Residence Permit Checker
Check which German residence permit fits your situation: visa, residence permit, Blue Card, or settlement. Free, no signup.
Which Residence Permit Is Right for You?
German immigration law (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG) defines over 60 different residence titles. Depending on your purpose — work, study, family reunification, or humanitarian protection — different requirements, durations, and rights apply. Our Residence Permit Checker helps you identify the right title for your situation.
Key Residence Titles at a Glance
- Visa (§ 6 AufenthG): Entry permit for short stays (up to 90 days, Schengen Type C) or as a national visa (Type D) before obtaining a residence permit.
- Residence Permit (§ 7 AufenthG): Temporary, purpose-bound title. Issued for employment (§§ 18a–18g), studies (§ 16b), family reunification (§§ 27–36a), or humanitarian reasons (§§ 22–26).
- EU Blue Card (§ 18g AufenthG): For highly qualified workers with a recognized university degree and minimum salary of EUR 45,300 (2026) or EUR 41,041.80 in shortage occupations.
- ICT Card (§ 19 AufenthG): For intra-corporate transferees.
- Settlement Permit (§ 9 AufenthG): Permanent residence. Requires typically 5 years of residence, secured livelihood, 60 months of pension contributions, and B1 German.
- EU Long-Term Residence Permit (§ 9a AufenthG):Similar to settlement permit but transferable within the EU.
Skilled Immigration Act (FEG) — Fully Effective Since March 2024
The Fachkraefteeinwanderungsgesetz fundamentally reformed residence law for skilled workers. Key changes: The Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte, § 20a AufenthG) allows job searching in Germany via a points system. Skilled workers with vocational training (§ 18a) and academic qualifications (§ 18b) have easier access. The Western Balkans Regulation (§ 26 BeschV) was increased to 50,000 quota places per year.
Family Reunification
Spouse reunification (§ 30 AufenthG) generally requires basic German (A1) and sufficient living space (min. 12 m² per person, § 2 para. 4 AufenthG). Children under 18 have a right to join (§ 32 AufenthG). Parents of adult foreigners fall under § 36 AufenthG — only in cases of exceptional hardship.
Deadlines and Extensions
Residence permits are issued for 1–3 years and must be renewed before expiry. Filing for renewal triggers a fictional certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung, § 81 para. 4 AufenthG) that provisionally continues your existing status. Processing times at the Ausländerbehörde currently range from 4–12 weeks depending on your municipality.
What Our Checker Evaluates
- Purpose of stay (work, study, family, asylum)
- Qualifications and professional recognition
- Salary and livelihood security
- German language level (CEFR A1–C2)
- Prior residence periods and criminal record
- Matching §§ with links to legal texts