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Loss of residence permits

All residence permits are subject to provisions regarding the duration and place of residence and may expire under certain circumstances. A general overview of the loss of residence permits is provided by the Jena Foreigners' Registration Office.

A residence permit expires if

  • you leave Germany for more than 6 months.
  • you leave Germany to start schooling or studying abroad and stay longer than 6 months or leave Germany permanently.

For longer stays that do not cause your residence permit to expire, you must submit an application to your local immigration office. The application is usually granted if

  • you justify your stay abroad by working as a development worker or doing military service.
  • Your stay is work for an international company based in Germany.
  • you are a student at a German university and wish to spend a semester abroad.
  • you are a family member of a German diplomat abroad.

An EU Blue Card expires if you leave Germany for more than 12 months. This period also applies to your family members if they have a residence permit for family reasons.

For longer stays that do not cause your EU Blue Card to expire, you must submit an application to your local immigration authority.

An EU permanent residence permit expires if

  • you stay outside the EU or in the EU countries Denmark, Great Britain and Ireland for more than 12 months.
  • you stay outside the EU or in the EU countries Denmark, Great Britain and Ireland for more than 24 months and if you previously held an EU Blue Card. The same applies to your family members if they have a residence permit for family reasons.
  • you have not resided in Germany for more than 6 years.
  • you have been granted an EU permanent residence permit in another EU member state.

For longer stays that do not cause your permanent residence permit to expire, you must submit an application to your local immigration authority.

An EU permanent residence permit does not expire even if you stay abroad for a longer period of time if

  • you have been legally resident in Germany for at least 15 years and are able to support yourself independently. The same applies to your spouse if they also have a permanent residence permit.
  • you are in a marriage or registered civil partnership with a German citizen.

A certificate of confirmation may be required for re-entry to Germany.

A settlement permit expires if

  • you leave Germany for longer than 6 months.
  • you leave Germany for longer than 12 months and you have reached the age of 60 and have been legally resident in Germany for at least 15 years. The same applies to your spouse with a settlement permit if they are also at least 60 years old.

For longer stays that do not cause your settlement permit to expire, you must submit an application to your local immigration authority.

A settlement permit does not expire even if you stay abroad for a longer period of time if

  • you have been legally resident in Germany for at least 15 years and are able to support yourself independently. The same applies to your spouse if they also have a permanent residence permit.
  • you are in a marriage or registered civil partnership with a German citizen.

A certificate of confirmation may be required for re-entry to Germany.