Residence titles in Germany: the types at a glance (2026)

The starting point is § 4 (1) sentence 1 AufenthG:

„Ausländer bedürfen für die Einreise und den Aufenthalt im Bundesgebiet eines Aufenthaltstitels, sofern nicht durch Recht der Europäischen Union oder durch Rechtsverordnung etwas anderes bestimmt ist …"

Own translation: "Foreign nationals require a residence title for entry into and residence in the federal territory, unless otherwise provided by European Union law or by statutory instrument …" A residence title is therefore the permission to stay in Germany. EU citizens and nationals of some other states are exempt (freedom of movement / EU law) — separate rules apply to them, which this article does not cover.

The law lists the types of title exhaustively. Under § 4 (1) sentence 2 AufenthG, residence titles are issued as:

1. „Visum im Sinne des § 6 Absatz 1 Nummer 1 und Absatz 3" (visa),
2. „Aufenthaltserlaubnis (§ 7)" (residence permit), 2a. „Blaue Karte EU (§ 18g)" (EU Blue Card), 2b. „ICT-Karte (§ 19)" (ICT Card), 2c. „Mobiler-ICT-Karte (§ 19b)" (mobile ICT Card),
3. „Niederlassungserlaubnis (§ 9)" (settlement permit) or
4. „Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt – EU (§ 9a)" (EU long-term residence permit).

Despite the letter-numbering, these are seven types of title. The law adds that "the legal provisions applicable to the residence permit are also applied to the EU Blue Card, the ICT Card and the mobile ICT Card, unless otherwise provided by law or statutory instrument" (§ 4 (1) sentence 3 AufenthG). Legally, these three cards are therefore special forms of the residence permit.

What is not a residence title

The list in § 4 (1) sentence 2 AufenthG is exhaustive — whatever is not on it is not a residence title. Three certificates often confused with them are therefore expressly not residence titles:

• The toleration (Duldung) is, under § 60a AufenthG, the "temporary suspension of deportation" (vorübergehende Aussetzung der Abschiebung). It does not permit residence; it merely suspends an existing obligation to leave for a limited time.
• The permission to remain during the asylum procedure (Aufenthaltsgestattung) under § 55 AsylG permits asylum seekers to reside in the federal territory for the purpose of conducting the asylum procedure. It applies only for the duration of the asylum procedure and is not a residence title within the meaning of § 4 AufenthG.
• The fiction certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) under § 81 (5) AufenthG is the "certificate of the effect of the application" (Bescheinigung über die Wirkung seiner Antragstellung). It merely documents the statutory continuation or permission fiction during a pending application procedure — for instance that a title applied for in good time for renewal is deemed "to continue in force from the time of its expiry until the decision of the immigration authority" (§ 81 (4) sentence 1 AufenthG). It is not itself a residence title within the meaning of § 4 (1) sentence 2 AufenthG, but only the evidence of this statutory effect.

These certificates merely document a (provisional) residence-law status; they are not themselves types of title.

1. Visa (§ 6 AufenthG)

The visa (Visum) is the title for entry. The law distinguishes two forms:

• The Schengen visa under § 6 (1) AufenthG — "a visa for transit through the territory of the Schengen states or for planned stays in that territory of up to 90 days per 180-day period" — for short stays.
• The national visa under § 6 (3) AufenthG: „Für längerfristige Aufenthalte ist ein Visum für das Bundesgebiet (nationales Visum) erforderlich, das vor der Einreise erteilt wird." — "For longer-term stays a visa for the federal territory (national visa) is required, which is issued before entry."

So anyone who wants to stay longer than 90 days — for study, work or family reunification — generally needs a national visa, applied for at the German mission abroad before entry. How the visa procedure connects with the later residence title is explained in Applying for a residence title: the first application at a glance.

2. Residence permit (§ 7 AufenthG)

The residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) is the most common temporary title. § 7 (1) sentence 1 AufenthG states:

„Die Aufenthaltserlaubnis ist ein befristeter Aufenthaltstitel."

Own translation: "The residence permit is a temporary residence title." It is issued "for the residence purposes named in the following sections" (§ 7 (1) sentence 2 AufenthG) — that is, purpose-bound (study, employment, humanitarian or family grounds). And it is time-limited: "The residence permit is to be limited in time taking into account the intended residence purpose" (§ 7 (2) sentence 1 AufenthG). It therefore has to be renewed regularly as long as the purpose continues — see the guide Renewing your residence permit.

3. EU Blue Card (§ 18g AufenthG)

The EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU) is a title for academic skilled workers. Under § 18g (1) AufenthG it is issued "to a skilled worker with academic training … for the purpose of employment in Germany appropriate to their qualification", provided a certain minimum salary is met (defined in the law as a share of the contribution assessment ceiling of the general pension insurance). Legally — as quoted above — it belongs to the special forms of the residence permit.

4. ICT Card (§ 19) and mobile ICT Card (§ 19b AufenthG)

The ICT Card ("ICT-Karte für unternehmensintern transferierte Arbeitnehmer", § 19 AufenthG) and the mobile ICT Card (§ 19b AufenthG) concern intra-corporate transfers (ICT). They are intended for specialists and managers temporarily transferred to Germany within a group of companies.

5. Settlement permit (§ 9 AufenthG)

The settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) is the central permanent title. § 9 (1) sentence 1 AufenthG makes this clear:

„Die Niederlassungserlaubnis ist ein unbefristeter Aufenthaltstitel."

Own translation: "The settlement permit is a permanent residence title." It is no longer bound to a specific purpose and does not have to be renewed. The requirements — among them five years of a residence permit, a secured livelihood and sufficient German (B1) — are described in detail in Settlement permit: requirements under § 9 AufenthG.

6. EU long-term residence permit (§ 9a AufenthG)

The EU long-term residence permit (Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt – EU) is the second permanent title. § 9a (1) AufenthG states: "The EU long-term residence permit is a permanent residence title." and puts it broadly on an equal footing with the settlement permit ("Unless this Act provides otherwise, the EU long-term residence permit is treated as equivalent to the settlement permit."). It is based on an EU directive and facilitates onward movement within the EU.

The practical core difference to the settlement permit lies precisely in this EU-law connection: while both titles confer broadly the same status within Germany by virtue of the equal-footing rule in § 9a (1) AufenthG, the EU long-term residence permit is additionally linked to an EU-wide mobility or onward-movement right to other EU Member States. Conversely, a person who holds the status of a long-term resident in another Member State receives, for a stay of more than 90 days in Germany, a residence permit under § 38a AufenthG (see the "Special residence rights" section below). The EU long-term residence permit is issued under § 9a (2) AufenthG where, among other things, the foreign national "has resided in the federal territory with a residence title for five years" and further conditions are met (including a secured livelihood, sufficient German-language skills and adequate housing); whether that is the case in an individual instance is examined by the competent immigration authority.

The path to naturalisation — the four stages at a glance →

Temporary or permanent? The titles compared

The difference between the temporary residence permit and the permanent settlement permit — especially with a view to naturalisation — is a topic of its own: Residence vs. settlement permit.

The temporary residence permit is issued "for the residence purposes named in the following sections" (§ 7 (1) sentence 2 AufenthG). The Residence Act arranges these purposes in sections (Abschnitte) of Chapter 2. The most important purpose categories at a glance:

Residence for the purpose of education (Section 3)

• § 16b AufenthG — "Studium" (study): a title for studying at a university.
• The section also covers further educational purposes such as language courses and vocational training.

Residence for the purpose of employment (Section 4)

• § 18a AufenthG — "Fachkräfte mit Berufsausbildung" (skilled workers with vocational training)
• § 18b AufenthG — "Fachkräfte mit akademischer Ausbildung" (skilled workers with academic training)
• § 18g AufenthG — "Blaue Karte EU" (EU Blue Card, see above)
• § 19c AufenthG — "Sonstige Beschäftigungszwecke; Beamte" (other employment purposes; civil servants)
• § 20 AufenthG — "Arbeitsplatzsuche im Anschluss an Aufenthalte im Bundesgebiet" (job search following stays in the federal territory): a temporary residence permit that allows the search for a job appropriate to one's qualification — following, for example, a course of study, research, vocational training or the recognition of a qualification completed in Germany.
• § 20a AufenthG — "Chancenkarte" (opportunity card): under § 20a (1) AufenthG „eine Aufenthaltserlaubnis zur Suche nach einer Erwerbstätigkeit oder nach Maßnahmen zur Anerkennung ausländischer Berufsqualifikationen" — own translation: "a residence permit for the search for gainful employment or for measures to recognise foreign professional qualifications". Unless the applicant is already a skilled worker, it is issued on the basis of a points system; which features earn how many points is governed by § 20b AufenthG ("Punktevergabe für die Chancenkarte" / points allocation for the opportunity card).
• § 21 AufenthG — "Selbständige Tätigkeit" (self-employment)

Both the job-search residence permit (§ 20) and the opportunity card (§ 20a) are temporary residence permits and therefore genuine residence titles within the exhaustive list of § 4 (1) sentence 2 AufenthG (residence permit under § 7) — unlike, for example, the toleration (Duldung). This overview only describes that these titles exist; whether their requirements are met in an individual case is examined and decided by the competent immigration authority.

Residence on grounds of international law, humanitarian or political reasons (Section 5)

• § 22 AufenthG — "Aufnahme aus dem Ausland" (admission from abroad)
• § 23 AufenthG — "Aufenthaltsgewährung durch die obersten Landesbehörden …"
• § 24 AufenthG — "Aufenthaltsgewährung zum vorübergehenden Schutz" (temporary protection)
• § 25 AufenthG — "Aufenthalt aus humanitären Gründen" (residence on humanitarian grounds), plus § 25a and § 25b (well-integrated youth / sustained integration).

Residence on family grounds (Section 6)

• § 27 AufenthG — "Grundsatz des Familiennachzugs" (principle of family reunification)
• § 28 AufenthG — "Familiennachzug zu Deutschen" (family reunification with Germans)
• § 30 AufenthG — "Ehegattennachzug" (spouse reunification)
• § 36 AufenthG — "Nachzug der Eltern und sonstiger Familienangehöriger"

Special residence rights (Section 7)

• § 37 AufenthG — "Recht auf Wiederkehr" (right of return): for foreign nationals who lawfully lived in Germany as minors and later return.
• § 38 AufenthG — "Aufenthaltstitel für ehemalige Deutsche" (residence title for former Germans): for persons who have lost their German citizenship.
• § 38a AufenthG — "Aufenthaltserlaubnis für in anderen Mitgliedstaaten der Europäischen Union langfristig Aufenthaltsberechtigte" (residence permit for long-term residents in another EU Member State): for holders of an EU long-term residence status from another EU Member State.

Each of these categories has its own requirements, which the law lays down in the respective paragraphs. This overview names the purposes but does not check any individual requirement — and it does not say which purpose "applies to you". Which residence title applies in an individual case and whether its requirements are met is decided by the competent immigration authority.

As different as the titles are, for many they form a sequence. The typical path begins with a visa and the first temporary residence permit, continues through its renewal and often through the settlement permit, and ends — as a possible destination — in naturalisation under the Nationality Act (Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz, StAG).

The common thread is lawful residence: it is built up year by year through the preceding titles and is ultimately the basis for naturalisation. These connections at a glance:

• Applying for a residence title: the first application — the start of the journey (visa, general requirements, immigration authority).
• The path to naturalisation — the four stages from residence permit to the German passport.
• Settlement permit: requirements under § 9 AufenthG — the permanent title as a later step.
• Naturalisation requirements — what counts at the destination.

Naturalisation itself is governed not by the AufenthG but by the Nationality Act (StAG); it is the transition from residence law to German citizenship. This article only builds the bridge to it and deliberately does not go into the depth of § 10 StAG.

civitas. is a private application-assistance service — not a public authority and not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice, give no prospects-of-success forecast and recommend to no one which title is "the right one" — that is checked by the competent immigration authority. What we support today is the renewal of an existing residence title: we guide you through the entries in a structured way, help you fill in the application and put together the appropriate document checklist.

Prepare your renewal with civitas. →

What types of residence title are there in Germany?

Under § 4 (1) sentence 2 AufenthG there are seven types: visa (§ 6), residence permit (§ 7), EU Blue Card (§ 18g), ICT Card (§ 19), mobile ICT Card (§ 19b), settlement permit (§ 9) and EU long-term residence permit (§ 9a). The three cards are legally special forms of the residence permit.

What is the difference between a residence permit and a settlement permit?

The residence permit (§ 7) is temporary and bound to a purpose; it has to be renewed. The settlement permit (§ 9) is permanent and no longer purpose-bound. Details: Residence vs. settlement permit.

Which residence title is right for me?

That cannot be answered in a blanket way and is not a question this article or civitas. decides for you. Which title applies in an individual case and whether the requirements are met is decided by the competent immigration authority. This overview merely describes which titles exist and what each is for.

What is a residence permit issued for?

For the residence purposes named in the law — in particular education/study (§ 16b), employment (including § 18a, § 18b, § 18g, § 19c, § 21), humanitarian grounds (§§ 22–25b) and family grounds (§§ 27–36 AufenthG).

Am I allowed to work with my residence title?

Whether employment is permitted follows from the residence title itself. Under § 4a (1) sentence 1 AufenthG, „Ausländer, die einen Aufenthaltstitel besitzen, [dürfen] eine Erwerbstätigkeit ausüben, es sei denn, ein Gesetz bestimmt ein Verbot" — own translation: "Foreign nationals who hold a residence title may pursue an employment activity unless a law provides for a prohibition"; the activity may also be restricted by law (§ 4a (1) sentence 2 AufenthG). Whether and to what extent you may work is therefore noted as an incidental provision in the document: under § 4a (3) sentence 1 AufenthG, „jeder Aufenthaltstitel [muss] erkennen lassen, ob die Ausübung einer Erwerbstätigkeit erlaubt ist und ob sie Beschränkungen unterliegt" — "every residence title must indicate whether the pursuit of an employment activity is permitted and whether it is subject to restrictions" — so the electronic residence title (eAT) carries the corresponding note (for example "Erwerbstätigkeit erlaubt" / employment permitted, or "Erwerbstätigkeit nicht erlaubt" / employment not permitted). What the title states in an individual case and whether a particular activity is permitted follows from the residence title; the competent immigration authority issues and changes these incidental provisions.

What is the difference between a settlement permit and an EU long-term residence permit?

Both are permanent residence titles and broadly on an equal footing within Germany: under § 9a (1) AufenthG the EU long-term residence permit is treated as equivalent to the settlement permit "unless this Act provides otherwise". The difference lies in the EU-law connection: the EU long-term residence permit is based on an EU directive and is additionally linked to a mobility or onward-movement right to other EU Member States; conversely, long-term residents from another Member State receive a residence permit in Germany under § 38a AufenthG. Which title is issued in an individual case and whether the requirements — including five years of residence with a residence title under § 9a (2) AufenthG — are met is decided by the competent immigration authority.

Which titles are permanent?

Permanent are the settlement permit (§ 9 (1) AufenthG) and the EU long-term residence permit (§ 9a (1) AufenthG). Visa and residence permit (including EU Blue Card and ICT cards) are temporary.

Do I need a visa for a longer stay?

For stays over 90 days, a national visa under § 6 (3) AufenthG is generally required, applied for before entry at the German mission abroad. Exceptions exist, among others, for EU citizens and some other nationals. More on the procedure: Applying for a residence title: the first application.

Is a toleration (Duldung) a residence title?

No. The list in § 4 (1) sentence 2 AufenthG is exhaustive, and the toleration is not on it. Under § 60a AufenthG it is merely the "temporary suspension of deportation" — it does not permit residence but suspends an existing obligation to leave for a limited time. Likewise, the permission to remain during the asylum procedure (Aufenthaltsgestattung) under § 55 AsylG, which applies only for the duration of the asylum procedure, is not a residence title but a certificate.

Can a toleration (Duldung) turn into a residence title?

The toleration itself is not a residence title (see above). The Residence Act does, however, contain its own provisions under which a residence permit may be issued to tolerated persons if certain requirements are met. Whether those requirements are met in an individual case is examined and decided in each case by the competent immigration authority (Ausländerbehörde):

• § 25a AufenthG — "Aufenthaltsgewährung bei gut integrierten Jugendlichen und jungen Volljährigen" (residence for well-integrated juveniles and young adults): under § 25a (1) sentence 1 AufenthG a residence permit "soll" (is as a rule to) be issued to a juvenile or young adult foreign national „der Inhaber einer Aufenthaltserlaubnis nach § 104c oder seit mindestens zwölf Monaten im Besitz einer Duldung ist" — own translation: "who holds a residence permit under § 104c or has held a toleration for at least twelve months" — subject to the further requirements set out there.
• § 25b AufenthG — "Aufenthaltsgewährung bei nachhaltiger Integration" (residence on sustained integration): under § 25b (1) sentence 1 AufenthG a residence permit "soll" be issued to a foreign national „der geduldet oder Inhaber einer Aufenthaltserlaubnis nach § 104c ist … wenn er sich nachhaltig in die Lebensverhältnisse der Bundesrepublik Deutschland integriert hat" — own translation: "who is tolerated or holds a residence permit under § 104c … if they have sustainably integrated into the living conditions of the Federal Republic of Germany".
• § 104c AufenthG — "Übergangsregelung zum Chancen-Aufenthaltsrecht" (transitional rule on the opportunity right of residence): the so-called Chancen-Aufenthaltsrecht is today framed as a transitional rule; a residence permit already issued under § 104c can in turn serve as a connecting point for §§ 25a, 25b AufenthG.

This overview merely describes that the law provides for such paths — it does not say whether a path "applies to you" and makes no statement about prospects of success. Which path applies in an individual case and whether the respective requirements are met is decided solely by the competent immigration authority.

Is the opportunity card (Chancenkarte, § 20a AufenthG) a residence title?

Yes. Under § 20a (1) AufenthG the opportunity card is „eine Aufenthaltserlaubnis zur Suche nach einer Erwerbstätigkeit oder nach Maßnahmen zur Anerkennung ausländischer Berufsqualifikationen" — own translation: "a residence permit for the search for gainful employment or for measures to recognise foreign professional qualifications" — that is, a temporary residence permit (§ 7) and therefore a genuine residence title within the meaning of § 4 (1) sentence 2 AufenthG. Unless the applicant is already a skilled worker, it is issued on the basis of a points system whose features are set out in § 20b AufenthG. Alongside it, the law provides in § 20 AufenthG for a further temporary residence permit for a job search following a stay completed in Germany (for example after study or vocational training). Whether the respective requirements are met in an individual case is examined and decided by the competent immigration authority; this overview only names the titles and gives no recommendation.

Is a fiction certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) a residence title?

No. The fiction certificate under § 81 (5) AufenthG is the "certificate of the effect of the application". It only documents the statutory continuation or permission fiction during a pending application procedure — for instance that a title applied for in good time for renewal is deemed "to continue in force from the time of its expiry until the decision of the immigration authority" (§ 81 (4) sentence 1 AufenthG). It is not on the exhaustive list in § 4 (1) sentence 2 AufenthG and is therefore not itself a residence title, but a certificate of a statutory effect. The application itself is decided by the competent immigration authority.