Already in Berlin?

Changing your status, staying long term, citizenship and free help.

On 31 December 2025 Berlin's statistics office counted these foreign residents (Berlin population statistics, 2nd half 2025, table 10):

* includes former "Serbia and Montenegro" and "Serbia (incl. Kosovo)". ** only as far as registered under this citizenship.

If something changed

• New employer under the Western Balkans rule: needs a new approval before you start. Talk to LEA first. See Western Balkans rule.
• Studies finished: § 20 AufenthG gives you up to 18 months to look for a matching job.
• Job lost: talk to LEA before your permit expires, not after.
• Switching route – for example to a skilled-worker permit after recognition: normally done at LEA from inside Germany. See Recognition.

Staying long term

• Settlement permit: § 9 after 5 years; skilled workers (§§ 18a, 18b) after 3 years with German at B1 and 36 months of pension contributions, or after 2 years and 24 months if you completed training or studies in Germany (§ 18c (1)); Blue Card holders after 27 months with A1, or 21 months with B1 (§ 18c (2)).
• German citizenship: § 10 StAG after 5 years. The 3-year fast track was abolished on 30 October 2025. Your own country's rules on dual citizenship: Rules between your country and Germany.

Free help in Berlin

• Willkommenszentrum Berlin and MBE – general orientation and advice.
• BEMA (Beratungsstelle für Migration und Gute Arbeit) – free advice on employment rights: unpaid wages, unpaid hours, an employer who keeps your passport.
• Your country's embassy in Berlin – passports and civil-status documents.
• Advice centres working in Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian or Albanian were not checked for this site.