If you want the Gods of Process and Bureaucracy to smile upon you as you submit for German settlement permit application (or really any application in Germany, ever), my advice is simple. The more organized your application, the easier your appointments will go. Have everything neatly ordered, clipped together, and marked so that the processor can flip through it easily. And most importantly: make sure you have ALL of your documents. Here’s a checklist for your German Settlement Permit, including which documents you need for which phase of your application process.
A Complete Checklist for your German Settlement Permit
Required documents for the German settlement permit application:
- *Optional: I added a cover letter (written in German) to my application with a summary of all the enclosed documents
- Application Form for a Settlement Permit
- Proof of income
- Employment contract
- Evidence of the net salary of the past six months
- A certificate from your current employer (not older than 14 days)
- Lease or purchase contract
- The living space, as well as the monthly rent or the living costs of the own property (house or flat), must be proven
- *Note: If you hold household bills in your name, I recommend including these in your application file
- Proof of retirement
- Pension information (Renten-Information or Renten-Auskunft) of the German pension insurance OR
- Proof of entitlement to comparable pension benefits from an insurance or pension institution (for example, if you have a private retirement fund through your employer)
- *Note: I submitted only my private retirement fund and got a follow-up email asking for my Renten-Information as well, so better to include both.
- Health insurance – either
- insurance card of your statutory health insurance OR
- your private health insurance plan’s insurance policy
- Proof of main residence in Berlin
- Certificate of registration of the apartment (Anmeldung – confirmation of registration) OR
- Rental contract and confirmation of receipt of the landlord
- *Note, while the official website said either/or for the documents above, the best practice would be to have both
Required documents for your German settlement permit interview appointment:
- Valid passport
- Your current EU Blue Card AND Zusatzblatt (the accompanying green paper)
- 1 current biometric photo – 35mm x 45mm— a photograph of yourself with a neutral expression and closed mouth, looking straight at the camera (as recent at 6 months or less)
- Fee of 113 euros – cash and Girocard accepted
- Lohnbogen / Paystub summary for any months in between submitting my application and the appointment date.
Read my post about getting your German settlement permit (including interview) here!
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