Applying for an extension of a residence permit to seek employment following the recognition of foreign professional qualifications
Service description
If you have successfully had the equivalence of a foreign professional qualification recognised or have been granted authorisation to practise your profession, you may be granted a temporary residence permit to look for work.
Your residence permit will be issued immediately following the completion of your previous recognition procedure. An extension of the residence permit is only possible if the maximum period was not fully utilised when it was first granted. If you do not find a job during this period, an extension of the residence permit will not be possible. You will then be obliged to leave the country.
This residence permit grants unrestricted permission to work.
Procedure
You can only apply for a residence permit in person at the Foreigners’ Registration Office responsible for your place of residence.
- You must submit the original copies of the required documents and pay the application fee.
- The Immigration Authority checks whether the conditions for granting the permit have been met.
- Once all the requirements have been met, the Foreigners’ Registration Office will record your biometric data (photograph, fingerprints) and order the electronic residence permit (eAT) from Bundesdruckerei GmbH.
- As soon as the eAT is ready, it will be issued to you by the Foreigners’ Registration Office
Who should I contact?
Please contact the relevant immigration authority.
Prerequisites
You already hold a residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment following a successful recognition procedure for your foreign professional qualification in Germany, and the maximum period of 12 months has not yet expired.
Further general conditions for the granting of a residence permit include, in particular:
- a secure livelihood,
- a clear sense of identity,
- Possession of a valid national passport.
Which documents are required?
- Valid national passport
- Evidence of a secure means of support (for example, an employment contract and payslips, bank statements, or a declaration of commitment from a third party)
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of qualification (qualification certificate, school report or certificate from your training organisation or educational institution confirming the successful completion of a vocational training programme)
- 1 recent biometric photograph
- Please check with your local immigration office to see whether you need to submit any further documents.
What deadlines do I have to observe?
Submit your application before your current residence permit expires. It is recommended that you attend an appointment 4 to 6 weeks before your current residence permit expires.
The residence permit is valid for a maximum of 12 months, including the extension period.
Processing time
The processing time depends on the workload at the relevant local immigration office.
Legal basis
Section 20(3)(4) and (4), second sentence, of the Act on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreign Nationals in the Federal Territory (Residence Act – AufenthG).
Section 8(1) of the Residence Act.
Legal remedy
- Contradiction
You can find detailed information on how to lodge an appeal in the notice informing you that your application has been rejected.
- Administrative court action
Applications / Forms
- Personal appearance required: yes
Author
Forwarding service: Deep link to the original portal- Residence permit for the purpose of gainful employment: extension to allow for job-seeking following the recognition of foreign professional qualifications in Saxony-Anhalt
Display of performance in the source portal
- Residence permit for the purpose of gainful employment: extension to allow for job-seeking following the recognition of foreign professional qualifications in Saxony-Anhalt