Applying for a residence permit to seek employment for qualified professionals with a university degree
Service description
You can obtain a residence permit to seek employment for skilled workers if you hold a university degree. If you do not have a German university degree, your qualification must either be recognised or comparable to a German university degree. You can arrange for your qualification to be recognised or its equivalence assessed before you enter Germany (see further information).
If you are already in Germany, you may be granted a residence permit to seek employment if, immediately prior to this, you held a residence permit for the purpose of employment or a residence permit for the purpose of an EU study-related work placement.
If you wish to work in a regulated profession, the necessary licence to practise must already have been granted or promised at the time your residence permit for job-seeking purposes is issued.
Regulated professions are occupational activities where, under statutory or administrative provisions, entry into or the practice of the profession is subject to the possession of specific professional qualifications. In Germany, regulated professions include, for example, doctors, nurses, solicitors, teachers, nursery teachers and engineers.
With a residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment, you may undertake trial work for which you are qualified for up to ten hours per week.
The residence permit is granted for up to six months.
Procedure
The procedure is as follows:
- Depending on the foreigners authority and your request, it may be possible to apply online. Find out whether your foreigners authority offers electronic applications for residence permits.
- If you can only submit your application in person, please arrange an appointment with the Foreigners’ Registration Office. During the appointment, your application will be accepted and your supporting documents will be checked (please bring these with you to the appointment). Your fingerprints will be taken to issue an electronic residence permit (eAT card).
- If you submit your application electronically, the Foreigners’ Registration Office will contact you once your online application has been received to arrange an appointment at the office, if necessary. During the appointment, your supporting documents will be checked (please bring these with you to the appointment) and your fingerprints will be taken for the production of 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 collect your eAT card from the Foreigners’ Registration Office.
- As a general rule, the eAT card must be collected in person.
Who should I contact?
Contact the foreigners authority.
Prerequisites
- You hold a recognised and valid passport or passport substitute and, where this was required for entry into Germany, a suitable visa.
- There is no interest in deporting you.
- Their stay does not jeopardise or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.
- You hold
- a German,
- a recognised foreign, or
- a foreign higher education qualification comparable to a German higher education qualification - You are looking for a job as a skilled worker.
- Where necessary, you hold a licence to practise or have been granted approval for its issue.
- You are able to support yourself and maintain your health insurance cover from your own resources without having to rely on state benefits.
Which documents are required?
- Valid passport or passport substitute
- A visa, if required for entry into Germany
- Current biometric photo
- Original certificate confirming the successful completion of a higher education programme
- For foreign higher education qualifications: a decision on the recognition or comparability of the qualification, and a certificate assessment from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB), where available
- For regulated professions: licence to practise or notification that a licence will be granted
- Evidence of sufficient means of support (e.g. personal funds, blocked account, declaration of financial commitment)
- Proof of your health insurance
- Current registration certificate
- Rental agreement
In individual cases, the Immigration Authority may request further documents
What fees are incurred?
Issue of residence permit: EUR 100.00
Under certain conditions, a fee reduction or fee exemption may be possible.
Notes:
- Additional fees may apply for the issue of a residence permit in the form of an electronic residence permit, which can also be used as an electronic identity document.
- The time and form in which fees are charged and paid vary depending on the authority.
What deadlines do I have to observe?
- You should apply for a residence permit no later than eight weeks before your visa or current residence permit expires.
- The residence permit is issued for a maximum of six months.
- Time limit for lodging an objection: one month
Processing time
about six to eight weeks
Legal basis
Legal remedy
An appeal against a decision by the immigration authority can 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 the record.
If the foreigners authority does not grant the objection, an action can be brought before the court named in the objection notice.
Applications / Forms
- Online procedure occasionally possible
- Written form required
- Personal appearance required
Author
Forwarding service: Deep link to the original portal- Residence permit for the purpose of gainful employment: issued to enable qualified professionals with an academic qualification to seek employment in Saxony-Anhalt
Display of performance in the source portal
- Residence permit for the purpose of gainful employment: issued to enable qualified professionals with an academic qualification to seek employment in Saxony-Anhalt