You can obtain a residence permit to seek employment as a skilled worker if you have a college degree. If you do not have a German college degree, your degree must either be recognized or comparable to a German college degree. You can have your degree recognized or its equivalence determined even before you enter Germany (see further information).
If you are already in Germany, you can obtain a residence permit for job seeking if you previously held a residence permit for employment or a residence permit for the purpose of an EU study-related internship.
If you wish to work in a regulated profession, the required license to practice must already have been granted or promised at the time the residence permit for job seeking is issued.
Regulated professions are professional activities for which legal or administrative regulations require the holder to possess specific professional qualifications in order to take up or practice the profession. Professions regulated in Germany include, for example, physician, nurse, attorney, teacher, early childhood educator, or engineer.
With a residence permit for job seeking, you may engage in trial employment—for which your qualifications qualify you—for up to ten hours per week.
The residence permit is issued for up to six months.
The process is as follows:
- Depending on the immigration office and the nature of your request, it may be possible to apply online. Check whether your immigration office offers the option to apply for a residence permit electronically.
- If applications can only be submitted in person, schedule an appointment with the immigration office. During the appointment, your application will be accepted and your supporting documents will be reviewed (be sure to bring them with you to the appointment). Your fingerprints will be taken to issue an electronic residence permit (eAT card).
- If you submit your application online, the Foreigners’ Registration Office will contact you after receiving your online application to schedule an in-person appointment at the office, if necessary. During the appointment, your supporting documents will be reviewed (please bring them with you to the appointment) and your fingerprints will be taken to issue the electronic residence permit (eAT card).
- If your application is approved, the Foreigners’ Registration Office will arrange for the eAT card to be issued.
- After about six to eight weeks, you can pick up the eAT card at the Foreigners’ Registration Office.
- As a general rule, you must pick up the eAT card in person.
An appeal against a decision by the immigration authorities may be lodged with the authority named in the decision within one month of notification of the decision. The appeal may be lodged in writing, in electronic form, or for recording.
If the Foreigners' Registration Office does not grant the appeal, legal action may be taken before the court specified in the appeal decision.
The immigration office responsible for the applicant's place of residence.
