German Permanent Residency-Can I Get Residency as an Investor in Germany?

If you intend on living in Germany on an investor visa, you might be curious as to whether this can lead to a permanent residency. And yes, it can.

However, getting an investor visa is not the same as getting a permanent residency; it's merely the first step towards it.

What is an "Investor Visa"?

If you've just read the words "investor visa" and you're wondering what it means, allow me to explain.

An investor visa is a visa that you can get by investing money into German corporations or regional development funds.

With this visa, you will not be taking jobs that could be taken by German citizens, and you're just putting money directly into the economy. This will enable the country to provide better for its people, and you can even give people jobs which will be beneficial to the workers and their families.

There are plenty of benefits for yourself too, which we'll be covering in this article.

How Rich Do you Need to be to get an Investor Visa?

The vast majority of people will be highly unlikely to be able to afford a German permanent residency because the amount of money that you need to invest is crazy! But if you have crazy money, it's worth looking into.

Here are your two options.

Your first option is to invest €250,000 into German corporations and €100,000 into regional development funds.

Your second option is to invest €250,000 into regional development funds.

A regional development fund is, as the name suggests, a fund that helps with regional development. These funds enable a region to provide a better standard of life for its citizens.

Documents Required for a German Investor Visa.

Unlike most of the other visas required if you wanted to live in Germany, when coming over on an investor Visa, it's unlikely you'll need to prove financial stability.

If you're able to invest these large sums, there is no worry of you needing to rely on the state for money related help.

However, you will still need to provide following documents.

• A valid passport
• An extra passport photo
• A clean criminal record.
• Proof of ability to speak German.
• Proof of residency
• Bank account
• Health insurance

Why You Will Want a Permanent Residency in Germany.

You might be wondering why you would want a permanent residency in Germany.

Firstly, it's an incredible country. The nature is beautiful, the people are lovely, and the culture is remarkable.

But the main reason is the Schengen Zone. If you're a resident of Germany, you will be able to live and work in this Zone. The Schengen Zone is one of the biggest economic blocks on the entire planet, so your potential marketplace is going to be massive.

Unlike Britain, Germany will not be leaving this Zone anytime soon.

How an Investor Visa Can Lead to German citizenship

Once you've had your permanent residency for three years, you can think about getting a German Citizenship. You could argue that doing so would be pointless. If you're able to trade, live, and to work in the EU without citizenship, getting one would be a waste of time. But the greatest benefit to being a German Citizen is that you're able to vote in the German elections. You may not be too bothered by this. And if not, don't worry. But I understand that others will wish to vote for the government who's laws they have to obey.

If you're one of the latter, it will be worth applying for German citizenship.

Can You Bring Your Family on an Investor Visa?

Unlike any of the other Visas, when you're in Germany on an investor visa, it's not just you that's allowed to stay, it will be your spouse and children too.

People who can afford an investor visa are people whom the Germans will want in their country, and they wouldn't want to discourage them by separating them from their family.

Not only are your family allowed to live with you, but after five years, they'll be allowed to apply for a permanent residency too.

Moving your family to Germany is not only possible, but it's also a good idea, for several reasons.

Firstly, it's incredibly safe. If you're worried about your children becoming victims of crime, then you will be happy to hear that Germany has a very low crime rate. This is partly due to the criminal system, but also to do with the culture.

Also, the education system is excellent. By learning in a German school, your children will be able to have a higher standard of teaching than they would do if they lived in other countries.

Rules for applying for a German permanent residency.

If you wish to apply for a German residency, I hate to tell you, but you won't be able to do it the minute your plane hits the ground.

Once you have been living in Germany for three years, you will be able to apply. You won't get it automatically, but you can apply. You can seek the help of an immigration solicitor to ensure your application process goes smoothly.

To apply for a visa, you'll need the required documents and to book an appointment. Once you have attended your appointment, they should grant your permanent residency. So long as you are wealthy and will not run out of money, the likelihood of being granted your residency is very high.

You can seek the help of immigration solicitors to ensure your application process goes smoothly.

Rules for Your Family Applying for a German Permanent Residency.

Whilst you will need to be living here for three years before you can apply for a permanent residency, your family who has moved with you will need to wait for five years before they're able to.

However, apart from this, there is no difference in the application process. They will need to get their documents, book an appointment, attend the appointment, and await their results. The children of investor visa holders are likely (although not quite as likely as their investor parent) to be granted residency.

Please note that when I say "children", I am talking about people under the age of 18.

Conclusion

If you wish to get a German permanent residency, going down the investor route is a great way, if you can afford it. Not only will you be able to apply for it after just three years, but your family will be able to apply after five years as well.