The EU long-term residence permit is a long-term settlement option in Germany, alongside the national settlement permit. What makes this permit special is that it opens up easier movement and residence rights across the entire European Union.
What Is the EU Long-Term Residence Permit
The EU long-term residence permit (Daueraufenthalt-EU) is a form of permanent residence that allows you to live and work in Germany indefinitely. The biggest difference is that it makes it easier to move to another EU country compared with the national settlement permit.
This is a suitable option for those with long-term plans in Europe, not just in Germany.
Conditions for eligibility
Theo the official Make it in Germany portal of the German Government, you need to meet the main conditions:
- Have legally resided in Germany for at least 5 years;
- Be able to financially support yourself and your family;
- German language proficiency and basic knowledge of German society;
- Adequate housing and at least 60 months of pension insurance contributions.
How is it different from the national settlement permit
Compared with the national settlement permit, the EU long-term residence permit is stronger in terms of mobility within the EU. However, skilled workers usually reach the national settlement permit faster, in just 2 to 3 years.
Which one to choose depends on whether your plan is to stay in Germany or to remain flexible across Europe.
Advice for Vietnamese workers
If your goal is to settle in Germany long-term, the national settlement permit is usually more convenient and faster. If you want to keep the option open of moving to another EU country, the EU long-term residence permit is worth considering.
Both are good stepping stones before considering German citizenship. The M2W team will advise on the right path.
Read more: Overview of migrating to Germany · anabin: checking degree recognition in Germany
