{"id":104,"date":"2026-06-08T19:05:50","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T19:05:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kaganlegal-germany.com\/?page_id=104"},"modified":"2026-06-14T16:01:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T16:01:47","slug":"for-private-clients","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kaganlegal-germany.com\/en\/for-private-clients\/","title":{"rendered":"Legal Advisory for Private Clients"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<main id=\"main-content\">\n\n\n    <section class=\"hero-meridian hero-meridian--money\" aria-labelledby=\"page-h1\">\n      <div class=\"hero-meridian__rings\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"container hero-meridian__inner\">\n        <span class=\"hero-meridian__breadcrumb\"><a href=\"\/en\/\">Home<\/a> &middot; <a href=\"\/en\/for-whom\/\">For Whom<\/a> &middot; Private Clients<\/span>\n        <span class=\"hero-meridian__eyebrow\">FOR WHOM &middot; 06<\/span>\n        <h1 class=\"hero-meridian__h1\" id=\"page-h1\">Legal Advisory for Private Clients<\/h1>\n        <p class=\"hero-meridian__lead\">Private clients with connections to Germany &mdash; building a life here, joining family, or pursuing German citizenship &mdash; face legal questions that span residence law, family reunification and naturalisation. We advise in German and English and, by prior arrangement, in Russian.<\/p>\n        <div class=\"hero-meridian__actions\">\n          <a href=\"\/en\/contact\/\" class=\"btn btn-light btn-lg\">Request Advice<\/a>\n          <a href=\"#pc-residence\" class=\"btn btn-ghost-light btn-lg\">Learn more &darr;<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n    <div class=\"container\">\n      <aside class=\"summary-box\" aria-label=\"At a glance\">\n        <span class=\"summary-box__eyebrow\">At a Glance<\/span>\n        <p class=\"summary-box__text\">Private clients typically need advice on residence-permit transitions, family reunification, settlement permits and naturalisation. Where applications are refused or proceedings delayed, we also advise on available remedies. We advise in German and English and, by prior arrangement, in Russian.<\/p>\n      <\/aside>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- Service Detail -->\n    <section class=\"service-body\" id=\"service-body\">\n      <div class=\"container\">\n\n        <details class=\"page-toc-mobile\">\n          <summary class=\"page-toc-summary\">\n            <span class=\"page-toc-title\">Contents<\/span>\n          <\/summary>\n          <nav class=\"page-toc-nav\" aria-label=\"Page contents\">\n            <ul class=\"page-toc-list\">\n              <li><a href=\"#pc-residence\" class=\"page-toc-link\">Your residence situation<\/a><\/li>\n              <li><a href=\"#pc-family\" class=\"page-toc-link\">Family reunification<\/a><\/li>\n              <li><a href=\"#pc-settlement\" class=\"page-toc-link\">Settlement and long-term residence<\/a><\/li>\n              <li><a href=\"#pc-citizenship\" class=\"page-toc-link\">German citizenship<\/a><\/li>\n              <li><a href=\"#pc-refusal\" class=\"page-toc-link\">Refusals and delayed proceedings<\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n          <\/nav>\n        <\/details>\n\n        <div class=\"service-layout\">\n          <div class=\"service-prose\">\n\n            <h2 id=\"pc-residence\">Your Residence Situation<\/h2>\n            <p>The legal pathway depends on your individual starting point. Whether the national visa must be obtained before entry or whether an application may be filed from within Germany depends on nationality, current residence status and the applicable procedural rules. Common situations we advise on:<\/p>\n            <p><strong>Non-EU nationals already in Germany<\/strong> on a study, employment or other residence permit who need to transition to a different title &mdash; for example from a student permit to employment, or from employment to self-employment under &sect;&nbsp;21 AufenthG.<\/p>\n            <p><strong>Non-EU nationals outside Germany<\/strong> seeking to come to Germany for employment, self-employment, family reunification, or other purposes. The first step is typically the correct national visa, filed at the German diplomatic mission in the country of habitual residence.<\/p>\n            <p><strong>Holders of an existing residence permit<\/strong> seeking a settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis), long-term residence status, or preparation for naturalisation.<\/p>\n\n            <h2 id=\"pc-family\">Family Reunification<\/h2>\n            <p>Spouses and minor children can generally join a qualifying sponsor in Germany, subject to conditions that vary by the sponsor&rsquo;s residence title. Key requirements typically include secure subsistence, adequate accommodation, and &mdash; for some categories of spouse &mdash; a basic German-language requirement (A1) before entry. For spouses joining certain employment- or business-based permit holders, the A1 requirement may be waived; the sponsor&rsquo;s residence title determines which statutory facilitations apply. The sufficient-living-space requirement under &sect;&nbsp;29(5) AufenthG is waived for spouses and minor children in the expressly listed residence categories. Under the law currently in force, the &sect;&nbsp;29(5) waiver and the parent-reunification route under &sect;&nbsp;36(3) AufenthG are scheduled to expire on 31&nbsp;December 2028 unless extended by the legislature.<\/p>\n            <p>For qualifying residence-title holders whose relevant title was first issued on or after 1&nbsp;March 2024, &sect;&nbsp;36(3) may permit the reunification of parents and, under additional conditions, parents-in-law. This is a discretionary route and requires secure subsistence, including adequate health-insurance coverage. Further detail is on our <a href=\"\/en\/family-reunification-germany\/\">family reunification page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n            <h2 id=\"pc-settlement\">Settlement and Long-Term Residence<\/h2>\n            <p>The settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) provides permanent residence and unrestricted access to employment. A settlement permit is not invariably required as a step toward naturalisation. The conditions depend on the specific prior residence title: EU Blue Card holders (&sect;&nbsp;18g AufenthG) may qualify after 27&nbsp;months with A1 German or after 21&nbsp;months with B1 German. Qualifying skilled workers may generally obtain a settlement permit after three years under &sect;&nbsp;18c(1); graduates of German higher education or vocational training may qualify after two years under the special statutory conditions. Certain self-employed entrepreneurs holding a qualifying &sect;&nbsp;21 residence permit may obtain a settlement permit after three years under &sect;&nbsp;21(4) &mdash; this special route does not apply to freelance permits under &sect;&nbsp;21(5). Where no special route applies, the general five-year pathway under &sect;&nbsp;9 AufenthG may be relevant. Further detail is on our <a href=\"\/en\/settlement-permit-germany\/\">settlement permit page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n            <h2 id=\"pc-citizenship\">German Citizenship<\/h2>\n            <p>Naturalisation under &sect;&nbsp;10 StAG generally requires five years of lawful habitual residence in Germany, together with the other statutory conditions: sufficient German-language skills, ability to support oneself and dependent family members without disqualifying public benefits (subject to the statutory exceptions), no serious criminal record, and commitment to the free democratic basic order and the other statutory declarations required by the Citizenship Act. Naturalisation is a separate procedure from the settlement-permit process; a settlement permit is not invariably required, but the applicant must hold a residence status that qualifies under the Citizenship Act. German law now generally permits multiple citizenship; whether the applicant may retain an existing nationality also depends on the law of the other country. Further detail is on our <a href=\"\/en\/german-citizenship-naturalisation\/\">German citizenship page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n            <h2 id=\"pc-refusal\">Refusals and Delayed Proceedings<\/h2>\n            <p>Where a visa, residence, settlement or citizenship application is refused or remains undecided for an extended period, the appropriate response depends on the reasons, procedural stage and available evidence. We review refusal decisions, requests for additional documents and delayed proceedings and advise on supplementary submissions, new applications, administrative remedies or court proceedings where appropriate.<\/p>\n\n            <p class=\"anwalt-hinweis\">Advice by <a href=\"\/en\/firm\/alexander-kagan\/\">Alexander Kagan, Attorney at Law<\/a>, admitted to the Hanseatic Bar Association Hamburg.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"page-disclaimer\">The contents of this page are for general information only and do not constitute legal advice. A mandate is established only upon express acceptance.<\/p>\n\n          <\/div><!-- \/.service-prose -->\n\n          <aside class=\"page-toc-sidebar\" aria-label=\"Page navigation\">\n            <div class=\"page-toc-box\">\n              <div class=\"page-toc-title\">Contents<\/div>\n              <nav aria-label=\"Sections\">\n                <ul class=\"page-toc-list\">\n                  <li><a href=\"#pc-residence\" class=\"page-toc-link\">Your residence situation<\/a><\/li>\n                  <li><a href=\"#pc-family\" class=\"page-toc-link\">Family reunification<\/a><\/li>\n                  <li><a href=\"#pc-settlement\" class=\"page-toc-link\">Settlement and long-term residence<\/a><\/li>\n                  <li><a href=\"#pc-citizenship\" class=\"page-toc-link\">German citizenship<\/a><\/li>\n                  <li><a href=\"#pc-refusal\" class=\"page-toc-link\">Refusals and delayed proceedings<\/a><\/li>\n                <\/ul>\n              <\/nav>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/aside>\n\n        <\/div><!-- \/.service-layout -->\n      <\/div><!-- \/.container -->\n    <\/section>\n    <!-- Related Services -->\n    <section class=\"section-related\" id=\"leistungen\" aria-labelledby=\"related-heading-pc\">\n      <div class=\"container\">\n        <h2 id=\"related-heading-pc\">Private Clients &mdash; Key Services<\/h2>\n        <div class=\"related-cards\">\n          <a href=\"\/en\/family-reunification-germany\/\" class=\"related-card\">\n            <span class=\"related-card-topic\">Residence<\/span>\n            <span class=\"related-card-title\">Family Reunification<\/span>\n            <span class=\"related-card-arrow\">&rarr;<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n          <a href=\"\/en\/settlement-permit-germany\/\" class=\"related-card\">\n            <span class=\"related-card-topic\">Residence<\/span>\n            <span class=\"related-card-title\">Settlement Permit Germany<\/span>\n            <span class=\"related-card-arrow\">&rarr;<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n          <a href=\"\/en\/german-citizenship-naturalisation\/\" class=\"related-card\">\n            <span class=\"related-card-topic\">Residence<\/span>\n            <span class=\"related-card-title\">German Citizenship<\/span>\n            <span class=\"related-card-arrow\">&rarr;<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n          <a href=\"\/en\/eu-blue-card-germany\/\" class=\"related-card\">\n            <span class=\"related-card-topic\">Services<\/span>\n            <span class=\"related-card-title\">EU Blue Card Germany<\/span>\n            <span class=\"related-card-arrow\">&rarr;<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n          <a href=\"\/en\/business-immigration-investors\/\" class=\"related-card\">\n            <span class=\"related-card-topic\">Services<\/span>\n            <span class=\"related-card-title\">Entrepreneur Visa &sect;&nbsp;21<\/span>\n            <span class=\"related-card-arrow\">&rarr;<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n          <a href=\"\/en\/skilled-immigration-germany\/\" class=\"related-card\">\n            <span class=\"related-card-topic\">Services<\/span>\n            <span class=\"related-card-title\">Skilled Worker Visa<\/span>\n            <span class=\"related-card-arrow\">&rarr;<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n          <a href=\"\/en\/for-executives-skilled-workers\/\" class=\"related-card\">\n            <span class=\"related-card-topic\">For Whom<\/span>\n            <span class=\"related-card-title\">Executives &amp; Skilled Workers<\/span>\n            <span class=\"related-card-arrow\">&rarr;<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n          <a href=\"\/en\/contact\/\" class=\"related-card\">\n            <span class=\"related-card-topic\">Contact<\/span>\n            <span class=\"related-card-title\">Request Advice<\/span>\n            <span class=\"related-card-arrow\">&rarr;<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n\n    <!-- FAQ -->\n    <section class=\"faq-section\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-heading-pc\">\n      <div class=\"container\">\n        <h2 id=\"faq-heading-pc\">FAQ &mdash; Legal Advisory for Private Clients<\/h2>\n        <ul class=\"faq-list\" role=\"list\">\n\n          <li class=\"faq-item\">\n            <button class=\"faq-question\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n              <span>I have been in Germany for several years &mdash; can I apply for a settlement permit?<\/span>\n              <span class=\"faq-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">+<\/span>\n            <\/button>\n            <div class=\"faq-answer\">\n              <p>It depends on your residence title, the required residence period for that title, and whether the other statutory conditions are met. We advise on the legally available and strategically appropriate pathway for your specific situation.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/li>\n\n          <li class=\"faq-item\">\n            <button class=\"faq-question\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n              <span>My spouse wants to join me in Germany &mdash; what is required?<\/span>\n              <span class=\"faq-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">+<\/span>\n            <\/button>\n            <div class=\"faq-answer\">\n              <p>The requirements depend on your residence title and your spouse&rsquo;s nationality. The sponsor&rsquo;s residence title determines which statutory facilitations &mdash; including language requirements and living-space exemptions &mdash; apply. We advise on the specific documents, requirements and timeline for your situation.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/li>\n\n          <li class=\"faq-item\">\n            <button class=\"faq-question\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n              <span>Can I hold dual citizenship after naturalisation?<\/span>\n              <span class=\"faq-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">+<\/span>\n            <\/button>\n            <div class=\"faq-answer\">\n              <p>German law generally permits multiple citizenship. Whether you may retain an existing nationality also depends on the law of your current nationality. We advise on the implications before the naturalisation application is filed.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/li>\n\n          <li class=\"faq-item\">\n            <button class=\"faq-question\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n              <span>Do you advise in English?<\/span>\n              <span class=\"faq-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">+<\/span>\n            <\/button>\n            <div class=\"faq-answer\">\n              <p>Yes. We provide German-law advice in English. By prior arrangement, advice may also be available in Russian.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/li>\n\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n\n    <!-- CTA -->\n    <section class=\"section-cta\">\n      <div class=\"container\">\n        <div class=\"cta-inner\">\n          <h2 class=\"cta-heading\">Private Clients &mdash; Request Advice<\/h2>\n          <p class=\"cta-body\">Residence, family and citizenship cases depend on the current title, personal history and procedural stage. An initial assessment should begin with the complete residence and application history.<\/p>\n          <div class=\"cta-actions\">\n            <a href=\"\/en\/contact\/\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg\">Request Advice<\/a>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n  \n<\/main>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n  {\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@graph\": [\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/kaganlegal-germany.com\/en\/for-private-clients\/\",\n        \"name\": \"Legal Advisory for Private Clients \u2014 Kagan Legal\",\n        \"audience\": { \"@type\": \"PeopleAudience\" }\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/kaganlegal-germany.com\/en\/for-private-clients\/#faq\",\n        \"mainEntity\": [\n          {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"I have been in Germany for several years \u2014 can I apply for a settlement permit?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n              \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n              \"text\": \"It depends on your residence title and the required residence period. 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We advise in German and English and, by prior arrangement, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-leistung","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-104","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kaganlegal-germany.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kaganlegal-germany.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kaganlegal-germany.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kaganlegal-germany.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kaganlegal-germany.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kaganlegal-germany.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/104\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kaganlegal-germany.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}