US Citizen Migrate to Germany
In this article
People worldwide seek to travel, move, or migrate to Germany for several reasons.
It has excellent employment opportunities - both full-time and freelance, a solid
educational system with lower tuition fees, and great employment opportunities. Many
individuals, especially those from America, seek to migrate to Germany, and it is
no news since Germany has been tagged as the fifth most favorable country to move
to. A report prepared in 2020 revealed that Germany has about 11 million immigrants,
of which over 110,000 of them are US citizens.
As Americans seeking to migrate to Germany, you have to put several things in place
to ensure your migration process is smooth, successful, and stress-free. Chief of
the preparations to make when migrating from the US to Germany is applying for a
residence permit. There are several ways to earn a German residence permit as a US
citizen, and they revolve around the reasons for moving to Germany. Common reasons
for migrating include education, employment, family reunion, and entrepreneurship.
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Americans Moving to Germany
Usually, citizens from eligible countries can visit Germany for a maximum of 90 days
when they use the Schengen visa. Citizens of the United States are not required to
present a Schengen visa before entering Germany; however, they are still faced with
the 90-day restriction that applies to Schengen visa holders. These 90 days play an
important role in getting your resident permit.
You can apply for a German residence permit from Germany or the United States as a US
citizen. Applying from the US means that you do not take advantage of the initial 90
days the Schengen visa affords you. You will need to visit a German embassy or
consulate in the US to apply for your residence permit. The processing time for
applicants in the US takes a minimum of 90 days, primarily because of its
international nature.
Alternatively, US citizens can travel to Germany, take advantage of the 90-day
visa-free period, and apply for residency. It is generally faster to apply for residency
from Germany. US citizens must provide an Electronic Residence Title or elektronischer
Aufenthaltstitel (eAT) to stay in Germany past the 90 days offered initially.
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Types of German Residence Permits Available to US Citizens
After the expiration of the 90 days,
US citizens who want to continue
staying in Germany can only do so if they have a residence permit. There are two
types of residence permits available to citizens of the US in Germany, which are:
- Standard Residence Permit
- Permanent Residence or Settlement Permit
Standard Residence Permit
US citizens moving to Germany can obtain a standard residence permit. The residence
permit is usually granted to individuals attending course training and family
reunions in Germany. It also works for former Germans returning to Germany and those
working in Germany. The standard residence permit is only active for a limited
period. This period usually lasts between one and four years. Still, it can be
extended or converted to a permanent permit if the holder attends an integration
course and passes the exam attached to it. The state residence permit has different
restrictions based on the type the holder obtains.
A resident permit for studying allows US citizens to study and work part-time for
the course duration. A residence permit for employment allows its holder to work
for a German employer for the work contract period. If the permit expires before the
work contract, then you can renew it by simply re-applying. The permit for
employment is usually given to professionals with a university degree and taking up
positions in limited supply. A residence permit for family reunions allows US
immigrants to live with their partners who could be German citizens or residents. It
also allows its holders to work in Germany during their stay. Freelancers and
self-employed professionals can also get a residence permit dedicated to their
peculiarity. However, they have to prove the demand for their services in the region
of Germany where they plan to stay.
Permanent Residence or Settlement Permit
In simple times, permanent residence in Germany is equivalent to the Green Card in
America. It is highly sought after, as it has no validity period but does not
translate to having German citizenship. To own a permanent residence permit, you
must have had a standard resident permit for a minimum of five years; you must be
financially secure and able to meet expenses; you must pass an integration exam and
prove to be proficient in the German language.
Steps Involved in Getting a German Residency Permit
Before obtaining your residence permit in Germany as an American, you should get
some documents ready. All these are expected to be carried out within the 90 days
of visa-free travel enjoyed by US citizens. It is essential to start the process
of obtaining your residence permit as soon as you get to Germany to ensure you
obtain your residence permit before the expiration of your 90-day grace period.
Here are the processes involved in obtaining a residence permit in Germany.
State your address
In Germany, the state authorities are always in the know of the address of its
occupants. Whenever Germans change their address, no matter how insignificant it
may seem, they must make the authorities aware. When moving from the US to Germany,
you must inform the German authorities in a process called the Anmeldung. After
completing this process, the German authorities will reply with a confirmation
letter or certificate because you just fulfilled that requirement.
Get a bank account
To qualify for a residence permit in Germany, you have to prove you are financially
buoyant. To prove that, you have to open a German bank account and transfer money
to it from your American account. German authorities will not permit you to stay if
you do not have enough money, hence the need to transfer enough money into your
German account. If in doubt about how much is enough, ask the embassy closest to
you or find out the cost of living in your locale.
Prove Language proficiency
Although Germany speaks English, to obtain a residency permit, you will be expected
to have a basic understanding of the German language. You can start taking elementary
language classes to aid this process before leaving the US. Three levels of language
proficiency exist according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages,
and they are A1/A2 (basic), B1/B2 (proficient), and C1/C2 (advanced). To obtain a
standard residence permit, you need to have a minimum of B1. On the larger scale, C1
or C2 is required to obtain a permanent residence permit.
Health insurance
Obtaining a German residence permit requires you to have health insurance. Health
insurance should be gotten from a German company or the insurance provided by your
employers if you have a job already. Most hospitals and doctors in Germany will not
accept American health insurance, and health insurance is needed to gain residency.
Pay your fees
The registration for a residence permit requires you to pay fees to be considered.
When applying for the first time, you must pay 110 Euros in registration fees and 80
Euros for an extension of your residency. The receipt of payment will be required of
you as part of your registration documents.
Documents Required for Applying for The German Residence Permit
After fulfilling the required steps, it all culminates in the actual application for
a residency permit. The application can take place in any German embassy or consulate
in the US when applying from there or the Aliens Authority Office when applying in
Germany. Required documents include:
- Standard Residence Permit
- Permanent Residence or Settlement Permit
- A filled-out application form that you can obtain at the German Embassy. Two of these forms are required if you apply in the US.
- A valid passport. The passport should be valid for a minimum of four months after your planned departure from Germany.
- Two passport photographs.
- A certificate or letter from the Anmeldung process where you declared your address.
- Confirmation of financial stability. Tax documents or bank statements can be used.
- When applying for a residence permit on a work basis, a letter from your employer to confirm your employment.
- Proof of health insurance.
- Receipt of fees payment.
After the registration process is completed, you will get a mail from the Aliens Authority
Office or embassy regarding the status of your application. If your application is
approved, you will be permitted to stay in Germany after the expiration of the visa-free
visit period. However, if your application is rejected for some reason, you will need to
try again or return to the US after the expiration of the 90-day window. The application
process takes about three months when applying from the US but can be cut down to only
three weeks if you apply in Germany.
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Permanent residence allows you to enjoy benefits attached to German citizens without
losing your American citizenship. You can change jobs and live in Germany indefinitely
without having to apply for a renewal after a few years. After about five years of
obtaining your standard residency permit, if you meet the requirements of a settlement
residency, it is advised to go for it.
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