How long can you be outside Germany without losing your residence permit?

Checked on 2026-10-25

Germany's Residence Act says a residence permit expires when you leave and don't come back within six months, or within a longer period the immigration office set. It also expires if you leave for a reason that isn't temporary. An EU long-term residence permit expires only after 12 consecutive months outside the area where that status can be acquired.

Key facts

What	The law says	Source
Residence permit, EU Blue Card or settlement permit	Expires if you leave and don’t re-enter within six months, or within a longer period set by the immigration office	AufenthG § 51(1) no. 7
Leaving for good	The permit expires if you leave for a reason that by its nature isn’t temporary	AufenthG § 51(1) no. 6
When a longer period is set	As a rule, if you hold a settlement permit and leave for a temporary reason, or if your stay abroad serves German interests	AufenthG § 51(4)
National visa	A visa for multiple entries or valid for more than 90 days doesn’t expire under these two rules	AufenthG § 51(1), final clause
15 years in Germany, or married to a German	A settlement permit doesn’t expire under these two rules if the conditions in § 51(2) are met	AufenthG § 51(2)
EU long-term residence permit	Expires after 12 consecutive months outside the area where EU long-term resident status can be acquired (24 months for former EU Blue Card holders and their family members), or after six years outside Germany	AufenthG § 51(9) nos. 3–4
Military service at home	The six-month limit doesn’t count if you exceeded it only because of compulsory military service and return within three months of discharge	AufenthG § 51(3)

The six-month rule

Section 51 of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz) lists when a residence title expires. One case is leaving Germany and not re-entering within six months. The immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) can set a longer period. The law says it does so as a rule when you hold a settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) and leave for a temporary reason, or when your stay abroad serves the interests of Germany. In other cases it is the office’s decision.

Leaving for good

Separately, the permit expires when you leave Germany for a reason that isn’t temporary by its nature, whatever the length of the trip. The law doesn’t define this further.

Permanent permits

The law protects a settlement permit from both rules if you have lived lawfully in Germany for at least 15 years, your livelihood is secured and there is no expulsion interest of the kinds listed in § 54(1) nos. 2–5 or § 54(2) nos. 5–7; this also covers your spouse living with you. A settlement permit of someone married to and living with a German is protected the same way, without the 15 years or the livelihood condition (§ 51(2)). On request, the immigration office at your last place of residence issues a certificate that the settlement permit still exists.

The EU long-term residence permit (Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt – EU) follows its own rules: it expires after 12 consecutive months outside the territory where EU long-term resident status can be acquired, 24 months for former EU Blue Card holders and their family members, or after six years outside Germany (§ 51(9)).

Fee for a settlement permit: €113 in general (AufenthV § 44 no. 3).

Sources

Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG), § 51 (consolidated text as last amended on 22.7.2026, gesetze-im-internet.de) checked 2026-10-25

Change history

2026-10-25: Page created

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