port ▁from ▁their ▁country ▁of ▁citizens hip , ▁their ▁residence ▁permit , ▁and ▁the ▁supp lement ary ▁sheet ▁( if ▁applicable ). ▁Car ry ing ▁pass ports ▁and ▁residence ▁cards ▁is ▁only ▁comp uls ory ▁when ▁crossing ▁borders . ▁Within ▁Germany , ▁it ▁is ▁sufficient ▁to ▁know ▁where ▁they ▁are ▁and ▁to ▁show ▁them ▁to ▁the ▁police ▁within ▁a ▁reasonable ▁amount ▁of ▁time , ▁when ▁requested . ▁ ▁Leg al ▁aspects ▁ ▁Types ▁of ▁residence ▁perm its ▁ ▁Limited ▁residence ▁permit ▁A ▁limited ▁residence ▁permit ▁( a ▁so - called ▁Auf enth alt ser la ub nis , ▁literally ▁residence ▁permit ) ▁is ▁valid ▁for ▁a ▁certain ▁period ▁of ▁time ▁and ▁is ▁issued ▁for ▁a ▁certain ▁purpose : ▁residence ▁for ▁educational ▁purposes ▁residence ▁for ▁the ▁purpose ▁of ▁economic ▁activity ▁residence ▁under ▁international ▁law ▁or ▁on ▁human itar ian ▁or ▁political ▁grounds ▁residence ▁for ▁family ▁reasons ▁The ▁Auf enth alt ser la ub nis ▁does ▁not ▁automatically ▁grant ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁work ; ▁instead ▁the ▁permission ▁to ▁work ▁must ▁be ▁explicitly ▁mentioned ▁in ▁the ▁document . ▁ ▁Un limited ▁residence ▁permit ▁An ▁un limited ▁residence ▁permit ▁( a ▁so - called ▁Nieder lass ung ser la ub nis , ▁literally ▁settlement ▁permit ) ▁is ▁a ▁permanent ▁residence ▁permit . ▁It ▁gr ants ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁live ▁and ▁work ▁in ▁Germany ▁under ▁EU ▁law . ▁A ▁foreign er ▁receives ▁a ▁settlement ▁permit ▁if : ▁he ▁or ▁she ▁has ▁held ▁a ▁residence ▁permit ▁for ▁five ▁years ▁his ▁or ▁her ▁liv elihood ▁is ▁secure ▁he ▁or ▁she