German permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) lets you live, work and study in Germany. You can get permanent residence after 21 to 60 months 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 or occupation.
- 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.