EU long-term residence permit (Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt-EU)
According to our experts, EU long-term residence permit title is one of the most powerful identities you can obtain in EU. It lets you move and settle around EU (except UK, Denmark and Ireland) without any hindrance. Like a settlement permit, it lets you live and work unlimited in Germany.
Long term EU residence title holders can leave Germany and stay in Great Britain, Denmark or Ireland or outside of the EU for up to 12 months (for EU Blue Card holders up to 24 months) without losing their status. Further, It allows you to move to other EU nations (except UK, Ireland and Denmark) and work up to 6 years without losing the initial EU settlement permit issued from Germany.
Qualification Period for an EU Blue card Holder
An EU blue card holder can apply for EU long-term residence permit after five years. Both the residence period in Germany and other EU member states counts for the qualification period. In addition, you should have stayed at least for 24 months in the member state where you intend to apply for EU settlement permit. Further, residence in other EU member states are counted only if it is greater than 18 months. for eg.
Qualification period for application in Germany = more than 5 years residence in Germany, or
Qualification period for application in Germany = sum of the duration of residence in other EU nations (each with at least 18 months) + duration of residence in Germany (at least 24 months).
Periods of residence outside of the European Union shall not be counted. However, such periods shall not be considered to interrupt the period of residence of 5 years, if they do not exceed twelve consecutive months and if they do not exceed a total of 18 months within the minimum period of 5 years.
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Other Qualification period
The following periods shall also be counted towards the necessary periods of 5 years-
- periods of residence outside of Germany during which the foreigner possessed a residence title and was resident abroad on account of having been sent to a foreign country in connection with work, provided that such individual periods have not exceeded six months or a longer period with permission from Ausländerbehörde. However, you may not spend more than ten months abroad for work reasons during the minimum period of residency of five years.
- previous periods of residence in Germany with a temporary residence permit (for e.g. Blue Card), permanent settlement permit or EU long-term residence permit, where the foreigner was in possession of a permanent settlement permit or an EU long-term residence permit at the time of leaving the federal territory and the permanent settlement permit or the EU long-term residence permit has expired solely on account of residence outside of member states of the European Union or due to acquisition of the legal status of long-term residence in another member state of the European Union, up to a maximum of four years.
- half of any periods of stay for study or vocational training in the Germany.
Documents required:
- Pension contribution to Deutsche pension Insurance system for at least 5 years.
- You can finance your cost of living independently – Employed/Self Employed.
- Health Insurance coverage.
- No criminal record.
- German language level B1 and knowledge of German legal and social system through the test “Life in Germany”.
- Registered apartment/ living space in Germany with sufficient space for yourself and family.
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Advantages
- It allows you to move to other EU nations and work up to 6 years by maintaining the initial EU settlement permit issued from Germany.
- Right to receive residence permit of any other EU member state (except UK, Ireland and Denmark) if your EU livelihood is secured. Nevertheless, there can be some directives regarding the first year of stay in the second EU member state.
- You no longer have to go to Ausländerbehörde, except for exchanging your expired permanent settlement permit card for a new one.
- Right to social benefits like EU nationals including unemployment benefits, child allowances, education allowances.
- Access to do any work or economic activity in Germany or EU.
- a prerequisite to naturalization (apply for passport).
- If you are a permanent residence card holder and if you become a parent after 8 years of living in Germany, then your child is a German citizen by birth (ius soli).
- Blue card specific rights is still valid if you are a former blue card holder.
