Resident Visa

Which reason do you want to base your visa application on?

The most usual ones are work, study or joining a close family member.

Contrary what some seem to assume, one does not come on a permanent resident visa. Not possible. One must first find a pathway to immigrate like being the spouse of a Schengen citizen moving to Germany, through work (job first then the visa) study or research. All options have their requirements. Then long term residency is usually possible only after 3 years of unrestricted residency, that one continues to have a job without needing public assistance, has not committed crimes and has filed and paid their taxes and social contributions. If one comes to study and stay on afterwards and gets a job it will take longer but the possible pathway is there.

Americans cans visit German for limited tourism without a visa but this does not mean they have any given right to immigrate. Another issue is that despite official use of the words “permanent residency”, such a thing doesn't actually exist. More correct is to label it unlimited. Once obtained one might stay forever BUT if one leaves for more than a year it is usually considered abandoned and invalidated. One can extend this period away for up to a couple of years if given prior permission to go work in other Schengen countries with the definite intention to return and having a secure job waiting for them. The only guarantee that one can stay off as long as they want and return is to naturalize. Fortunately this can now be done after just 5 years of residency, formerly 8 (but just 3 if married to a German) - and one does not have to renounce their former citizenship to do so - although the CDU, a main political party in Germany, is already calling for this new rule to be reversed.

Any consideration of immigrating to Germany will include learning the language. Without it one usually has very limited work opportunities and can find themselves socially isolated and unhappy.