Service Finder
Apply for residence permit for job search for professionals with academic education
Service Description
You can obtain a residence permit to search for a job for skilled workers if you have a completed university degree. If you do not have a German university degree, your degree must either be recognized or comparable to a German university degree. You can have your degree recognized or determined to be comparable before you enter Germany (see further information).
If you are already in Germany, you can obtain a residence permit to look for a job if you were in possession of a residence title for gainful employment or a residence title for the purpose of a study-related internship EU immediately before.
If you want to pursue employment in a regulated profession, the required occupational permit must already have been issued or promised at the time the residence title for the purpose of seeking employment is issued.
Regulated professions are professional activities whose admission or exercise is tied by legal or administrative regulations to the possession of certain professional qualifications. In Germany regulated professions are e.g. doctor, nurse, lawyer, teacher, educator or engineer.
With the residence permit for job search, you can have a trial job, which the qualification qualifies you to do, for up to ten hours per week.
The residence permit is issued for up to six months.
Process flow
The procedure is as follows:
- Depending on the foreigners authority and your request, it may be possible to apply via the Internet. Find out whether your foreigners authority offers electronic application for the residence permit.
- If the application is only possible in person, make an appointment with the Aliens' Registration Office. During the appointment, your application will be received and your supporting documents will be checked (bring them with you to the appointment). For the production of an electronic residence permit (eATKarte) your fingerprints will be taken.
- In the case of an electronic application, the Aliens' Registration Office will contact you after receiving your online application to arrange an appointment at the Aliens' Registration Office if necessary. During the appointment, your documents will be checked (bring them 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 granted, the Aliens' Registration Office will arrange for the eAT card to be produced.
- After about six to eight weeks, you can collect the eAT card from the Aliens' Registration Office.
- The eAT card must always be collected in person.
Who should I contact?
You can also obtain free advice on the topics of entry, residence and career from the "Working and Living in Germany Hotline" from the Federal Government's portal for skilled workers from abroad.
Phone: 030 1815-1111
Service hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Competent authority
The immigration authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence.
Requirements
- You are in possession of a recognized and valid passport or passport replacement and - if this was required for entry into Germany - an appropriate visa.
- There is no interest in deportation against you.
- Your stay does not endanger or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.
- You possess
- a German,
- a recognized foreign university degree or
- a foreign university degree comparable to a German university degree - The object of your job search is employment as a specialist.
- If required, you have a license to practice your profession or a promise that you will be granted one.
- You are able to secure your livelihood and health insurance cover from your own resources without claiming public benefits.
Which documents are required?
- Valid passport or passport replacement
- Visa, if this was required for entry into Germany
- Current biometric photo
- Original certificate of successfully completed university education
- In case of foreign university degrees: Notification of recognition or comparability of the university degree, certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) if available.
- For regulated professions: Permission to practice the profession or promise of issuance
- Evidence of livelihood security (e.g. equity capital, blocked account, declaration of commitment)
- Proof of health insurance
- Current certificate of registration
- Rental contract
In individual cases, the Foreigners Authority may request further documents
What are the fees?
Issuance of residence permit: EUR 100.00
Under certain conditions, a fee reduction or fee exemption may be considered.
Notes:
- For the issuance of the residence permit in the form of the electronic residence title, which can also be used as an electronic proof of identity, additional fees may be charged.
- The time and the form of the fee collection as well as the payment vary depending on the authority.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
- The residence permit should be applied for at least eight weeks before your visa or current residence permit expires.
- The residence permit is issued for a maximum of six months.
- Objection period: one month
Processing duration
about six to eight weeks
Legal basis
Applications / forms
An appeal against a decision of the Aliens Department may be lodged with the authority named in the decision within one month of notification of the decision. The objection can be filed in writing, in electronic form and in writing.
If the objection is not granted by the immigration authority, an action may be brought before the court named in the notice of objection.
Appeal
- Online procedure possible in isolated cases
- Written form required
- Personal appearance required
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
Technically approved by
Ministry of the Interior and for Municipal Affairs of the State of Brandenburg
Professionally released on
Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6PLus)
