German language requirements for residence permit

Hi All,

I have a question... I'm an American married to a German and living in Frankfurt, today we went the Auslaenderbehoerde to apply for my residence permit.. Along with a 1000 other things we were told they mentioned that in order to get an unlimited time resident permit, I would have to learn German and be interviewed in order to get this. I'm a bit confused because I thought I had read that American and British citizens were exempt from this rule.. I could be wrong so someone please shed some light and tell me what the rule is. Of course I do want to learn German and in no way do I feel this is a bad rule. I just like knowing my rights. Danke

Normally, unlimited residency permits are anyway not granted right away, irrespective of your marital status and/or language skills. So what about a 3-year-residency permit? Did you check that as well?

The unlimited residency permits (Niederlassungen) are normally only initially issued to highly skilled professionals such as engineers, scientists, managers, etc, who don't face language requirements for the issuance of their visa. As a US citizen, you are exempt from any language requirements for your initial residence permit, but because you do not speak German, you will almost certainly be required to attend an integration course, which is 600 hours of language training and 30 hours of instruction on the German constitution and some other topics. To get your Niederlassungserlaubnis other than by being "highly skilled", it takes more than just a certain level of language ability.

An American friend of mine in Hamburg has unlimited residency and doesn't speak a word of German.

As an American who just got my Niedersomethingorothernis, the language thing is being able to answer your own name and knowing what you do for a living. That was the extent of mine. Its not some formal thing to get all worried about. If you can get around, order beer and ask for a Whopper from BK, you're good to go.

Why on Earth not?

That's sad. No, that's really pathetic.

Look this is all crap i have an unlimited Aufehthalts Erlaubnis and i am not what you would call a highly classified skilléd worker.I got a residence permit for 5 years and then an unlimited one.Never been to school to learn German or anything else.I speak the language well though.

Yeah, but you're British (correct me if I'm wrong). Different (stricter) rules for the non-EU crowd.

Yep, Mik, that is the problem. We Americans have to learn German to be allowed to stay in the country, while you EU folks don't have to speak a lick of German to be able to stay here.

:evilgrin: :gratuitoussmugness:

While at university here I once had the reverse situation: they needed certfied proof that I could speak English to a certain level, but being a native speaker I didn't have any acceptable bits of paper (proof of citizenship wasn't enough because for all they knew I could have been brought up in a 100% Welsh or Cornish speaking environment). Fortunately, after a phone call to higher authorities, common sense prevailed.

We do?

Got my stamp in September without any problems whatsoever and have no schooling or documentation that says I speak a word of German. I manage just fine but definitely not fluent in any stretch of the imagination.

@L8knight,

I think it only applies to the people who have arrived after Jan 1, 2005. It said on the www.trust7 website

The following conditions must generally be met in order to receive a settlement permit:

* Possession of a residence permit ("Aufenthaltserlaubnis") for at least five years
* Five years of employment, including payment of social insurance contributions
* Secure livelihood
* Sufficient accommodation for you and your family
* Sufficient knowledge of German
* Basic knowledge of the German legal and social systems

So, when I went to apply for mine, I also did not have to prove that I have had any training, but I guess just speaking the language to her was enough for her.

..and it would appear that the same applies to your English.

What if you don't want a settlement permit? Will they just renew my 3 year residency permit?