Last month when I wrote this blog post How I got Permanent Residence in Germany, I was just starting my application for the Daueraufenthalt-EU and after one month, I already got the acceptance and the application process was very smooth.
So, what did I need to apply?
The requirements were almost the same as the documents I submitted for my Niederlassungserlaubnis, plus a Bescheinigung in Steuersachen. You can get this by contacting the Finanzamt responsible for your tax matters. If you file a tax return every year, you probably already know which office to contact.
It took me less than one week to receive my Bescheinigung in Steuersachen.
The exact requirements may vary depending on your residence history and the responsible Ausländerbehörde, so this is only based on my own application experience.
Why did I apply for the EU long-term residence permit?
I got recommended and I didn’t know about this at all. That was why I applied for the Niederlassungserlaubnis first.
If I had known about the Daueraufenthalt-EU earlier, I could have applied for it directly and saved myself €115. I was already happy with my permanent residence status in Germany, so I did wonder whether I should also apply for the EU status. At some point, it started to feel like I was just collecting residence statuses :))))
In the end, I decided to do it as there are two key differences:
- With EU long-term resident status, I can generally stay outside the EU for up to 12 consecutive months, while the German Niederlassungserlaubnis may usually expire after six months outside Germany. Other expiry rules also apply, including extended absence from Germany.
- The EU status can also make it easier to move to and work in another participating EU country, although I would still need to follow that country’s immigration rules. I am not planning to do that anytime soon because I am quite happy with my job and my life in Germany at the moment. But as an expat, one of the best things you can have is options. The more options I have, the better.
And since I had already received my Niederlassungserlaubnis before applying for the Daueraufenthalt-EU, I now have both—so why not? :)))
It’s been a long journey…
Yesterday I got an email from my Master’s program asking alumni to share their success stories and how they have been doing after graduation. Yesterday was also the day I received the positive decision for my Daueraufenthalt-EU. So I became a little emotional while writing my answers and submitting my story.
Many programs ask what kind of impact we have created for our community or our home country. That is a big question.
I still believe that one of the most important things a person can do for their community or home country is to build a meaningful life for themselves after graduation—the kind of life that gives them a sense of purpose every morning and the courage not to give up when things become difficult.
Sometimes, the achievement is simply to keep waking up, doing what needs to be done, and moving forward. As I tried to cram my story into multiple-choice questions, with only a few small spaces where I could elaborate, I realized that no words could fully describe the past few years or how much I have grown.
Sometimes, the things I remember most about this journey are not the residence statuses I have been trying to obtain, even though they bring tremendous privilege. I remember the mornings when I was tired but still got out of bed, got ready, put on my jacket, and walked to my driving lessons while it was still dark outside. Along the way, holding my warm coffee, I would think to myself: One day, I will remember this day.
I remember finishing a workday exhausted but happy because I had delivered a live training session and people kept taking notes while I was speaking.
I remember mornings when I felt so inspired that I worked as if I had ten brains operating at the same time.
And I remember days when I practised German while crying because I could not express myself as confidently as I could in English.
Of course, these are not the kinds of stories that will fit into an alumni survey :))) But they are the stories that have made my experience in Germany worthwhile.
Well, this was just a little yapping to celebrate another step I have accomplished.
Cheerssss! See you in the next blog post!