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Are you an international student wanting to settle in Germany? Do you want to know- Is it easy to get PR in Germany after study? You have come to the right page! This blog covers everything you need to know about German PR. You will learn about the types of PR, how to switch from a student visa to a PR, the eligibility, requirements, fees, and more. Keep reading to know how you can get this PR in 5 years!
This Blog Includes:
- Is it Easy to Get PR in Germany After Study? An Overview
- How Can Indian Students Settle in Germany?
- What are the Types of PR in Germany?
- What is PR Called in Germany?
- Germany PR Requirements for International Students
- What Documents Do I Need for Permanent Residence in Germany?
- When to Apply for a Germany PR?
- How Can I Apply for PR in Germany?
- How Much is a Permanent Residence Permit in Germany?
- How Long Does It Take to Get PR in Germany?
- What is the Advantage of PR in Germany?
- How Do I Get a Long-Term EU Residence Permit in Germany?
- How Long Does It Take to Get Citizenship in Germany?
- FAQs
Is it Easy to Get PR in Germany After Study? An Overview
Yes. It is easy to get PR in Germany after completing your studies. However, you cannot get a PR right away. You must visit Germany on a National Visa, complete your degree, apply as a skilled worker, and get a Temporary Residence Permit. After you have stayed for 5 years you can apply for PR. To apply for PR ensure you meet the requirements.
How Can Indian Students Settle in Germany?
Is it easy to get pr in Germany after study? Yes. As an Indian national, you can easily get PR in Germany. However, to get the PR, you must stay in the country for 5 years. Follow the steps to transition from a student visa to a German PR.
Complete Your Education in Germany
First, enrol in a top educational institution in Germany. After you get an offer letter apply for a National Visa. A National Visa for Studies is usually valid for up to a year. It is only given for long-term studies. Therefore, ensure that you are enrolling in a degree program. Once you reach Germany you can apply for a residence permit for studies.
Apply for a Job Seeker’s Permit
After you have completed your degree program apply for a residence permit for job seekers. This permit is valid for 18 months. During this period, you can search for employment in the country. You can also learn how to set up a business. However, you cannot work.
Get Employed
You need to get an offer letter from a recognised employer. The employer will apply for a work permit. After your job is confirmed you can apply for a residence permit for skilled workers. Stay in the country as a skilled worker for 2 years.
Stay for 5 Years & Apply for PR
A PR is only issued if you have stayed in the country for 5 years. Your 3-year degree program and 2 years of stay as a skilled worker is sufficient to apply for a settlement permit. The PR is Germany is called the Settlement Permit. This is valid for an indefinite period. To get a settlement permit ensure you meet all the additional requirements.
Get to know everything about Germany Work Permits
What are the Types of PR in Germany?
Is it easy to get pr in Germany after study? Yes. It is. If you stay in Germany for 5 years you can easily get a PR in the country. There are 2 PR options available for you. They are as follows-
- EU Long-Term Residence Permit- The EU residence permit allows you to settle in Germany if you have held a residence permit for 5 years. The time you have stayed outside Germany may also be counted. This permit allows you to stay and work in other EU countries as well.
- Settlement Permit– The settlement permit is unique to Germany. This PR is also available to you if you stay in Germany with a residence permit for 5 years. However, you can only live, or work, in Germany.
Note– The EU long-term residence permit is available in almost all EU countries. The PR that is specifically for Germany is the settlement permit. Therefore we are going to discuss mainly the settlement permit in Germany.
What is PR Called in Germany?
The PR in Germany is called the Settlement Permit. The Permanent Settlement Permit allows you to reside, work, or study in Germany. This permit is valid for an indefinite period. In Germany, it is called ‘Niederlassungserlaubnis’. International students can easily apply for this permit if they stay in the country for 5 years. The settlement permit also allows you to stay in other Schengen states without a visa for up to 90 days within 180 days.
Germany PR Requirements for International Students
Is it easy to get PR in Germany after study? Yes, it is. However, you must meet the PR requirements. The following are the PR requirements that you must meet.
| Germany PR Requirements for International Students | Description |
| Completion of studies | Completed higher education in Germany or vocational training. |
| Residence Permit | Must have held a residence permit as a skilled worker for 2 years. |
| Job | Must be employed. You must be in a job role that your residence permit allows you to do. |
| German language skills | At least B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) |
| Knowledge of social and legal systems in Germany | You must have a basic understanding of the social and legal systems in the country. For this, you need to clear the Living in Germany test. |
| Paid insurance | Must have paid the statutory pension insurance scheme for 2 years (24 months) |
| Demonstrate Sufficient living space | You must have arranged your accommodation in Germany |
What Documents Do I Need for Permanent Residence in Germany?
Is it easy to get PR in Germany after study? Yes. It is. However, to fil an application you must submit the relevant documents. The documents you need to get a PR in the country are as follows-
| S.No | Documents |
| 1 | Passport |
| 2 | A Residence Permit that is currently valid |
| 3 | Health insurance proof |
| 4 | Proof of pension contribution |
| 5 | Proof of German language proficiency |
| 6 | Proof of livelihood (employment contract) |
| 7 | Proof of clearing the living in Germany test |
| 8 | PR application fee payment receipt |
Note- Depending on your application you might have to submit additional documents.
Understand the cost of living in Germany
When to Apply for a Germany PR?
The Germany PR application must be submitted while your current permit is valid. You cannot apply after the expiry of your residency permit. When you meet the requirements, you can apply. The application must be sent 7-8 months in advance. The reason? The PR application processing can take a long time.
How Can I Apply for PR in Germany?
Is it easy to get PR in Germany after study? Yes, it is. However, the PR application cannot be filed online. Most of the applications are processed offline. The application process is as follows:
- Contact the relevant authorities– You can contact the local Foreigners’ Registration Office or the immigration office.
- Get an application form– The application form has to be filled out completely
- Get an appointment– You will have to get an appointment for the document submission
- Gather documents– Collect all the required documents and submit the same. You will also have to pay the PR application fee.
- Submit biometric information– If you receive a letter stating that your application is approved you will be called for biometric information submission
- PR processing– At this stage your PR application is processed
- Approval- You can visit the relevant office to collect your permanent residency card.
To learn more about PR in Germany, its eligibility, and requirements watch this video:
How Much is a Permanent Residence Permit in Germany?
Is it easy to get PR in Germany after study? Yes. It is. Moreover, the fees for a PR in Germany are as follows-
| Permit | Germany PR Cost |
| Germany Settlement Permit | Up to EUR 150 |
At the time of application pay this required amount.
How Long Does It Take to Get PR in Germany?
Is it easy to get PR in Germany after study? Yes. It is. To get a PR in Germany, you must stay in the country for 5 years. We call it an easy PR because the duration of your stay in the country for completing your education is counted. The approximate PR processing time are provided below:
| Permit | Germany PR Processing Time |
| Germany Settlement Permit | 2- 6 months |
What is the Advantage of PR in Germany?
There are several benefits of getting a PR in Germany. Some of these benefits are provided below:
- You can stay in the country for an indefinite period
- You can work, residence, or study in Germany without any restrictions
- You can change jobs or even set up your own business
- It becomes easy for you to get a loan if you need it
- You can travel to other Schengen states without a visa for up to 90 days within 180 days
- Get access to social security benefits like social assistance, child support, and healthcare
- Can access scholarships or financial aid given for education
- You can reunite with your family members
- It is a pathway to citizenship in the country
How Do I Get a Long-Term EU Residence Permit in Germany?
Is it easy to get PR in Germany after study? Yes. It is. Apart from the settlement permit you can also apply for a EU residence permit in Germany. The long term EU residence permit Germany requirements are as follows:
| Requirements for Long-Term EU Residence Permit in Germany | Description |
| Residence permit | Hold German residence permit for 5 years |
| Means of subsistence | You can financially take care of yourself and your family members. For this, you need to have a regular income |
| German language | B1 level |
| Basic knowledge of the legal system, social systems, and the German way of life | Clear a test for this purpose |
| Accommodation | You have accommodation in Germany for you and your family members |
| You are not a threat to safety | You do not have a criminal record and are not a threat to the public security of the country |
Fun Fact: The main perk of the EU residence permit is that you can use it to settle in another state in the EU as long as you meet the rules.
How Long Does It Take to Get Citizenship in Germany?
Is it easy to get PR in Germany after study? Yes. It is. You can easily get a PR in the country. The PR is the path to citizenship. After you have stayed in Germany for 5 years with a Settlement Permit or the Long Term EU residency permit you can apply for citizenship.
The following are the requirements you need to meet to get German citizenship. It must be noted that Germany does not allow dual citizenship.
- Legally staying the Germany with a valid residence permit for 5 years
- Be able to prove your identity and current citizenship.
- Have a PR or a long-term residence permit
- You can financially support yourself and your family
- You have a B1 level of German proficiency
- Knowledge of legal system, society and the way of life in Germany
- Commitment to the free and democratic basic order of Germany
- Commitment to Germany’s special historical responsibility (Basically, you must not act against Jewish life, agree to peacefully coexist, and not wage a war in the country)
- You do not have a criminal record
- No other reasons to make you ineligible for naturalisation.
FAQs
No. It is easy to get a PR in Germany as an international student. The time you spend studying in the country is counted for PR. Moreover, you have 2 years of post-study permit during which you can seek work. You only need to work as a skilled worker in Germany for 2 years. Thus, you can easily fulfil the duration required to settle in Germany.
Yes. It is possible to get a PR in Germany after completion of studies. You can stay in the country as a job seeker for 18 months. Once you get a job you can apply for a residence permit for a skilled worker. Just by working for 2 years, you can get a PR.
No. Germany issues PR to people who have stayed for 5 years. However, if you have completed your 3-year degree from Germany you can work as a skilled worker for 2 years, and then get a Settlement Permit.
Yes. It is easy to get a PR in Germany after completing studies. The time you spend studying is counted for PR. Moreover, you can get a job seeker visa for 18 months. This will allow you to easily look for work. Once you get a skilled job you only need to work for 2 years to get a PR.
After completing your master’s you can apply for a job seeker’s permit. Thereafter, you can stay in the country for 18 months. You need to get a job as a skilled worker. Apply for a residence permit as a skilled worker for 2-3 years and then get a PR.
5 years. It will take you 5 years to get a PR in Germany. However, if you have completed studies in Germany (degree/vocational program) you only have to spend 2 years working as a skilled worker to apply for PR.
We hope you now have the answer to your question -Is it easy to get PR in Germany after study? Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or visit our visa page for more such articles. You can also connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!
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