- Citizens of the European Union do not need any residence permit in Germany.
- All foreigners from outside the EU who wish to remain in Germany for longer than three months must obtain a residence permit
- Citizens from some countries (including the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, Israel, New Zealand and Switzerland) are allowed entry into Germany without a visa and may apply for a residence permit while in the country.
- A limited residence permit is valid for a certain period of time and is issued for a certain purpose:
- residence for educational purposes
- residence for the purpose of economic activity
- residence under international law or on humanitarian or political grounds
- residence for family reasons
The Aufenthaltserlaubnis does not automatically grant the right to work; instead the permission to work must be explicitly mentioned in the document.
- An unlimited residence permit is a permanent residence permit. It grants the right to live and work in Germany under EU law. A foreigner receives a settlement permit if:
- he or she has held a residence permit for five years
- his or her livelihood is secure
- he or she is permitted to work
- he or she possesses sufficient living space for himself or herself and the members of his or her family forming part of his or her household
- The residence permit contains security features, i.e. multicoloured guillochés