What is permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis)?

German permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) lets you live, work and study in Germany.

It’s better than a residence permit because…

  • It’s permanent. You don’t need to renew it.
  • It’s flexible. It’s not tied to your income, job or studies.
  • It’s more trusted. It’s easier to get credit or a mortgage.

It’s not as good as German citizenship because…1

  • You can’t vote in elections.
  • If you leave Germany for a long time, you lose it.
  • If you commit a serious crime, you can lose it.
Sources and footnotes
  1. migrando.de