Nearly 40 percent of people in Germany's opportunity residence program stay permanently

The German government issued 91,116 residence permits under a special opportunity residence program for people who had lived in the country for at least five years.

This program, introduced in late 2022, targeted individuals who were permitted to stay in the country for specific reasons but were not yet granted permanent status. It provided a temporary 18 month permit to allow these people to meet specific requirements for a permanent stay.

The government reported that 32,233 adults and 4,135 young people successfully secured permanent residence under this rule by September 30, 2026. To qualify for the permanent status, participants had to prove they could support themselves, possessed sufficient German language skills, and had a clarified identity. People who committed crimes or intentionally provided false information to avoid deportation were excluded from the program.

Filiz Polat, a politician from the Green Party, criticized the decision by the CDU, CSU, and SPD to not extend the program. She argued that the statistics show people take advantage of opportunities when they are given the necessary legal security. Polat noted that without a stable residence permit, many people struggle to find jobs or attend language courses because employers fear workers might be suddenly deported.