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Changing purpose, settlement permit, naturalisation after five years, benefits.

Change of purpose

Switching from, for example, student to employee needs a new application before your permit ends (fee €98, § 45 AufenthV). See Study, Skilled worker.

Settlement permit

See Skilled worker (§ 18c); general rule § 9 AufenthG.

Naturalisation

• Regular naturalisation after 5 years of lawful residence (§ 10 StAG) with secure living costs, German at B1, knowledge of the legal system and no serious convictions. The three-year fast naturalisation was repealed as of 30 Oct 2025 (BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 256; asyl.net).
• Multiple citizenship has been allowed in Germany since 27 June 2024. Whether Nigeria lets you keep Nigerian citizenship was not checked.

Benefits

The Bürgergeld was replaced by the Grundsicherungsgeld on 1 July 2026. Claiming benefits can affect residence and naturalisation. Ask an adviser first.

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