Permanent settlement permit for qualified skilled workers - application

• Permitted employment as a skilled worker with a professional qualification, an academic degree or in research for 3 or 2 years • You have held a residence title for at least 3 years, which allows you to work as a skilled worker. This includes, in particular, residence permits under Sections 18a, 18b or 18d of the German Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz). • The period is reduced to 2 years if you have successfully completed vocational training or a course of study in Germany. • The time you have held a national visa will also be taken into account if you have already been employed as a skilled worker with permission under the visa to do so • You continue to work as a skilled worker • Old-age provision • You have paid contributions to the statutory pension insurance scheme for at least 36 months. Expenses for an entitlement to comparable benefits from a private insurance company or a pension institution are also accepted. • If you have successfully completed vocational training or a course of study in Germany, 24 months are also sufficient. • Sufficient command of German Sufficient German language skills correspond to level B 1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​(CEFR). • Secured livelihood through own income • Your livelihood and that of your close family members (spouse/life partner and children) is secured. You must not receive or be entitled to any benefits from a job center or social welfare office under the second or twelfth German Social Code (such as the Bürgergeld citizen's allowance or social assistance). • In the case of a domestic partnership in the context of a marriage or same-sex civil partnership, proof of income can also be provided by the spouse or civil partner. • With the Quick Check (under “Do it online now”) you can check free of charge whether your income currently covers your living expenses. • Adequate health insurance You have health insurance in Germany, either in the statutory health insurance system or a comparable private health insurance. Foreign health insurance is not sufficient. For more information, please read the leaflet. • You have no previous convictions or are the subject of an open investigation • Fines alone can prevent the granting of a permanent settlement permit. • An application for a permanent settlement permit may not be processed while investigation proceedings are ongoing. • Basic knowledge of the German legal and social order and living conditions in Germany Basic knowledge is assumed to be present in particular if • an integration course or the "Living in Germany" orientation course has been successfully completed, • an educational or vocational qualification was obtained in Germany or • you have completed at least one year of schooling or vocational training in Germany. • Sufficient living space You have sufficient living space for yourself and the family members living with you at home. • Main residence in Berlin You live in Berlin. A second residence in Berlin is not sufficient. • Current email adress The Berlin Immigration Office will contact you via your current email address. Please also check your spam folder regularly. • For the online application: Consent to the electronic payment process The following methods of payment are available to you: • Credit card (Visa, Mastercard) • Paypal

• Application for a permanent settlement permit for qualified skilled workers (with Quick-Check) • only possible online • You will receive a PDF document to confirm your application. This document will certify that your current residence title remains valid in the federal territory beyond the previous validity date. (This does not apply if you hold a Schengen visa (C visa) for a short-term stay). • Please therefore make sure to save this document and print a copy if possible. • In the case of an application being filed by an authorised representative: power of attorney stating the subject matter of the procedure • Passport copies (in color) Copies of the data pages of your passport or passport replacement (with your photo and personal data) are required. • Copy of your current residence title • Proof of your employment as a skilled worker • Employment contract, • Proof of net salary for the last 6 months (wage slips, bank statements), • current certificate from the employer (not older than 14 days) and • Proof of health insurance in Germany • If you have statutory health insurance: electronic health card (copy front and back) or a current confirmation from the health insurance company • In the case of private health insurance: certificate from the insurer regarding the scope and costs of the insurance in accordance with § 257 Para. 2a SGB V. Please point out to your insurer that you need the certificate for a permanent residence title. • Proof of the size and cost of the living space The floor space and the monthly rent or housing costs of your own property (house or apartment) must be demonstrated as follows. In the case of a rental property: • Tenancy agreement (without house rules or other annexes) and • Proof of the current monthly costs (rent with utility costs included – “Warmmiete”), e.g. bank statements In the case of an owned property: • Extract from the land register, third section, • Costs of the home-owner charges and possible monthly loan costs for the property • Old-age provision • Pension information from the German Pension Insurance or • Proof of entitlement to comparable pension benefits from an insurance or pension institution or insurance company • After vocational training or studies in Germany: Proof of the degree achieved Certificates • Proof of German language skills at level B 1 of the CEFR In particular, the following proof is possible: • language certificate with an overall result of B 1 of the CEFR or an equivalent or higher language diploma, • certificate of successful completion of the integration course, • at least 4 years of successful attendance at a German general education school (promotion to the next higher grade) and an average grade of at least “sufficient” in the last school report, • promotion to the tenth grade of a general education German school, • acquisition of vocational qualification or an equivalent level of education or school leaving certificate from a general education school, • successful completion of a German-language qualified vocational training, • successful completion of a German-language course of study at a university or university of applied sciences or • German-language doctorate from a German university • Evidence of knowledge of the German legal and social order In particular, the following proof is possible: • certificate of successful completion of the integration course, • certificate of successful completion of the orientation course, • certificate of successful completion of the “Test Living in Germany”, • certificate of successful completion of the naturalization test, • at least 4 years of successful attendance at a German general education school (promotion to the next higher grade) and an average grade of at least “sufficient” in the last school report, • promotion to the tenth grade of a general education German school, • acquisition of vocational qualification or an equivalent level of education or school leaving certificate from a general education school, • successful completion of a German qualified vocational training or completion of a corresponding training in Germany for at least one year, • successful completion of a degree at a German university or university of applied sciences, • German-language doctorate from a German university or • obtaining a state license to practice the profession independently (approbation)

For highly skilled workers holding an university degree • 73.50 Euro: Processing fee (for the online application) • 73.50 Euro: Issuing fee (for in-person appointments) For skilled workers in all other cases • 56.50 Euro: Processing fee (for the online application) • 56.50 Euro: Issuing fee (for in-person appointments) For Turkish nationals up to the age of 24 • 13.80 Euro: Processing fee (for the online application) • 13.80 Euro: Issuing fee (for in-person appointments) For Turkish nationals as from the age of 24 • 23.00 Euro: Processing fee (for the online application) • 23.00 Euro: Issuing fee (for in-person appointments) Note: A refund of the processing fee is not possible in the event that the application is withdrawn if we have already begun to process the application (by examining the required residence time and/or the documents you sent or sending you an appointment for an in-person interview).

• Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 18c Abs. 1 and Abs. 3 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/englisch_aufent

You will receive an appointment for an interview if your application is reviewed positively. At the appointment, you will receive written confirmation of lawful residence until issue of the appointed residence title. Following the appointment, it will take at least 4 weeks until the permanent settlement permit is issued as a electronic residence title and can be picked up.

• Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) www.europaeischer-referenzrahmen.de/ • Health insurance leaflet (Berlin Immigration Office) www.berlin.de/einwanderung/_assets/merkblatt_zur_krankenvers • Permanent settlement permit for EU Blue Card holders (service) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/326556/en/

This service can only be used at the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA, State Office for Immigration) at the Friedrich-Krause-Ufer location.