False reports on the internet: No, Germany has not introduced a new two-year rule for permanent residence permits.

Several international media outlets are currently reporting on an alleged new change to German immigration law . Germany has reportedly relaxed its rules for foreign graduates and now allows them to obtain a permanent residence permit after just two years.

This sounds like a significant reform of German immigration law. However, there's a problem: this regulation isn't new.

The current report describes a special regulation under Section 18c Paragraph 1 of the Residence Act that has existed for years for persons who have successfully completed a course of study or vocational training in Germany.

What does Section 18c of the Residence Act actually regulate?

Section 18c of the Residence Act (AufenthG) regulates the settlement permit for skilled workers. In addition to the general regulations, there is a special provision for persons who have completed their vocational training or university studies in Germany.

Anyone who has successfully completed vocational training or a degree in Germany can obtain a permanent residence permit after two years, provided the conditions of Section 18c Paragraph 1 Sentence 2 of the Residence Act are met.

In particular, two years of holding a residence permit as a skilled worker and at least 24 months of mandatory or voluntary contributions to the statutory pension insurance or corresponding expenses for a comparable pension institution are required.

This special regulation has existed for years. It was therefore by no means newly introduced in September 2026.

What changed in September 2026?

Regarding this alleged new two-year rule, the answer is simply: nothing.

International media have apparently picked up on information about the existing German regulations on residence permits and partly presented them as a recent relaxation of German immigration law.

However, the fact that an existing regulation is currently being communicated more extensively internationally does not mean that the German legislature has changed the Residence Act.

Furthermore, the two-year rule does not apply to every graduate.

Particularly misleading is the impression that every foreign university graduate can now obtain a permanent residence permit in Germany after two years.

That is not right.

The benefit under Section 18c Paragraph 1 Sentence 2 of the Residence Act requires that the person concerned has successfully completed vocational training or a course of study in Germany .

A foreign university degree is generally not sufficient for this purpose. Even the recognition or comparability of a foreign university degree does not make it a German degree within the meaning of this special regulation.

Furthermore, a two-year stay in Germany alone is not sufficient. Rather, the specific requirements of Section 18c of the Residence Act must be met.

Different rules apply to holders of an EU Blue Card.

In addition, there are other accelerated pathways to obtaining a residence permit.

Section 18c, paragraph 2 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) contains a specific regulation for holders of an EU Blue Card . If the legal requirements are met, a permanent residence permit can generally be granted after 27 months. This period can be reduced to 21 months if the applicant has sufficient German language skills.

These regulations should not be confused with the two-year rule for graduates of German universities and vocational training programs.

What is still interesting about the current news?

What is interesting is less a supposed change in the law than the enormous international attention given to German skilled worker immigration law.

Germany does indeed offer several relatively quick ways to transition from a residence permit for employment to a permanent residence permit. The two-year rule for graduates of German universities and vocational training programs is one of them.

However, it's not new.

VISAGUARD advises international professionals, students, and graduates on residence permits and settlement permits in Germany. Especially when international reports surface about supposedly new visa and immigration regulations, it's worth carefully examining whether the law has actually been changed – or whether an existing regulation is simply receiving renewed attention.