Settlement permit for persons entitled to asylum and refugees
<p>The settlement permit is an unlimited residence title that allows you to live and work in Germany without any time or place restrictions.</p>
<p>You can apply for a settlement permit if you</p>
<ul>
 <li>have been recognised by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) as a person entitled to asylum or a refugee under the Geneva Refugee Convention and have reached the age of 16<br>
  or</li>
 <li>have been accepted by Germany as a resettlement refugee and have reached the age of 16<br>
  and</li>
 <li>have been in possession of a corresponding residence permit for 5 years. With good economic and linguistic integration, it is possible to apply for a settlement permit after only 3 years in possession of a corresponding residence permit.</li>
</ul>
<p>The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) checks whether the grounds for recognition as a person entitled to asylum or refugee status still apply. A settlement permit can only be issued if the reasons for recognition still apply.</p>
Asylangelegenheit Asylum Convention Documents Establishment Foreigners Geneva Humanitarian Humanitarian Foreigners Office Munich Humanitär Permanent residence Permanent residence permit Permanent right of residence Recognition Refugees Residence Restriction Right Settlement Travel Travel document for refugees Unlimited document entitled foreign officer officers possession restrictions rights

# Settlement permit for persons entitled to asylum and refugees

## Summary

You have been living here for 3 or 5 years as a recognised asylum seeker, refugee or resettlement refugee and would like to apply for a settlement permit.
## Description

The settlement permit is an unlimited residence title that allows you to live and work in Germany without any time or place restrictions.

You can apply for a settlement permit if you

* have been recognised by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) as a person entitled to asylum or a refugee under the Geneva Refugee Convention and have reached the age of 16  
  
  or
* have been accepted by Germany as a resettlement refugee and have reached the age of 16  
  
  and
* have been in possession of a corresponding residence permit for 5 years. With good economic and linguistic integration, it is possible to apply for a settlement permit after only 3 years in possession of a corresponding residence permit.

The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) checks whether the grounds for recognition as a person entitled to asylum or refugee status still apply. A settlement permit can only be issued if the reasons for recognition still apply.

## Responsible Department

KVR
## Required Documents

* Fully completed application for a settlement permit
* Valid and recognised passport or passport substitute (travel document for refugees)
* Current biometric passport photo (you will find photo machines at the Foreigners Office)

**Proof of secure means of subsistence**

* If you are married or in a registered partnership, the proof of livelihood and pension provision can also be from your partner.

**For employees**

* Salary slips (certificates of earnings for the last three months)
* Confirmation of the employment relationship
* Declaration of livelihood
* Employment contract/training contract

**For self-employed/freelancers**

* Proof of profit after tax (last income tax assessment) and  
  + For self-employed persons: current profit and loss account from the tax consultancy or current business statement,
  + For freelancers: current profit and loss statement from the tax consultant, fee contract, order invoices and account statements for the order invoices
* Proof of health insurance (insurance card of your statutory health insurance or the insurance policy of a private health insurance company)
* Business registration (if required under trade law)
* Declaration of livelihood

Proof of benefits such as parental allowance, child benefit, child supplement, childcare allowance and maintenance can also be enclosed.

**Proof of sufficient living space and monthly costs:**

* Declaration of domestic community
* For rented flats: Tenancy agreement stating the size of the flat in square metres and account statements showing the amount of rent or a certificate of accommodation
* For owner-occupied flats: Purchase contract stating the size of the flat in square metres and, if applicable, proof of instalment payments for loans and monthly housing benefit/house allowance.

**Proof of German language skills and basic knowledge of the legal and social system in Germany:**

* Language certificate level C 1 (3 years residence time) or certificate level A 2  
  
  (5-year residence period) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)  
  
  Or
* Proof of successful participation in an integration course  
  
  Or
* Certificate from a German school, vocational training or university degree  
  
  Or
* other language certificate  
  
  and
* Certificate "Living in Germany"

Further documents may be required in individual cases.

## Prerequisites

* You are registered in Munich.
* You have a valid and recognised passport or passport substitute (travel document for refugees).
* You have been living legally in Germany for at least 3 years with a residence permit. If you have lived in Germany for 5 years, simplified requirements apply. The periods of asylum proceedings are counted towards the required period of residence.
* You have
  + a residence permit in accordance with § 25 Para. 1 AufenthG (recognition as a person entitled to asylum) or
  + a residence permit in accordance with § 25 Para. 2 Sentence 1, 1st alternative (recognition as a refugee) or
  + a residence permit in accordance with § 23 Para. 4 AufenthG (resettlement refugee).  
      
    
    Your residence permit is still valid and the grounds for recognition as a person entitled to asylum or refugee status still apply.

* Your livelihood is secured. If you have been in receipt of social benefits and have held a residence permit for 3 years, you must have secured your livelihood for the most part (more than 75 per cent) and if you have held a residence permit for 5 years, you must have secured your livelihood for the most part (more than 50 per cent) from your own resources.
* You have adequate health insurance.
* You have a command of the German language (level C1) or have sufficient knowledge of German (level A2) if you have been a resident for 5 years.
* You have a basic knowledge of the legal and social system in Germany.
* You have sufficient living space for yourself and your family members. This does not include accommodation to avoid homelessness.
* You have no criminal record.

## Please Note

To apply and make an appointment, use the [online application form](https://service.muenchen.de/intelliform/forms/01/02/02/niederlassungserlaubnis/index) or send us your documents and application by post. After we have checked everything, you will be given an appointment with us. You can also visit us without an appointment during opening hours.

## Fee Range

* Free of charge
* Costs for sending the electronic residence permit (eAT): 5.70 euros

## Processing Time

20 weeks

## Legal Basis

§ Section 26 (3) Residence Act, Section 9 (2) Residence Act

## Questions and Answers

 
### Do the same requirements apply to everyone?

 

If you have been in possession of a residence permit for 5 years for international, humanitarian or political reasons (§§ 22-25 AufenthG) and have reached the age of 16, you can also apply for a settlement permit with different requirements:

* Settlement permit for residence on international law, humanitarian or political grounds
* Settlement permit from the age of 16 (for children)
* General settlement permit

You can find more information on this under "Forms and links".  
  
  


   
### What happens to my settlement permit if I have a new passport?

 

Your settlement permit is still valid even if your previous passport has expired and you have already received a new passport. You will need to show your old and new passports and your previous settlement permit[(passport transfer](https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/1080729/)).  
  
  


   
### Can my settlement permit expire?

 

As a rule, your [residence permit expires](https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/hauptabteilung-ii-buergerangelegenheiten/1081226/) if:

* You leave the country for a reason that is not only temporary, for example:   
  + Attending school abroad
  + Working abroad
  + Caring for a family member abroad
  + Marriage abroad
  + Settling abroad
* You leave Germany and do not re-enter within six months or a longer period specified by the Foreigners Office (exception: you fulfil a compulsory military service in your home country and re-enter Germany within three months of completing it).

  


   
## Further Links

* [Registering residence in Munich](https://www.muenchen.de/dienstleistungsfinder/muenchen/1063475/n0/)
* [General Data Protection Regulation](https://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/DSGVO.html)
* [Settlement permit from the age of 16 (for children)](https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/hauptabteilung-ii-buergerangelegenheiten-auslaenderangelegenheiten/1064111/)
* [General settlement permit](https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/hauptabteilung-ii-buergerangelegenheiten/1064106/)
* [Transfer of the residence permit to the new passport](https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/hauptabteilung-ii-buergerangelegenheiten/1080729/)
* [Information on the expiry of the settlement permit for stays abroad](https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/hauptabteilung-ii-buergerangelegenheiten/1081226/)
* [Settlement permit for international law, humanitarian or political reasons](https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/hauptabteilung-ii-buergerangelegenheiten-auslaenderangelegenheiten-asylangelegenheiten/10330033/)
* [Application for a settlement permit](https://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/dms/Home/Stadtverwaltung/Kreisverwaltungsreferat/fachspezifisch/HA-II/Auslaenderbehoerde/Dokumente/antragaufenthaltstitel.pdf)
* [Confirmation of the employment relationship](https://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/dms/Home/Stadtverwaltung/Kreisverwaltungsreferat/fachspezifisch/HA-II/Auslaenderbehoerde/Dokumente/Arbeitgeberbestaetigung.pdf)
* [Declaration of domestic partnership](https://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/dms/Home/Stadtverwaltung/Kreisverwaltungsreferat/fachspezifisch/HA-II/Auslaenderbehoerde/Dokumente/Erklaerung_haeusliche_Gemeinschaft.pdf)
* [Declaration of livelihood](https://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/dms/Home/Stadtverwaltung/Kreisverwaltungsreferat/fachspezifisch/HA-II/Auslaenderbehoerde/Dokumente/Erklaerung_Lebensunterhalt.pdf)
* [Certificate of residence](https://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/dms/Home/Stadtverwaltung/Kreisverwaltungsreferat/fachspezifisch/HA-II/Auslaenderbehoerde/Dokumente/Wohnraumbescheinigung.pdf)
* [Application for a travel document](https://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/dms/Home/Stadtverwaltung/Kreisverwaltungsreferat/fachspezifisch/HA-II/Auslaenderbehoerde/Dokumente/Antrag-_Reiseausweise.pdf)
* [Information on the biometric passport photo](https://www.bmi.bund.de/cae/servlet/contentblob/142738/publicationFile/13143/ePass_Fotomustertafel_de.pdf)
* [Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)](https://www.europaeischer-referenzrahmen.de/sprachniveau.php)
* [Online application](https://service.muenchen.de/intelliform/forms/01/02/02/niederlassungserlaubnis/index)
* [Contact form](https://service.muenchen.de/intelliform/forms/01/02/02/abhkontakt/index)

## Keywords

* Asylangelegenheit
* Asylum
* Convention
* Documents
* Establishment
* Foreigners
* Geneva
* Humanitarian
* Humanitarian Foreigners Office Munich
* Humanitär
* Permanent residence
* Permanent residence permit
* Permanent right of residence
* Recognition
* Refugees
* Residence
* Restriction
* Right
* Settlement
* Travel
* Travel document for refugees
* Unlimited
* document
* entitled
* foreign
* officer
* officers
* possession
* restrictions
* rights
