Niederlassungserlaubnis Erteilung für ehemalige Deutsche

If you are a former German and have been living in Germany for five years, you can apply for a settlement permit.

The settlement permit for former Germans is to be granted if you have had your habitual residence in the federal territory as a German for five years.

Documents are required to prove your stay in Germany:
These can include:

• employment contracts,
• Payroll,
• Rental contract,
• Receipts from the doctor or purchases
• the certificate of loss of German citizenship.

• You must have been habitually resident in the Federal Republic of Germany for five years as a German citizen.
• In addition, proof of loss of German citizenship is required.

113 € for adults
56.50 € for minor applicants

The application can be submitted via the Hamburg Residence Permit online service.
However, it must also be mentioned in the online service that the settlement permit for former Germans is to be applied for, because this specific option is not currently available online. There is a message/comments field in the online service, where please submit the specific application in writing.

For faster processing, it is helpful if all the necessary documents are uploaded to the online service. The customer will then receive an appointment from the responsible clerk as soon as the documents have been checked and the decision has been made. A current and biometric passport photo, the national passport and the fee (preferably payment by debit card) must always be brought to the appointment.

The processing time usually takes 6 to 8 weeks and also depends on the completeness of the customer's documents.
If documents are missing, the processing time will be extended.
It takes about 4 to 6 weeks for the Federal Printing Office to produce the electronic residence permit.

The application should be received by the immigration authorities at least 6 to 8 weeks before the current residence permit expires.

The settlement permit is issued for an unlimited period. Only the electronic residence permit (eAT card) is issued for a limited period and must be renewed after the expiry of its validity.

In cases of doubt, it must first be checked whether the applicant still has German citizenship (No. 38.0.2 AufenthG-VwV). If the applicant still has German citizenship, it is officially recommended that he or she applies for a German identity card or passport. It should be noted that according to Article 11 Paragraph 1 of the Basic Law, Germans enjoy freedom of movement throughout the Federal Republic and are generally entitled to work in the Federal Republic, but are also obliged to identify themselves in the Federal Republic with German identity documents.
The processing fee must always be paid. If the application is rejected, the fee will not be refunded, not even partially. A new application can be submitted at any time.

An appeal against the negative decision can be lodged with the authority within one month of notification.

• Settlement permit for former Germans
• Former Germans require a residence permit after losing their citizenship as a naturalized person
• It is a catch-all provision whereby former Germans can be granted a settlement permit under simplified conditions
• The application for a settlement permit must be submitted within 6 months of becoming aware of the loss of German citizenship
• Former Germans can
  • a residence permit or
  • obtain a residence permit

Hamburg services