Apply for a permanent residence card for family members or close persons

Prerequisites

• You possess a recognized and valid passport or passport substitute.
• They possess the nationality of a third country.
• You have resided continuously and lawfully in Germany with your caregiver for a period of five years.
• Your stay is considered legal if you have met the requirements under Union law during these five years, for example if you were in possession of a residence card during this time.

One of the following applies to you:

• They belong to the family of a person with EU or EEA nationality.
• They are closely related to a person with EU or EEA nationality.
• The following are considered family members:
  • spouses or registered civil partners
  • Children and grandchildren under 21 years of age.
  • Children over 21, parents and grandparents, if they or their partners are financially supported by the aforementioned person
• Only under certain conditions are the following considered close persons:
  • Relatives in the collateral line (for example, uncle or aunt; nephew or niece)
  • Children under 18 years of age who are in a foster care or guardianship relationship with an EU or EEA citizen.
  • the partner of the EU or EEA citizen.
• You can also obtain permanent residency before the end of 5 years if there are special circumstances, such as:
  • if your caregiver dies after at least two years of living together in Germany, or
  • if your caregiver dies as a result of a work accident or occupational disease.
• Shorter absences do not interrupt your residency. Your residency will continue to be considered permanent if you:
  • leave the federal territory for a total of up to 6 months per year,
  • perform military service or alternative service or
  • are absent for a single period of up to 12 consecutive months for an important reason, for example due to a serious illness, studies or vocational training.

Documents required

General documents:

• Valid passport or passport substitute document
• biometric passport photo in electronic form
  • You can have a passport photo taken on site. A photo booth is available.
  • You can have a passport photo taken at a certified photo studio. The photo studio will then provide the photo electronically to the relevant authority via a cloud service.

Evidence of family relationship:

• Marriage certificate, civil partnership certificate or birth certificate (if applicable with apostille or legalization endorsement)
• For documents in a foreign language: certified German translation

Evidence relating to the contact person:

• Registration certificate, employment contract, offer of employment, business license or proof of self-employment
• When staying with a non-working caregiver:
  • Proof of sufficient means of subsistence
  • Proof of sufficient health insurance coverage
• When staying with a student sponsor:
  • University admission or enrollment certificate
  • Proof of means of subsistence
  • Proof of health insurance coverage

The immigration authorities may request further documents in individual cases.

Please note

Deadlines

The permanent residence permit is issued for a period of 10 years.

Procedure

• You use the provided online service to submit your application and upload the required documents.
• The relevant authority will then send you an appointment for a consultation.
• Please bring all necessary documents, preferably in original form, to the appointment.
• The relevant authority will verify your identity and documents.
• The responsible authority will involve other authorities if necessary.
• You pay the necessary fees.
• If your application is approved, your fingerprints, signature and a biometric passport photo will be taken to produce your permanent residence card.
• The responsible authority commissions an external body, the Federal Printing Office, to produce your permanent residence card.
• Once your residence permit (GB) is ready, you can collect it in person from the responsible office. The responsible office will contact you to schedule an appointment.
• If your application is rejected, you will receive a rejection notice stating the reasons for the rejection.

Processing time

Processing may take 6-8 weeks.

Fees

For persons under 24 years of age: EUR 27.60


For persons aged 24 and over: EUR 46.00


In certain cases, the fee may be reduced or waived entirely.

Legal remedies

Contradiction

Legal basis

Section 1 of the Freedom of Movement Act/EU (FreizügG/EU)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/freiz_gg_eu_2004/__1.html


Section 2 of the Freedom of Movement Act/EU (FreizügG/EU)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/freiz_gg_eu_2004/__2.html


Section 3 of the Freedom of Movement Act/EU (FreizügG/EU)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/freiz_gg_eu_2004/__3.html


Section 3a Freedom of Movement Act/EU (FreizügG/EU)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/freiz_gg_eu_2004/__3a.html


Section 4 of the Freedom of Movement Act/EU (FreizügG/EU)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/freiz_gg_eu_2004/__4.html


Section 4a Freedom of Movement Act/EU (FreizügG/EU)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/freiz_gg_eu_2004/__4a.html


Section 5, paragraphs 5 and 7 of the Freedom of Movement Act/EU (FreizügG/EU)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/freiz_gg_eu_2004/__5.html


Section 12 of the Freedom of Movement Act/EU (FreizügG/EU)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/freiz_gg_eu_2004/__12.html


Section 12a Freedom of Movement Act/EU (FreizügG/EU)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/freiz_gg_eu_2004/__12a.html




Section 47 Paragraph 3 of the Residence Ordinance


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__47.html