---
title: Applying for the Niederlassungserlaubnis (Settlement Permit) in Germany
country: germany
service: niederlassungserlaubnis
category: immigration
difficulty: complex
estimated_time: "Typically 2-6 months from the Ausländerbehörde appointment to issuance of the eAT card; appointment waiting times in Berlin and Munich currently 3-6 months on top"
cost_range: "EUR 113-147 in statutory § 44 AufenthV fees depending on pathway; Turkish-Assoziation reduced rates apply in narrow constellations"
last_verified: 2026-05-17
canonical: https://publicservices.guide/germany/niederlassungserlaubnis/
status: current
confidence: low
tags:
  - immigration
  - "residence-permit"
  - niederlassungserlaubnis
  - "settlement-permit"
  - aufenthaltsgesetz
  - "permanent-residence"
sources:
  - https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__9.html
  - https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__9a.html
  - https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__18c.html
  - https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__26.html
  - https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__44.html
  - https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Migrathek/Niederlassen/niederlassen-node.html
  - https://www.bamf.de/EN/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Migrathek/Niederlassen/niederlassen-node.html
  - https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/Integration/ZugewanderteTeilnehmende/OnlineTestcenter/online-testcenter-node.html
  - https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/living-permanently/settlement-permit
  - https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/121864/en/
  - https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/auslanderbehorde/1064106/
---

# Applying for the Niederlassungserlaubnis (Settlement Permit) in Germany

**Country:** 🇩🇪 Germany  
**Last verified:** 2026-05-17  
**Estimated time:** Typically 2-6 months from the Ausländerbehörde appointment to issuance of the eAT card; appointment waiting times in Berlin and Munich currently 3-6 months on top  
**Cost:** EUR 113-147 in statutory § 44 AufenthV fees depending on pathway; Turkish-Assoziation reduced rates apply in narrow constellations

## Required documents

- **Valid passport** *(Reisepass)*
  - Required: Original passport plus copies of all data pages; remaining validity should be at least six months at the point of application
  - Cost: Already issued
  - _Note:_ Ausländerbehörden routinely defer issuance of the eAT card if the passport has less than six months of remaining validity, even though the Niederlassungserlaubnis itself is unbefristet. Arrange passport renewal at your home country's Auslandsvertretung in advance where applicable.
- **Current Aufenthaltstitel (eAT card)** *(Bisheriger Aufenthaltstitel)*
  - Required: Original eAT card from your current Aufenthaltserlaubnis plus copies of front and back
  - Cost: Already issued
  - _Note:_ The card evidences the years that count toward the § 9 Absatz 2 Nummer 1 AufenthG residence period; the Ausländerbehörde compares it against its own file.
- **Recent biometric photo** *(Biometrisches Passfoto)*
  - Required: Biometric photo to the federal specification (35 × 45 mm, frontal, neutral background); fingerprints and signature are captured at the appointment for the eAT card under § 78 AufenthG
  - Cost: Approximately EUR 5-15 at a photo studio or photo machine
  - _Note:_ Some Ausländerbehörden — including Munich — provide an on-site Fotostation that uploads an ePassFoto directly into the file.
- **Address registration confirmation** *(Meldebescheinigung)*
  - Where to get: Bürgeramt / Meldebehörde at your registered address
  - Required: Current Meldebescheinigung, typically not older than three months
  - Cost: EUR 5-12 depending on municipality (paid at the Bürgeramt; not part of the § 44 AufenthV fee)
  - _Note:_ Order the Meldebescheinigung shortly before the appointment so the date stays within the window most Ausländerbehörden accept.
- **Pension insurance record** *(Rentenversicherungsverlauf)*
  - Where to get: Deutsche Rentenversicherung online portal or by written request
  - Required: Verlauf documenting at least 60 months of Pflichtbeiträge or freiwillige Beiträge to the statutory pension scheme — or equivalent contributions to a berufsständisches Versorgungswerk for liberal professions
  - Cost: Free
  - _Note:_ Allow several weeks for DRV to issue the Verlauf. Soloselbständige and freelancers without statutory pension obligation should request a DRV consultation early to plan voluntary top-up contributions if needed to reach the 60-month threshold.
- **Livelihood evidence** *(Nachweis des gesicherten Lebensunterhalts)*
  - Required: For employees: signed Arbeitsvertrag, the last three to six Verdienstabrechnungen, and an Arbeitgeberbescheinigung not older than two weeks. For self-employed applicants: latest Einkommensteuerbescheid, current Gewinn- und Verlustrechnung, and a Finanzamt statement on Steuerregistrierung. For non-earning family members: evidence of own assets or insurance-based benefits (e.g. ALG I).
  - Cost: Generally free; some Bescheinigungen may carry small administrative fees
  - _Note:_ Kindergeld, Wohngeld and Elterngeld receipts do not count against the Lebensunterhalt requirement under § 2 Absatz 3 AufenthG. Bezug von Bürgergeld (SGB II) or Sozialhilfe (SGB XII) leads to refusal; a clean recent twelve to twenty-four-month track record materially strengthens the file.
- **Housing evidence** *(Wohnraumnachweis)*
  - Required: Mietvertrag in original with stated Wohnfläche in m², or — for owner-occupied housing — Grundbuchauszug plus Kaufvertrag with stated Wohnfläche
  - Cost: Grundbuchauszug approximately EUR 10-20; Mietvertrag already issued
  - _Note:_ When the Wohnfläche is not stated in the Mietvertrag, most Ausländerbehörden accept a written confirmation from the Vermieter giving the square-metre figure. The working rule is 12 m² per resident aged six and older, 10 m² per child under six, excluding kitchen, bathroom and ancillary rooms.
- **Language and civic certificates** *(Sprach- und Integrationsnachweise)*
  - Required: B1 certificate (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer, Goethe-Zertifikat B1, telc Deutsch B1, ÖSD-Zertifikat B1, TestDaF or equivalent) — or a German school-leaving certificate (Haupt-/Real-/Abitur) that replaces the language test entirely. Plus a Bescheinigung from the Test ‚Leben in Deutschland', Einbürgerungstest or Orientierungskurs covering the civic-knowledge requirement under § 9 Absatz 2 Nummer 8 AufenthG
  - Where to get: BAMF Online-Testcenter for civic-test booking; Volkshochschulen and other registered Träger for B1 exams
  - Cost: Approximately EUR 25 for the civic test (BAMF baseline); language exam fees vary by provider
  - _Note:_ Sprachzertifikate from non-accredited providers are routinely rejected. § 9 Absatz 2 Sätze 3-6 AufenthG provides Härtefall relief for applicants over 60 or with disability where language acquisition is unzumutbar; the Ausländerbehörde decides case by case. For the § 18c Absatz 3 Hochqualifizierte pathway, the statute contains no explicit language clause — the integration prognosis substitutes, and practice may still request language evidence.
- **Health insurance confirmation** *(Krankenversicherungsnachweis)*
  - Required: Confirmation of statutory (gesetzlich) or private (privat) Krankenversicherung, evidenced by the Versichertenkarte or a Versichertenbescheinigung
  - Cost: Free (the premium itself is outside the application scope)
  - _Note:_ For self-employed applicants the insurer's Bescheinigung is the usual format; statutory members can request a Bescheinigung from their Krankenkasse free of charge.

## Costs

- **Niederlassungserlaubnis — standard case (§ 9, § 18c Absatz 1 or 2, § 9a, § 26, § 28 Absatz 2):** 113 EUR — Statutory fee set by § 44 Absatz 1 AufenthV. Applies to most pathways including the standard five-year route and the accelerated Fachkraft and Blaue Karte EU routes.
- **Niederlassungserlaubnis — Selbständige pathway (§ 21 Absatz 4):** 124 EUR — Statutory fee set by § 44 Absatz 2 AufenthV for the self-employment pathway.
- **Niederlassungserlaubnis — Hochqualifizierte (§ 18c Absatz 3):** 147 EUR — Statutory fee set by § 44 Absatz 3 AufenthV for the immediate-issuance pathway for highly qualified academics, leading scientists and senior teaching staff.
- **Civic test — Test ‚Leben in Deutschland' or Einbürgerungstest:** 25 EUR — BAMF baseline figure; exact amount varies slightly by Träger. Required where the applicant does not hold a qualifying German school-leaving certificate.

## Steps

### 1. Run a pre-check against your pathway and the eight conditions *(Voraussetzungsprüfung)*

- Identify your pathway: § 9 standard (five years), § 18c Absatz 1 Fachkraft (three or two years), § 18c Absatz 2 Blaue Karte EU (27 or 21 months — see the dedicated Blaue Karte EU guide), § 18c Absatz 3 Hochqualifizierte (immediate), § 21 Absatz 4 Selbständige (three years), § 28 Absatz 2 family of German citizen (three years), or § 26 Absatz 3 asylum pathway (five or three years)
- Run the § 9 Absatz 2 AufenthG eight-condition check (where applicable to your pathway): five-year residence period, gesicherter Lebensunterhalt, 60 months pension contributions, no Ausweisungsinteresse, employment authorisation, Berufsausübungserlaubnis where required, B1 German, and adequate housing
- If you are a Blaue Karte EU holder, your pathway is the parallel § 18c Absatz 2 route — see the dedicated Blaue Karte EU guide for the conversion mechanics

> **Tip:** Berlin publishes an official online quick-check on service.berlin.de; Munich and other Landeshauptstädte publish equivalent self-assessment pages.

_Links:_
- [BAMF — Niederlassen overview](https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Migrathek/Niederlassen/niederlassen-node.html)
- [Make it in Germany — settlement permit](https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/living-permanently/settlement-permit)

### 2. Request your Rentenversicherungsverlauf early *(Rentenversicherungsverlauf)*

- Request the Verlauf via the Deutsche Rentenversicherung online portal or in writing; allow several weeks for delivery
- Check the recorded months against the 60-month threshold under § 9 Absatz 2 Nummer 3 AufenthG (or the pathway-specific threshold: 36 months under § 18c Absatz 1, 27 or 21 months under § 18c Absatz 2)
- If short, book a DRV-Beratung (free) to plan freiwillige Beiträge or document equivalent contributions to a berufsständisches Versorgungswerk

> **If this fails:** A pension shortfall is the single most common eligibility surprise — start the Verlauf request at least three months before the planned appointment.

### 3. Lock in the language and civic certificates *(Sprach- und Integrationsnachweise)*

- Confirm your B1 certificate is from an accredited provider (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer, Goethe-Zertifikat B1, telc Deutsch B1, ÖSD-Zertifikat B1, TestDaF) — or rely on a qualifying deutscher Schulabschluss
- Book the Test ‚Leben in Deutschland' or Einbürgerungstest via BAMF Online-Testcenter or a local Volkshochschule; both satisfy § 9 Absatz 2 Nummer 8 AufenthG
- Keep the Bescheinigungen with your application file

> **Tip:** If you completed an Integrationskurs the DTZ certificate and Orientierungskurs Bescheinigung typically cover both requirements at once.

### 4. Compile livelihood, housing and personal documents *(Unterlagen zusammenstellen)*

- Employees: signed Arbeitsvertrag, last three to six Verdienstabrechnungen, and an Arbeitgeberbescheinigung not older than two weeks
- Self-employed: latest Einkommensteuerbescheid, current Gewinn- und Verlustrechnung, and a Finanzamt confirmation on Steuerregistrierung
- Housing: Mietvertrag with Wohnfläche in m² or Grundbuchauszug plus Kaufvertrag; obtain a Vermieter-Bestätigung where the m² figure is missing
- Personal: Reisepass with at least six months remaining validity, current eAT, biometric photo, fresh Meldebescheinigung, and Krankenversicherungsnachweis

> **If this fails:** A Mietvertrag without Wohnfläche is the second-most-common documentary failure after pension shortfall; ask the Vermieter early.

### 5. Book the appointment with your competent Ausländerbehörde *(Termin bei der Ausländerbehörde)*

- Identify the locally competent Ausländerbehörde — in Berlin the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA), in Munich the Ausländerbehörde at the Kreisverwaltungsreferat, in Hamburg the Einwohner-Zentralamt
- Book the appointment via the municipal portal (service.berlin.de, stadt.muenchen.de or equivalent) — current Berlin and Munich waiting times run three to six months on top of processing
- Aim to book so the appointment falls one to three months before the exact end of your waiting period — the Ausländerbehörde cannot decide before the qualifying date

> **Tip:** Do not wait until the last few weeks of your current Aufenthaltserlaubnis — book at least nine months ahead in Großstädten.

_Links:_
- [Berlin LEA — Niederlassungserlaubnis service page](https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/121864/en/)
- [München Ausländerbehörde — Niederlassungserlaubnis](https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/auslanderbehorde/1064106/)

### 6. File the application — online, by post or at the appointment *(Antragstellung)*

- Berlin (online-first): file via service.berlin.de, upload PDFs (up to 7 MB per file, 100 MB total) and pay EUR 56.50 online by Kreditkarte or PayPal; the EUR 56.50 issuing fee is paid in person
- Munich (hybrid): file via stadt.muenchen.de or by post; the EUR 113 fee is paid at the in-person appointment in cash or by EC-Karte
- Other Länder: file directly at the in-person appointment using the Behörde's PDF Antragsformular; the EUR 113 fee is collected at the appointment

> **If this fails:** An incomplete file does not block the appointment but extends the decision: the Ausländerbehörde issues a Fiktionsbescheinigung under § 81 Absatz 4 AufenthG to bridge the gap.

### 7. Attend the in-person appointment and provide biometrics *(Vor-Ort-Termin)*

- Bring all originals — Reisepass, current eAT, biometric photo, Meldebescheinigung, livelihood and housing evidence, Rentenversicherungsverlauf, language and civic certificates, Krankenversicherungsnachweis
- Provide biometric data — fingerprints and signature for the eAT card under § 78 AufenthG; some offices capture a fresh photo at an on-site Fotostation
- Pay any outstanding portion of the § 44 AufenthV fee (EUR 113 standard, EUR 124 for § 21 Absatz 4, EUR 147 for § 18c Absatz 3)

### 8. Receive the decision and any Fiktionsbescheinigung *(Bescheid und Fiktionsbescheinigung)*

- Decision typically arrives four to twenty weeks after the appointment depending on the Ausländerbehörde and case complexity — Munich publishes 20 Wochen as the standard expectation
- Per § 81 Absatz 4 AufenthG, if the eAT card is not yet produced when your current Aufenthaltserlaubnis runs out, the Ausländerbehörde issues a Fiktionsbescheinigung that secures your stay until the decision is delivered
- Keep the Fiktionsbescheinigung with your Reisepass; banks, employers and travel authorities may rely on it

> **If this fails:** The Fiktionsbescheinigung is not universally accepted as a travel document outside the Schengen-Raum; contact the Ausländerbehörde before any non-Schengen travel during the wait.

### 9. Collect the eAT card with your Niederlassungserlaubnis *(eAT abholen)*

- The Bundesdruckerei produces the eAT card and dispatches it to the issuing Ausländerbehörde, typically within several weeks of biometric capture
- Collect the card in person — bring your Reisepass — and verify the visible data fields under § 78 AufenthG against your records
- Photograph the eAT front and back for your records — banks, employers and immigration officers may ask to see it later

> **Tip:** From the date on the Aushändigungsbescheinigung your Niederlassungserlaubnis fully replaces the previous Aufenthaltserlaubnis.

## FAQ

### After how many years can I apply for the Niederlassungserlaubnis?

Per § 9 Absatz 2 AufenthG the standard pathway is five years of lawful Aufenthaltserlaubnis. § 18c AufenthG shortens this for Fachkräfte to three years (or two years where the qualifying vocational or academic qualification was obtained in Germany), and to 27 months — or 21 months with B1 German — for Blaue Karte EU holders under § 18c Absatz 2. § 28 Absatz 2 AufenthG provides three years for family members of German citizens. § 18c Absatz 3 enables immediate issuance for Hochqualifizierte without a statutory waiting period.

### What is the difference between the Niederlassungserlaubnis and the Daueraufenthalt-EU?

Both are unbefristete Aufenthaltstitel and § 9a Absatz 1 AufenthG explicitly establishes Gleichstellung inside Germany. The substantive eligibility set is largely the same. The Daueraufenthalt-EU additionally confers EU-mobility rights under Council Directive 2003/109/EC, making it the systemically better choice for applicants who plan onward moves within the EU. This guide covers the Niederlassungserlaubnis specifically; a separate Daueraufenthalt-EU pathway exists under § 9a AufenthG and is granted by the same Ausländerbehörde with a substantially overlapping document list — but you must apply under § 9a explicitly to receive the EU-mobility right.

### How many months of pension contributions do I need to show?

Per § 9 Absatz 2 Nummer 3 AufenthG at least 60 months of Pflichtbeiträge or freiwillige Beiträge to the statutory pension scheme — or equivalent contributions to a berufsständisches Versorgungswerk for liberal professions. Per § 18c Absatz 1 AufenthG the accelerated Fachkraft pathway requires 36 months (or 24 months for German-qualification holders); per § 18c Absatz 2 the Blaue Karte EU pathway requires 27 or 21 months in lockstep with the residence period.

### What German language level is required?

Per § 9 Absatz 2 Nummer 7 AufenthG the standard is ‘ausreichende Kenntnisse der deutschen Sprache', which BAMF practice and the Make it in Germany federal portal concretise as B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The accelerated asylum pathway under § 26 Absatz 3 requires C1-equivalent Sprachbeherrschung. For the § 18c Absatz 3 Hochqualifizierte pathway the statute contains no explicit language clause — the integration prognosis substitutes, though practice may still request language evidence.

### Which fee applies to my case?

§ 44 AufenthV sets three tiers: EUR 113 for the standard case (most § 9, § 18c Absatz 1 or 2, § 9a, § 26 and § 28 Absatz 2 applications), EUR 124 for the self-employment pathway under § 21 Absatz 4 AufenthG, and EUR 147 for the Hochqualifizierte pathway under § 18c Absatz 3 AufenthG. Berlin LEA splits the standard fee as EUR 56.50 processing online plus EUR 56.50 issuance in person; Munich collects EUR 113 in one payment at the appointment. Turkish nationals invoking the EWG-Türkei Assoziationsrecht qualify for reduced rates (Berlin publishes EUR 27.60 under 24 and EUR 46.00 from 24); the substantive eligibility test is unchanged.

### Does Bürgergeld disqualify me?

Per § 9 Absatz 2 Nummer 2 AufenthG in conjunction with § 2 Absatz 3 AufenthG, current Bürgergeld (SGB II, formerly ALG II) or Sozialhilfe (SGB XII) makes the Lebensunterhalt not gesichert and leads to refusal. Past receipt is not an automatic bar but triggers a forward-looking livelihood prognosis; the Ausländerbehörde commonly looks for at least twelve to twenty-four months of uninterrupted self-financing prior to the application. Kindergeld, Wohngeld, Elterngeld and ALG I from own contributions do not count against the requirement.

### What happens if my current Aufenthaltserlaubnis expires while the application is being processed?

Per § 81 Absatz 4 AufenthG a timely filed application keeps the existing title in effect until the decision, evidenced by a Fiktionsbescheinigung issued by the Ausländerbehörde. The Fiktionsbescheinigung secures the stay inside Germany but is not universally recognised as a travel document, particularly outside the Schengen-Raum. If travel is unavoidable during the wait, contact the Ausländerbehörde before departure.

### Can the Niederlassungserlaubnis ever lapse?

Yes. Per § 51 Absatz 1 Nummer 7 AufenthG the title lapses after more than six months of stay outside Germany unless extended by the Ausländerbehörde. Planned absences longer than six months — sabbaticals, family obligations abroad, postings — require a Wiedereinreiseerlaubnis filed before departure to preserve the title.

### Is the Niederlassungserlaubnis the same as German citizenship?

No. The Niederlassungserlaubnis is an unbefristeter Aufenthaltstitel; it does not confer voting rights, a German passport, or EU citizenship. Einbürgerung (naturalisation) is a separate procedure governed by the Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG) — typically reached three to five years after the Niederlassungserlaubnis is held.

## Sources

- [Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) — Aufenthaltsgesetz](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__9.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — § 9 AufenthG (Niederlassungserlaubnis): Absatz 1 defines the Niederlassungserlaubnis as an unbefristeter Aufenthaltstitel (Die Niederlassungserlaubnis ist ein unbefristeter Aufenthaltstitel). Absatz 2 sets out the standard pathway conditions including five years of continuous Aufenthaltserlaubnis, secured Lebensunterhalt, at least 60 months of statutory pension contributions (or equivalent provision), no Ausweisungsinteresse, employment authorisation where applicable, professional licences for regulated professions, sufficient German language skills, basic knowledge of the legal and social order, and adequate housing for the applicant and household.
- [Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) — Aufenthaltsgesetz](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__9a.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — § 9a AufenthG (Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt-EU): Absatz 1 defines this title as an unbefristeter Aufenthaltstitel (Die Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt – EU ist ein unbefristeter Aufenthaltstitel) and establishes Gleichstellung with the Niederlassungserlaubnis inside Germany. The grant conditions parallel § 9 but the title additionally confers EU-mobility rights under Council Directive 2003/109/EC; Absatz 3 excludes specific groups (temporary protection, pending international protection applications, residence titles for inherently temporary purposes).
- [Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) — Aufenthaltsgesetz](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__18c.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — § 18c AufenthG (Niederlassungserlaubnis für Fachkräfte): Absatz 1 establishes the three-year pathway with 36 months of pension contributions for Fachkräfte under §§ 18a/18b/18d AufenthG, reduced to two years and 24 months for holders of a German vocational or academic qualification. Absatz 2 sets a 27-month pathway (or 21-month pathway with B1 language) for Blaue Karte EU (§ 18g) holders. Absatz 3 enables immediate issuance for Hochqualifizierte — particularly Wissenschaftler mit besonderen fachlichen Kenntnissen oder Lehrpersonen in herausgehobener Funktion oder wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiter in herausgehobener Funktion — without a statutory waiting period.
- [Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) — Aufenthaltsgesetz](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__26.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — § 26 Absatz 3 AufenthG: for holders of a residence permit under § 25 Absatz 1 or 2 Satz 1 (asylum recipients and recognised refugees), the Niederlassungserlaubnis must be granted after five years if the Lebensunterhalt is überwiegend gesichert and sufficient language skills are demonstrated; an accelerated three-year pathway applies where the applicant has C1-equivalent Sprachbeherrschung and a weit überwiegend gesicherten Lebensunterhalt. Asylum-procedure time counts toward the residence period.
- [Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) — Aufenthaltsverordnung](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__44.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — § 44 AufenthV (Gebühren für die Niederlassungserlaubnis): three-tier statutory fee schedule — EUR 113 for the standard case (covering most § 9, § 18c Absatz 1 and Absatz 2, § 9a, § 26 and § 28 Absatz 2 pathways), EUR 124 for the self-employment pathway under § 21 Absatz 4 AufenthG, and EUR 147 for the highly qualified pathway under § 18c Absatz 3 AufenthG (an Gebühren sind zu erheben für die Erteilung einer Niederlassungserlaubnis für Hochqualifizierte 147 Euro).
- [Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge — In Deutschland niederlassen](https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Migrathek/Niederlassen/niederlassen-node.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — BAMF procedural overview of the Niederlassungserlaubnis and Daueraufenthalt-EU: covers the standard five-year pathway under § 9 AufenthG, accelerated three-year pathway for Fachkräfte under § 18c, Blaue Karte EU 27/21-month pathways, asylum-recipient pathways under § 26, immediate issuance for Hochqualifizierte under § 18c Absatz 3, and the B1 German language standard with C1 referenced for the accelerated asylum pathway.
- [Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge — Settling in Germany (English mirror)](https://www.bamf.de/EN/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Migrathek/Niederlassen/niederlassen-node.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — BAMF English-language mirror of the Niederlassen overview: confirms identical procedural content for non-German-reading applicants — pathway taxonomy, B1 language standard, 60-month pension contribution requirement, and competent Ausländerbehörde as the issuing authority.
- [Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge — Online-Testcenter](https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/Integration/ZugewanderteTeilnehmende/OnlineTestcenter/online-testcenter-node.html) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T1_ — BAMF Online-Testcenter for Test ‚Leben in Deutschland' and Einbürgerungstest: a 310-question Gesamtfragenkatalog (300 federal + 10 state-specific) underlies both tests; the booklet contains 33 questions over 60 minutes, with 17 correct answers required to pass. Functional equivalence between the two tests for the § 9 Absatz 2 Nummer 8 AufenthG civic-knowledge requirement is established by BAMF practice.
- [Make it in Germany — federal portal (BMAS/BMI-affiliated)](https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/living-permanently/settlement-permit) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T2_ — Make it in Germany settlement-permit overview confirms the core eligibility set: at least five years of lawful residence in Germany, ability to support oneself and family financially, German language skills at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, basic knowledge of the legal and social system, and at least 60 months of compulsory or voluntary contributions to statutory pension insurance. Skilled workers may qualify after three years of residence with continued qualified employment and B1 German.
- [Landesamt für Einwanderung Berlin (Berlin LEA)](https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/121864/en/) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T2_ — Berlin LEA Niederlassungserlaubnis service page: the standard EUR 113 statutory fee is collected as a split — EUR 56.50 processing fee at online application plus EUR 56.50 issuing fee at the in-person appointment. Reduced rates for Turkish nationals invoking Assoziationsrecht are EUR 13.80 (under 24) or EUR 23.00 (24 and older) per fee component (totals EUR 27.60 and EUR 46.00). Processing fees are non-refundable once examination has begun.
- [Landeshauptstadt München — Ausländerbehörde](https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/auslanderbehorde/1064106/) — accessed 2026-05-17 — _T2_ — Munich Ausländerbehörde Niederlassungserlaubnis service page: EUR 113 statutory fee collected at the in-person appointment in cash or by EC-Karte (Girocard); standard processing time published as 20 Wochen (20 weeks) after submission of complete documentation.

---

Verification pending — see the canonical page for the latest trust state.
Canonical: https://publicservices.guide/germany/niederlassungserlaubnis/