Settlement permit for reasons of international law, humanitarian or political reasons
<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 in possession of a residence permit for 5 years for reasons of international law, humanitarian or political reasons (§§ 22-25 AufenthG) and have reached the age of 16.</li>
</ul>
<p>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 or have been admitted to Germany as a resettlement refugee, you also have the option of applying for a settlement permit in accordance with Section 26 (3) AufenthG with different requirements.</p>
Applying Asylangelegenheit Asylum Convention Documents Establishment Federal Foreigners Foreigners Office Munich Geneva Humanitarian Humanitär Permanent residence Permanent residence permit Permanent right of residence Refugees Residence Restriction Right Settlement Travel Travel document for refugees Unlimited document entitled foreign officer officers possession reasons restrictions rights without

# Settlement permit for reasons of international law, humanitarian or political reasons

## Summary

You have been living here for 5 years for reasons of international law, humanitarian or political reasons 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 in possession of a residence permit for 5 years for reasons of international law, humanitarian or political reasons (§§ 22-25 AufenthG) and have reached the age of 16.

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 or have been admitted to Germany as a resettlement refugee, you also have the option of applying for a settlement permit in accordance with Section 26 (3) AufenthG with different requirements.

## Responsible Department

KVR
## Required Documents

* Fully completed application for a settlement permit
* Valid passport or passport substitute (travel document for foreigners or 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 pension provision:**

* Waiting period information from the German Pension Insurance (at least 60 months of compulsory or voluntary contributions to statutory pension insurance). Information from the municipal insurance office on applying for the waiting period information can be found here.  
  
  or
* Proof of entitlement to comparable benefits from an insurance or pension institution or an insurance company.

**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 statements of account 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 sufficient knowledge of German and basic knowledge of the legal and social system in Germany:**

* Language certificate level B1 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 foreigners or refugees).
* You have been living legally in Germany for at least 5 years with a residence permit. The time of an asylum procedure is counted towards the required period of residence.
* You have a residence permit in accordance with §§ 22 to 25 AufenthG.
* Your livelihood is secure.
* You have adequate health insurance.
* You have sufficient pension provision (at least 60 months of compulsory or voluntary contributions to statutory pension insurance or comparable benefits).
* You have sufficient living space for yourself and your family members. This does not include accommodation to prevent homelessness.
* You have sufficient knowledge of German (language level B1).
* You have a basic knowledge of the legal and social system in Germany.
* You have no criminal record.

## Please Note

To apply, use our online application or send us the documents and your application by post. After we have checked everything, you will be given an appointment with us. You can also visit department 331 without an appointment during opening hours.

## Fee Range

* Persons entitled to asylum, persons with refugee status, persons entitled to subsidiary protection and resettlement and humanitarian admissions are exempt from fees.
* In all other cases: EUR 113.00
* Costs for sending the electronic residence permit (eAT): EUR 5.50

## 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?

 

Different requirements apply for:

* Settlement permit for persons entitled to asylum, refugees and resettlement refugees
* 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

* [Apply for waiting period information at the insurance office](https://www.muenchen.de/dienstleistungsfinder/muenchen/10216090/)
* [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 asylum seekers and refugees](https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/hauptabteilung-ii-buergerangelegenheiten-auslaenderangelegenheiten-asylangelegenheiten/10330029/)
* [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)

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