Once we get PR in Germany with in 2 to 3 years — In how many EU countries can we work? 27 EU countries Is it better to Switch from USA ?

 Once we get PR in Germany — In how many EU countries can we work? How many years will it take?

If you’re an Indian professional eyeing the move to Germany, you may have heard that “once we get PR in Germany, we can work across many EU countries and it takes just a few years”. While there’s a kernel of truth to it, much of this claim needs a full, clear explanation. Let’s dive in, in plain English, and figure out how many EU countries you can work in, what “PR in Germany” really means, and how many years it could actually take for someone coming from India.

1. What does “PR in Germany” really mean?

When people say “PR” in Germany, what they often mean is a permanent residence permit (in German, Niederlassungserlaubnis) or the EU Long-Term Residence Permit (in German, Daueraufenthalt-EU).

1. The standard settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) lets you live and work in Germany without restrictions.  
2. The EU long-term residence permit (issued under Section 9a of the Residence Act) offers additional mobility advantages within the EU.  

So, when someone asks “If I get PR in Germany, how many EU countries can I work in?”, the correct answer depends on which permit they have—just the German settlement permit, or the EU long-term residence permit.

2. Key routes for skilled Indians to Germany

For many Indian tech/engineering professionals the common routes include:

1. The EU Blue Card (for highly-qualified non-EU nationals).  
2. Skilled worker visa under the German Skilled Immigration Act. 

Once you join Germany via these routes, you work, pay taxes, live there — and after satisfying conditions you can apply for permanent residence.

3. Pathways to permanent residence (PR) in Germany

Here are simplified steps:

1. Live legally in Germany with a valid residence permit.
2. Ensure your livelihood is secured (job, salary), you pay into pension (social insurance), you have sufficient accommodation.  
3. Meet language/integration requirements: for many, German level A1 or B1, plus a basic integration test.  
4. Then apply for either:
5. Settlement permit (Germany only) or
6. EU long-term residence permit (Germany & EU flexibility).

4. How many years till you get PR in Germany?

It depends strongly on your route. Here are realistic numbers:

1. For a skilled worker under general rules: 5 years legal residence is standard.  
2. For someone holding an EU Blue Card: you can apply for a settlement permit (German “PR”) after 27 months if you can show basic German (A1). Or 21 months if you have German at B1. 
3. So yes — in some “fast-track” cases you can get German permanent residence in ~2 years (21-27 months). But that’s only if you hold the Blue Card, are in qualified employment, pay pension contributions, meet other conditions. Not everyone qualifies.

5. Once you have German PR – what about working in other EU countries?

Here’s the big part people get wrong: having German permanent residence does not automatically let you live and work in all EU countries on the same terms as an EU citizen. You’ll still be a third-country national. For example:

1. If you get the EU Long-Term Residence Permit in Germany, you have extended mobility rights to other EU Member States (except Ireland & Denmark) under certain conditions.  
2. But if you just have the German settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) without the “EU” variant, your mobility is much more restricted — you may still require a residence/work permit if you move to another EU state.

6. How many EU countries matter — and what are the caveats?

If you hold the EU-Long Term Residence Permit (Germany issued), you may move to all other EU Member States(except Ireland & Denmark) under simplified conditions.  
So roughly, out of 27 EU countries you might have easier access to ~25 (since Denmark & Ireland often have special rules). So in effect: up to about 25 EU countries but under conditions.

But here are caveats:

1. You still need to apply for a residence/work permit in the target country; it's just simpler. 
2. Your residence in Germany must be “uninterrupted” for the required years. 
3. The target country may impose a labour-market check or additional requirements.  
4. Your permit could lose validity if you leave Germany for too long, etc.  

So while many claims state “work in 26 European countries” (since some count non-EU Schengen states) — technically it’s not automatic, it requires steps.

7. Mobility vs full freedom — what the rules say

Let’s contrast what you actually get:

With German settlement permit only:

1. You can stay and work in Germany permanently.
2. If you move to another EU country and want to work there, you will need that country’s permit/visa. Germany’s permit doesn’t automatically convert you into an EU citizen or give full EU free movement rights.

Read more:-  Read here all the visa help posts in this blog

With German EU-Long Term Residence (Daueraufenthalt-EU):

1. You have more mobility: you can move to another EU Member State (except Ireland & Denmark) under easier conditions.  
2. But still you must apply in the other Member State, abide by their rules.
3. Your absence from Germany may matter: if you live outside Germany for too long, your permit may expire.  

This is why claims like “move and work across 26 countries” need the caveats — it's not like you become an EU citizen.

8. Practical example: Indian tech professional scenario

Let’s say you are an Indian software engineer, 30 years old, with 5 years–experience, job offer in Germany.

1. You apply, get an EU Blue Card.
2. After 21-27 months of working in Germany, paying pension contributions, and showing German level A1/B1, you apply for the settlement permit (German “PR”).
3. Once issued, you live in Germany, work there.
4. After a further period (or via the EU long-term permit pathway), you decide you want to work in, say, France. As holder of German EU long-term residence, you apply in France under simplified conditions — but still go through French immigration.
5. So in effect: you can work in Germany, and potentially move to many EU countries — but you can’t just pick any EU country and start working next week without follow-up.

9. Factors that speed up or slow down your PR & mobility

Here are the major variables:

1. Holding an EU Blue Card: speeds up PR (21-27 months) vs general 5 years.
2. German language proficiency: If you speak B1 German you shorten time; if only A1, you wait longer.  
3. Qualified employment & pension contributions: you’ll need to be in qualified employment and pay into pension scheme.  
4. Stability of residence & not being out of Germany too long: Absences count. If you leave Germany for long periods, you risk invalidating your title.  
5. Which permit you apply for: Settlement vs EU long-term permit.
6. Your ambition for mobility: If you want to stay in Germany only — fine. If you want moving across EU, you’ll pick the EU-long term route (which also requires 5 years or equivalent).
7. Recognition of education: Your degree/qualification needs recognition.
8. Company/industry and salary: In shortage occupations (IT/engineering) rules are more favourable.  

10. Summary: A realistic view for Indian skilled workers

Putting it all together in plain language:

1. Yes: Germany is a solid option for Indian skilled workers wanting a stable life in Europe.
2. Yes: If you qualify for the EU Blue Card and meet conditions you can get German “PR” (settlement permit) in as short as 21-27 months.
3. No: It’s not trivial — you must have job, salary, meet language/integration, pay pensions, live legally in Germany.
4. Yes: Once you have a German EU Long-Term Residence Permit, you can have mobility to many other EU countries.
5. But: You cannot automatically pack your bags and work in all EU countries without any formalities. Some steps remain.
6. And: If your temporary permit is just the German settlement permit (without “EU” mobility component), your Europe-wide mobility will be much more limited.
7. So if you’re an Indian professional thinking “Germany → Europe wide”, the realistic roadmap is: Secure job, get Blue Card, work ~2-3 years, apply for settlement or EU long-term, then explore EU mobility.

11. Conclusion & next steps

In short: if you’re shifting focus from the U.S. to Germany, yes — it can make a lot of sense. But to be clear: getting “PR in Germany” does not instantly open 25 EU countries in the sense of full free movement like EU citizens. It does open European-wide potential, but with conditions.

If I were in your shoes, I’d suggest you:

1. Choose Germany, secure job in shortage field (IT/engineering).
2. Pursue EU Blue Card route — it gives fastest path to “PR”.
3. Within Germany, after ~2-3 years (if you meet language, pension, employment conditions) apply for settlement permit.
4. Consider applying for the EU Long-Term Residence Permit if you want mobility beyond Germany.
5. And, when you later look to move to another EU country — check the host country’s rules for third-country nationals with EU long-term residence.

If you like, I can pull up a detailed table showing each EU country’s treatment of “EU long-term residence permit issued by Germany” — i.e., how easy/hard it is to move there, specific conditions, and what real mobility you’d get as an Indian national. Would you like that?

FAQs

1. Can I work in France, Italy or Spain immediately after getting German PR?
Not immediately without any formalities. If you hold the German EU Long-Term Residence Permit, you can move under simplified conditions to most EU countries (except Ireland & Denmark). But you still need to apply for a residence/work permit in the destination country.  

2. If I have a German settlement permit after 27 months, can I change to EU long-term residence later?
Yes. If you meet the longer residence/pension/language requirements, you can switch to the EU long-term residence permit (Daueraufenthalt-EU) later.  

3. Does leaving Germany for several months break my eligibility for PR or EU mobility?
Yes, potentially. Some permits expire if you live outside Germany for a certain length of time. For example, a settlement permit may become invalid if you stay outside for 6 months (or up to 12 depending on conditions).  

4. What language level do I need to qualify for PR in Germany?
If you hold a Blue Card: For settlement permit you need German at least A1 (basic) for 27 months route; or B1 (good) for faster 21 months route.   For full 5-year route the usual language level is B1. 

5. If I move to Germany with family, does the PR path change?
The core timeframe doesn’t change much but you’ll need to show accommodation, livelihood including family, and sometimes language/integration for spouse/children may matter. The earlier routes for Blue Card or skilled worker visas do allow family reunification under favourable rules.

Post no: 568

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