In order to stay in Germany, either on your own or with a family, you need to be granted a residence permit. It is also important to note that about 80% of the total foreigners’ population in Germany are staying on the basis of standard residence permits issued by the German government authorities. In the permit, these people are allowed to stay with up to a specified number of family members, given that they are working for a German government. Remember, you can also be issued with a standard foreigner resident permit if you are studying at a German school. Statistics show that these permits are first given priority to eligible European Citizens and the foreign spouses of German nationals. However, if you also want to come to Germany, and you aren’t from EU, you can consult your local embassy or consulate for further directives, which includes visa application.
The other 10% of the remaining German foreign population is constituted of groups of people that are issued residence permits under totally different circumstances. In other words, these groups may enjoy exemption benefits as negotiated by their home government to the German government. They are German citizens with special status. For instance, the special groups include the following:
- Status of Forces Agreements (SoFA)
As mentioned earlier, anyone living in Germany under the Status of Forces Agreements (SoFA) is a special German Citizen and may enjoy special status not limited to tax breaks especially when you are serving in Germany under ban order. Status of Forces Agreements (SoFA) entails any personnel who are in Germany on military orders regardless of whether you are a civilian or a service man. Remember, the personnel who fall in this group also get to enjoy special treatment not accorded to any other military post in other parts of Europe.
The special treatment may affect and influence a number of issues which include but not limited to military treatment within host nation territory, import and export laws, driving privileges, employment, law enforcement and much more.
However, you must also note that the special privileges do not bar the German Law from being applied on offenders who fall under this category. For instance, the US army base in Europe is tasked with recording Germany traffic violations by their staff and assign traffic points. When you have points accumulating to more than excess your licence may be suspended. Driving on suspended licence may also be meted by a five-year strip of driving privileges such as speeding ticket or any other traffic citation.
- Diplomats:
Well, it must be interesting to learn that diplomats in Germany enjoy special immunity, just like their presidents in home countries. In other words, they are cushioned against criminal jurisdiction within the borders of Germany. A diplomat doesn’t need to show his visa or passport anytime but instead they’ll provide a protocol card. The immunity further goes to protect this group of people from civil jurisdiction too, within the borders of Germany. Moreover, these privileges only apply to the receiving state because the diplomats don’t enjoy such treatment in their home countries.
- USA government employees:
The USA government employees are believed to be operating in Germany under military orders and thus they are granted special treatment just as the Status of Forces Agreements (SoFA). However, some special treatment such as speed ticket may be stripped off, unless necessary.
