Permanent residence
A settlement permit ends the cycle of renewals: unlimited residence, unrestricted work, and the basis for naturalisation later. The standard route asks for B1 German - but several faster routes exist, and one of them accepts A1, which is worth knowing before you book an exam.
PassDeutsch prepares you for the B1 exams named here - Goethe, telc and the DTZ - with full-length model tests in each provider’s own format. See the B1 guide.
Exceptions and special cases
These are the situations that most often change the answer. None of them replaces advice on your own file.
With a Blue Card you can apply after 21 months of qualified employment if you have B1, or after 27 months with A1, provided pension contributions were paid throughout. Six months of waiting against a level of German is a genuine trade-off worth calculating.
Holders of permits under §§ 18a, 18b and 18d who trained or studied in Germany reach a settlement permit substantially faster than five years, with B1 German and the corresponding months of pension contributions. The exact period depends on your permit - confirm it with the Ausländerbehörde.
Under § 28 Abs. 2 AufenthG, a settlement permit is as a rule available after three years, with sufficient German - in practice B1 - and a continuing family relationship.
The language and knowledge requirements can be waived where illness or disability makes them impossible to meet. This is assessed individually and needs medical evidence.
Step by step
The permit you currently hold decides the residence period, the pension requirement and sometimes the language level. § 9 is the general route; Blue Card, skilled-worker and spouse routes each have their own rule.
B1 for almost everything, A1 only for the 27-month Blue Card variant. Any of the DTZ, Goethe, telc or ÖSD certificates is accepted at B1.
Secure livelihood without public assistance, sufficient living space, no relevant criminal record, the pension contribution months, and basic knowledge of the legal and social order - normally proven with the "Leben in Deutschland" test or an integration course certificate.
Book the appointment early; in large cities the wait can be months. Bring the certificate, pension record, employment contract, payslips, rental contract and passport.
B1 is about 2,400 words, the passive and Konjunktiv II - a finite target. PassDeutsch gives you full model tests in the Goethe, telc and DTZ formats, with AI feedback on writing and speaking.
Free to download · all 210 model tests included
What goes wrong
Language is rarely what blocks a settlement permit - contribution months are. Self-employment, parental leave and periods abroad all affect the count, so request your Rentenverlauf early.
On a Blue Card, A1 costs you six extra months of waiting. If your exam date is far enough out, B1 is often the cheaper choice in time terms.
They are separate processes with separate clocks. A settlement permit is usually a stepping stone, not a shortcut, to naturalisation.
FAQ
B1 under the standard route in § 9 AufenthG, proven with the DTZ at B1, the Zertifikat Integrationskurs, or a Goethe, telc or ÖSD B1 certificate. The one common exception is the EU Blue Card, where A1 is enough if you wait 27 months instead of 21.
No. It is unlimited residence with unrestricted access to work, but you keep your current nationality and you can lose the permit by living outside Germany for long periods. Naturalisation is a separate application under different law.
Yes, provided your certificate shows B1 rather than A2. It is the same certificate that satisfies the language requirement for naturalisation later, which is why it is worth reaching B1 in both parts the first time.
Some proof of basic knowledge of the legal and social order is normally required. The "Leben in Deutschland" test, or the certificate from a completed integration course, is the usual evidence.
Page last checked against these sources in July 2026.
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