Niederlassungserlaubnis Erteilung für ehemalige Deutsche

If you are German and have lost your German citizenship, you need a residence permit as a naturalized person.

As a former German citizen you can

• A settlement permit or
• A residence permit.

The permanent settlement permit is issued if you have been habitually resident in Germany for at least 5 years when you lost your German citizenship.

You can obtain a residence permit if you have resided in Germany for at least one year when you lost your German citizenship.

• Valid foreign passport
• German identity card, German passport
• If the German identity documents have been lost, a loss report must be submitted.
• 1 current biometric photo
• Certificate of registration (extended registration certificate)
• Proof of acquisition of foreign citizenship in original and copy (with translation)
• Proof of acquisition of German citizenship: naturalization certificate (original and copy)
• Certificate of good conduct (not older than 3 months)
• A certificate of good conduct for private purposes is sufficient.
• Proof of secure means of subsistence - all documents must be submitted as originals and copies:
  • Employee: employment contract, current certificate from the employer,
  • Proof of salary for the last 6 months
  • Self-employed persons: audit report completed by the tax consultant, auditor or tax agent together with the documents mentioned therein (extract from the commercial register), last tax assessment notice
  • Freelancers: tax assessment notices, bank statements, statements of account
  • Retired persons: pension statements
• Rental agreement or purchase contract with details of the living space in the original and as a copy
• Housing costs - proof of monthly rental costs
• Health insurance
  Proof of a secure livelihood also includes adequate health insurance cover. Those with statutory health insurance are adequately insured. Those with private health insurance must pay attention to the type and scope of their health insurance.
• Proof of main residence: registration certificate

Acquisition of a foreign nationality (from 01.01.2000) and simultaneous possession of a German identity card and/or passport

A personal interview is required to obtain or extend the residence permit. In the case of underage children, an interview is only required from the age of 6.

• Former Germans require a residence permit as a naturalized person after losing their citizenship
• The application for the residence permit must be submitted within 6 months of becoming aware of the loss of German citizenship
• Former Germans can

• a settlement permit or
• a residence permit