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Germany

3 storiesUpdated 7 October 2026, 15:07 UTC

This page is assembled from the stories below. Every line comes from a story's current version and links to the source it cites.

Where things stand

• DevelopingPermanent residence in Germany: every route to a settlement permit and how long each takes

  The general rule for a settlement permit is five years with a residence permit and 60 months of pension contributions. EU Blue Card holders can qualify after 21 months.

• DevelopingGerman citizenship by naturalisation: how many years you need, and the three-year route that was removed

  Naturalisation now requires five years of lawful residence. The three-year route for exceptional integration ended on 30 October 2025.

• DevelopingGermany EU Blue Card salary threshold: 2024, 2025 and 2026, and how it is set

  The Blue Card salary floor is 50 percent of the pension ceiling, which is 101 400 euros in 2026. It is 45.3 percent for shortage jobs and recent graduates.

Key facts

• Under the general rule, a settlement permit is granted after five years with a residence permit, with at least 60 months of pension contributions, secure income, German at level B1, basic knowledge of the legal and social order, and adequate housing. Gesetze im Internet (Federal Ministry of Justice), Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)
• EU Blue Card holders get a settlement permit after 27 months of Blue Card employment with pension contributions and basic German, or after 21 months with German at level B1. Gesetze im Internet (Federal Ministry of Justice), Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)
• Skilled workers with vocational or academic training get a settlement permit after three years with a skilled-worker residence title, if they hold a job, have paid 36 months of pension contributions and have sufficient German. Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), Gesetze im Internet (Federal Ministry of Justice)
• The Nationality Act entitles a foreign national to naturalisation on application after five years of lawful habitual residence in Germany, if identity and nationality are clear and the other conditions are met. Gesetze im Internet (Federal Ministry of Justice), Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)
• The 2024 reform cut the regular residence period for naturalisation from eight years to five, according to the Federal Government. Federal Government of Germany (Bundesregierung)
• The amending law took effect on 30 October 2025, ending the option of naturalisation after three years, according to the Federal Government. Federal Government of Germany (Bundesregierung)
• Under section 18g of the Residence Act, a university-educated skilled worker gets an EU Blue Card without approval from the Federal Employment Agency if the salary is at least 50 percent of the annual contribution ceiling of the general pension scheme. Gesetze im Internet (Federal Ministry of Justice), Gesetze im Internet (Federal Ministry of Justice), Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)
• A lower floor of 45.3 percent of the ceiling applies, with the Federal Employment Agency's approval, to people in listed occupation groups and to those who obtained their degree no more than three years before applying. Gesetze im Internet (Federal Ministry of Justice)
• For 2026 the ceiling is 101 400 euros a year, or 8 450 euros a month. Gesetze im Internet (Federal Ministry of Justice)

Timeline

1. 28 July 2026The consolidated Nationality Act on Gesetze im Internet was last amended by a law published in the Federal Law Gazette in July 2026. Gesetze im Internet (Federal Ministry of Justice), Bundesgesetzblatt (Federal Law Gazette)
   From German citizenship by naturalisation: how many years you need, and the three-year route that was removed
2. 1 January 2026For 2026 the ceiling is 101 400 euros a year, or 8 450 euros a month. Gesetze im Internet (Federal Ministry of Justice)
   From Germany EU Blue Card salary threshold: 2024, 2025 and 2026, and how it is set
3. 30 October 2025The amending law took effect on 30 October 2025, ending the option of naturalisation after three years, according to the Federal Government. Federal Government of Germany (Bundesregierung)
   From German citizenship by naturalisation: how many years you need, and the three-year route that was removed
4. 29 October 2025The Act Amending the Nationality Act and Other Provisions was published in the Federal Law Gazette in October 2025. Bundesgesetzblatt (Federal Law Gazette)
   From German citizenship by naturalisation: how many years you need, and the three-year route that was removed
5. 1 January 2025For 2025 the ceiling rose to 96 600 euros a year. Gesetze im Internet (Federal Ministry of Justice)
   From Germany EU Blue Card salary threshold: 2024, 2025 and 2026, and how it is set
6. 26 March 2024The Act to Modernise Nationality Law was published in the Federal Law Gazette in March 2024. Bundesgesetzblatt (Federal Law Gazette)
   From German citizenship by naturalisation: how many years you need, and the three-year route that was removed
7. 1 March 2024BAMF's English guide to settling in Germany is dated March 2024. We checked its periods against the current text of the Residence Act. Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)
   From Permanent residence in Germany: every route to a settlement permit and how long each takes
8. 1 January 2024For 2024 the pension contribution ceiling was set at 90 600 euros a year. Gesetze im Internet (Federal Ministry of Justice)
   From Germany EU Blue Card salary threshold: 2024, 2025 and 2026, and how it is set
9. 18 August 2023The skilled-worker rules in force today come from the Act on the Further Development of Skilled Immigration, published in the Federal Law Gazette in August 2023. Bundesgesetzblatt (Federal Law Gazette)
   From Permanent residence in Germany: every route to a settlement permit and how long each takes
10. 18 August 2023The current Blue Card rules come from the Act on the Further Development of Skilled Immigration, published in the Federal Law Gazette in August 2023, which BAMF says expanded the Blue Card rules again. Bundesgesetzblatt (Federal Law Gazette), Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)
    From Germany EU Blue Card salary threshold: 2024, 2025 and 2026, and how it is set

Stories in this record

Illustration

DevelopingWork and study in Germany

Permanent residence in Germany: every route to a settlement permit and how long each takes

Now The general rule for a settlement permit is five years with a residence permit and 60 months of pension contributions. EU Blue Card holders can qualify after 21 months.

Last changed 7 October 2026 · 1 version · Verified 7 October 2026

Illustration

DevelopingWork and study in Germany

German citizenship by naturalisation: how many years you need, and the three-year route that was removed

Now Naturalisation now requires five years of lawful residence. The three-year route for exceptional integration ended on 30 October 2025.

Last changed 7 October 2026 · 1 version · Verified 7 October 2026

Illustration

DevelopingWork and study in Germany

Germany EU Blue Card salary threshold: 2024, 2025 and 2026, and how it is set

Now The Blue Card salary floor is 50 percent of the pension ceiling, which is 101 400 euros in 2026. It is 45.3 percent for shortage jobs and recent graduates.

Last changed 7 October 2026 · 1 version · Verified 7 October 2026

Related records

• Einbürgerung
• EU Blue Card
• EU long-term residence
• German citizenship
• Nationality Act
• Naturalisation
• Niederlassungserlaubnis
• Permanent residence
• Residence Act
• Settlement permit
• Skilled immigration
• Work permits