Germany residence and citizenship

Settlement permit for skilled workers (section 18c)

Qualifying section 18a, 18b, 18d or 18g worker with three years of title, 36 pension-contribution months, B1 German, employment, resources and accommodation may seek settlement. This is a separate application. The cited page states a group-dependent fee of up to approximately EUR 150, so no single exact fee is entered. Citizenship ordinarily follows five total qualifying residence years.

Sources: Settlement permit (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Naturalisation (Make it in Germany / Federal Government)

Settlement permit after German vocational training or university study (section 18c)

Graduates of qualifying German vocational training or higher education who then hold skilled-worker residence under sections 18a, 18b, 18d or 18g can seek settlement after two skilled-worker years and 24 pension-contribution months, subject to employment, B1 German, civic knowledge and accommodation conditions. The two years start with the skilled-worker title, not the training or study; ordinary naturalisation still requires five qualifying residence years. No exact group-wide fee or bounded decision time is stated.

Sources: Settlement permit (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Naturalisation (Make it in Germany / Federal Government)

EU long-term residence permit after five years (section 9a)

Third-country residents with five years lawful qualifying residence, financial support, German and civic knowledge, accommodation and pension contributions may obtain this permanent EU residence title. Study and some humanitarian permits do not qualify. No fixed investment threshold, exact application fee or decision-time bound established. Ordinary naturalisation is a separate application after five total qualifying years.

Sources: Permanent EU residence permit (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Naturalisation (Make it in Germany / Federal Government)

Immediate settlement for exceptionally highly skilled workers (section 18c(3))

A narrow route for scientists with special technical knowledge or prominent teachers with experience, academic training and credible integration and support. The official page says settlement can be immediate, but ordinary naturalisation still requires five lawful residence years. No capital threshold, exact fee or processing bound established.

Sources: Settlement permit (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Naturalisation (Make it in Germany / Federal Government)

Commercial founder self-employment residence (section 21(1))

Third-country business founders need economic or regional demand, a positive economic effect and financing from capital or a loan; these conditions establish no fixed minimum investment. The official entry-visa process normally takes two to four months, which is recorded as a 2–4 month range for that stage only. A successful commercial founder may seek settlement after three years, then ordinary citizenship after five total qualifying residence years. Eligibility follows third-country status and business conditions. EUR 75 entry visa = USD 84.11 using ECB 10 November 2026 EUR 1 = USD 1.1214; it is only the entry stage.

Sources: Visa for self-employment (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Business founder visa process (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Settlement permit (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Naturalisation (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), How do I apply for a visa? (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Euro foreign exchange reference rates (European Central Bank)

Freelance profession residence (section 21(5))

Third-country liberal-profession freelancers need finance, livelihood and any professional licence. This is the lawful self-sponsored route often described as a digital-nomad option; Germany has no separate digital-nomad permit in the federal visa catalogue. No fixed capital minimum is published. The official entry-visa estimate is normally two to four months. The current federal self-employment page distinguishes freelancers' five-year settlement route from business founders' three-year route. Five years of qualifying residence may permit ordinary naturalisation. The published EUR 75 charge is for an entry visa where required; a later residence-title fee is separate. Eligibility follows profession and third-country status. EUR 75 entry visa = USD 84.11 using ECB 10 November 2026 EUR 1 = USD 1.1214; it is only the entry stage.

Sources: Visa for self-employment: freelancers (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Business founder visa process (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), How do I apply for a visa? (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Settlement permit (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Naturalisation (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Euro foreign exchange reference rates (European Central Bank)

Opportunity Card job search, then qualifying work residence

Qualified non-EU/EFTA nationals may enter for up to one year to find a job or qualification measure, then switch to an eligible work residence permit with a concrete offer. The published EUR 1,091 monthly blocked-funds test for 2026 is maintenance money, not a capital investment. The card alone does not guarantee permanent residence or a fixed citizenship clock; it depends on the later qualifying permit. No exact fee or processing bound established.

Sources: Job Search Opportunity Card (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Employment of opportunity card holders (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Naturalisation (Make it in Germany / Federal Government)

EU Blue Card through national entry visa

Not for EU citizens, EEA citizens, Swiss citizens.

The EUR 75 fee is for the national entry visa. The later Blue Card can cost up to EUR 100; exemptions and local service fees may apply. EUR 75 entry visa = USD 84.11 using ECB 10 November 2026 EUR 1 = USD 1.1214; the later Blue Card permit charge is separate. Blue Card holders may seek settlement after 27 months, or 21 months with B1 German; ordinary naturalisation may follow five qualifying years.

Sources: 2026 EU Blue Card conditions (German Federal Government, Make it in Germany), National visa fee (German Federal Foreign Office), EU Blue Card entry and residence steps (German Federal Government, Make it in Germany), EU Blue Card (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Naturalisation (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Euro foreign exchange reference rates (European Central Bank)

Intra-corporate transfer (ICT card, section 19)

Managers, specialists and trainees transferred from a company outside the EU to its German branch may receive this temporary residence title. It is limited to three years for managers and specialists or one year for trainees. The cited evidence does not establish a direct settlement or citizenship path from this temporary title; a later qualifying title would be needed, so no route-wide citizenship clock is entered. No capital minimum, single payable fee or bounded decision time is established. Eligibility follows the corporate relationship, role and third-country status.

Sources: Intra-corporate transfer (ICT card) (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Naturalisation (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Germany immigration overview (Fragomen, summary)

Qualified professional work residence (sections 18a/18b)

Third-country skilled workers need a recognised/comparable qualification and a specific qualified job offer. No capital investment is required; a salary or pension test can apply to first-time workers over 45. A settlement permit may be available after three qualifying skilled-worker years, and ordinary naturalisation after five total years. The exact fee and decision time vary or are not stated in cited guidance.

Sources: Work visa for qualified professionals (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Settlement permit (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Naturalisation (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Germany immigration overview (Fragomen, summary)

Professionally experienced worker residence (section 19c(2))

Third-country applicants need a recognised-in-origin qualification, relevant experience and a concrete non-regulated German job. Salary is not capital investment. The official route says settlement may follow five years, subject to conditions; five years of qualifying residence may permit naturalisation. No route-wide exact fee or processing bound is published.

Sources: Visa for professionally experienced workers (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Permanent EU residence permit (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Naturalisation (Make it in Germany / Federal Government)

Researcher residence (section 18d)

Third-country researchers need a hosting agreement or research employment contract. Research income is not an investment. The research page mentions settlement after four years, while the current skilled-worker settlement page lists section 18d after three years with its conditions; the latter governs the current settlement eligibility stated here. Ordinary naturalisation may follow five qualifying years. No uniform fee or processing bound established.

Sources: Visa for research (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Settlement permit (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Naturalisation (Make it in Germany / Federal Government)

Family reunification with skilled worker

Qualifying spouse or registered partner of a skilled worker with lawful German residence, sufficient resources and health cover. The family member may work after receiving a residence permit. A spouse of a skilled worker with settlement may qualify independently for settlement after three years if employment, cohabitation and B1 conditions are met. Ordinary naturalisation is normally after five lawful years; family exceptions may apply. No universal exact fee or processing bound established.

Sources: Spouses joining non-EU citizens (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Settlement permit (Make it in Germany / Federal Government), Naturalisation (Make it in Germany / Federal Government)

Family reunification with German spouse

A non-EU spouse of a German citizen may apply for a family reunification visa and then a German residence permit. After three lawful residence years and two marriage years, the spouse may seek naturalisation if the other conditions are met. Eligibility follows the genuine spousal relationship, not a passport list; no capital investment is required.

Sources: Family reunification with a German spouse (Federal Foreign Office), Key questions about naturalisation (Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration), How do I apply for a visa? (Make it in Germany / Federal Government)

Non-EU family member of a mobile EU citizen

A qualifying non-EU family member accompanying or joining an EU citizen exercising free movement in Germany may reside under EU family rules. After five continuous lawful residence years, the family member can apply for a permanent residence card. The EU page says this card is often free or charged like a national identity card, so no Germany-wide exact fee is asserted. Ordinary German naturalisation may be possible after five qualifying years, subject to the national requirements. Eligibility is family relationship plus the EU sponsor's mobility status.

Sources: Non-EU spouse and children of mobile EU citizen (European Union), Permanent residence for non-EU family members (European Union), Naturalisation (Make it in Germany / Federal Government)

EU citizen residence right (Directive 2004/38/EC)

Only for EU citizens.

This is an EU citizen's residence right, not a residence visa. For stays over three months, the person generally must work, be self-employed, study, or have sufficient resources and health insurance. The host country may require registration. National office, documents, fee and timing are not yet verified; tax residence is a separate test. Ordinary naturalisation may be sought after five qualifying years.

Sources: Directive 2004/38/EC, Article 7: residence over three months (European Union, EUR-Lex), Directive 2004/38/EC, Article 8: national registration option (European Union, EUR-Lex), EU residence registration guidance (European Commission, Your Europe), Naturalisation (Make it in Germany / Federal Government)