Applying for an extension to a residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment following vocational training
Service description
If you have successfully completed a school-based or work-based apprenticeship in Germany, you may be granted a residence permit to look for work.
The residence permit will be granted to you on a temporary basis, immediately following the completion of your previous course of study. An extension is possible if the maximum period of 12 months was not fully utilised when the permit was first granted. However, if you do not find a job during this period, an extension will not be granted. 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.
- Once the eAT has been issued, it will be handed to you by the Foreigners’ Registration Office.
Who should I contact?
Please contact the responsible immigration office.
Prerequisites
You must already hold a residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment following the successful completion of school-based or in-company training in Germany, and the maximum period of 12 months must not yet have been exhausted.
You must also meet the general eligibility criteria for a residence permit. These 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?
Applications must be submitted before the 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 any extension.
Processing time
The processing time depends on the workload at the relevant local immigration office.
Legal basis
Section 20(3)(3) 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 (AufenthG)
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 proceedings.
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 school-based or in-company vocational training 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 school-based or in-company vocational training in Saxony-Anhalt