also entitles you to a short-term stay in Germany.
However, you only need a visa to enter Germany if you are coming from a foreign country that requires a visa. Among others, citizens from an EU member state or, for example, citizens from the USA, Japan or the United Arab Emirates do not require a visa.
Basically, a distinction must be made between two types of visas: The Schengen visa is the most common type of visa.
This visa is issued for tourist purposes, family visits or business trips and entitles the holder to stay in the entire Schengen area for up to 90 days. For all other purposes - especially for entry for work - you need a national visa. This is usually issued for up to 90 days, but in exceptional cases it can even be issued for a period of up to 12 months.
Residence permit
The residence permit is also a temporary residence title. It can be issued for various purposes.
In particular, the following should be mentioned here:
- Education - Gainful employment
- International law, humanitarian or political reasons
- Family reasons
Depending on the purpose of residence, the exact requirements for issuing and the scope of the residence permit differ.
Blue Card EU (Blue Card)
The Blue Card EU ("Blue Card") is a temporary residence title that was created to facilitate access to the European labour market for foreign academics. Essentially, you have to prove that you have a university degree and have found a suitable job in Germany.
In addition, a certain minimum salary must be paid.
The Blue Card is issued for the duration of the employment, but for a maximum of four years. After expiry, you can apply for another Blue Card. In many cases, however, it is possible to obtain a (permanent) settlement permit. This is easier to apply for if the applicant previously had a Blue Card. In addition, the Blue Card also offers benefits for family reunification.
ICT card
The ICT card ("Intra-Corporate-Transfer") is a temporary residence permit created for the intra-corporate transfer of workers. The workers concerned must be either managers or specialists.
It is also possible to obtain an ICT card as a trainee. For this, a trainee programme must be completed, which serves the purpose of professional development or further training in business techniques and methods and is remunerated. Trainees must also hold a university degree.
The ICT card is issued for the duration of the transfer, but not longer than three years.
Permanent residence titles
In addition, there are also various possibilities to obtain a permanent residence title.
Settlement permit
With a settlement permit you can stay in the Federal Republic of Germany for an unlimited period of time. The settlement permit also includes the right to pursue gainful employment. As a rule, there are quite high hurdles for the settlement permit: Among other things, you must prove that you have been in possession of a residence permit for at least five years, that you have sufficient means of subsistence and sufficient language skills. In some exceptional cases, only lower requirements apply. For example, for persons who were previously in possession of a Blue Card.
Permit for permanent residence in the EU
The Permit for Permanent Residence-EU is also an unlimited residence title. Essentially, it corresponds to the settlement permit.
In detail, however, there are some differences: Compared to the settlement permit, the permit for permanent residence in the EU gives the holder better protection against expulsion. A prerequisite for the EU permanent residence permit is also that you can prove that you have held a residence title for at least five years, that you have a sufficient livelihood and that you have sufficient language skills. However, some groups of persons are excluded from the permit for permanent residence in the EU. For example, if the previous stay was for humanitarian reasons or for educational purposes.
Other rights of residence
In addition to the residence titles, there are some special rights that entitle foreigners to reside in the Federal Republic of Germany. For example, citizens of another member state can invoke their right to freedom of movement and reside freely in the Federal Republic. Citizens of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein as well as Switzerland are also not required to apply for a residence title. Special benefits also apply to Turkish nationals: on the basis of an agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Turkey. Turkish nationals are entitled to pursue employment in the EU.
Short & sweet
As a rule, foreigners need a residence permit to stay in the Federal Republic of Germany. For short-term stays, for example for tourism, family or business reasons, the Schengen visa is the right choice. For all other purposes, you need a national visa to enter the country. If, on the other hand, you want to stay in Germany for a longer period of time, you can apply for a residence permit for various purposes. For the temporary stay of highly qualified foreign workers, there is the Blue Card and the ICT Card. If you have already lived in Germany for a longer period of time, you may also be able to obtain a permanent residence title (settlement permit, EU permanent residence permit). Please note, however, that special rules apply to nationals of certain countries. Contact a competent lawyer if you need advice on selecting and applying for a residence title.