German permanent residence (PR, permanent settlement permit or Niederlassungserlaubnis) allows you to live, work and study in Germany. You can get permanent residence after living in Germany for 21 to 60 months.
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 or occupation.
- It’s more trusted. It’s easier to rent an apartment or get 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.
- You can still get deported.
How to apply for permanent residence