Residence permit: which route is yours?

This page places two procedures side by side — renewing a temporary title, and the settlement permit, the title without an expiry date. It sets out what applies in each case. Which application you file remains your decision.

Both procedures run through your immigration authority. civitas. fills in the official application with your details — guided, in six languages, as a PDF ready for the authority.

The fork

Two procedures, the same authority.

The difference lies in the goal: one procedure resets the deadline, the other removes it.

01Temporary title

Renew residence permit

99 €one-off per application, no subscription

The existing title is granted for a further period. The purpose of stay stays the same, the deadline is set anew.

What it is about

The title is temporary and expires on a fixed date.
Applied for in good time, the previous title continues to apply until the decision (§ 81 Abs. 4 AufenthG).
After the renewal a deadline runs again — the procedure repeats.

Go to renewal

02Permanent title

Settlement permit

149 €one-off per application, no subscription

The permanent residence title under § 9 AufenthG. It has no expiry date and is not renewed.

What it is about

§ 9 Abs. 2 AufenthG names nine requirements — among them five years of a residence permit, a secured livelihood and 60 months of pension contributions.
For several of them the law provides for exceptions.
Permanent means: no further renewal application, no further fee per renewal.

Go to settlement permit

Side by side

What sets the two procedures apart.

What the application achieves: RenewalThe existing title applies for a further period.; Settlement permitThe title applies with no expiry date.
Legal basis: RenewalThe ground on which the existing title was granted.; Settlement permit§ 9 AufenthG.
What comes next: RenewalThe next renewal application, at the next deadline.; Settlement permitNo further renewal application.
Price for the preparation: Renewal99 € one-off; Settlement permit149 € one-off

Also in this area

Read on and look up.

Guide to renewalThe detailed guide to renewing a residence title.Renewal by locationCities, districts and regions — the directory for renewal.Settlement permit by locationCities, districts and regions — the directory for the settlement permit.

Both routes begin with the same step: naming your own case.

Both pages set out what is recorded, what it costs and what you receive at the end.

View renewal View settlement permit