Free tool

Not 'five years'. A date.

Years are abstract; a date is a decision. Enter when your first permit starts and see the months you actually reach permanent residence and citizenship — including the years that quietly don't count, and the rules that are still only proposals.

The day your first lawful residence begins.

Permanent residence from

September 2031

Citizenship clock met on

September 2031

Your rungs, dated

  1. Student permit

    ✓ counts toward citizenship

    September 2026 → September 2029

  2. Post-study job search

    ✓ counts toward citizenship

    September 2029 → March 2031
Sources for every rule above
  • · German Citizenship Act as amended; lawful residence as a student counts toward naturalisation (2026)
  • · 18-month post-study job-seeker residence for graduates of German universities (2026)
  • · Niederlassungserlaubnis after 5 years; graduates and Blue Card holders with German can qualify sooner (2026)
  • · 5 years lawful residence; the 3-year fast track was abolished with effect from 30 Oct 2025

Not immigration advice. Orientation only. Immigration rules change often and decisions are discretionary — nothing here is a promise of residence or citizenship. Check your case with a licensed immigration adviser. Rules reviewed 2026-07.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

When will I actually get permanent residence?

Permanent residence is commonly 5 years of legal residence in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the UK, and 8 years in Türkiye — counted from the day your first lawful permit begins. The tool turns that into a calendar month so you can plan around it. Rules reviewed 2026-07 and change often — confirm with a qualified, regulated immigration adviser before making plans.

Why is my citizenship date later than the number of years in the rule?

Because some years do not count. France generally does not count time on a student permit toward the naturalisation residence period, so three years of study push the citizenship date three years further out than the headline 5-year rule suggests. Germany counts student time in full and has no such push-out. The tool shows the gap as a date, not a footnote. Rules reviewed 2026-07 and change often — confirm with a qualified, regulated immigration adviser before making plans.

Can the citizenship date come before the permanent-residence date?

In Türkiye, yes. Naturalisation is generally available after 5 years of legal residence (with total interruptions under six months), while the long-term residence permit under Law 6458 requires 8 years uninterrupted. The tool flags this rather than assuming residence always comes first.

Does a degree or my nationality change the date?

Both can. France reduces the residence requirement from five years to two for holders of a French higher-education diploma at Master's level. Spain requires 10 years as standard but 2 for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal; Portugal applies 7 years rather than 10 to EU and CPLP nationals. Set your profile and the dates move accordingly. Rules reviewed 2026-07 and change often — confirm with a qualified, regulated immigration adviser before making plans.

Is a date from this tool a guarantee?

No. It is arithmetic on published rules as at the review date, not a decision. It does not account for absences, a change of permit type, refusals, criminal record, language or integration requirements, or your family situation — and applications are decided by the relevant authority. Rules also change: the UK's 10-year settlement baseline is currently a proposal, and the tool labels it as one. For your own case, speak to a qualified, regulated immigration adviser.