Aufenthaltserlaubnis zur Beschäftigung als Fachkraft mit akademischer Ausbildung beantragen

If you have a university degree and would like to work in Germany in an occupation for which your degree qualifies you, you can obtain a corresponding residence permit under certain conditions.

A residence permit for employment as a specialist with academic training gives you access to the labor market in Germany. It can only be applied for in person at your local Foreigners' Registration Office. Spouses of holders of the residence permit for qualified employment are also entitled to a residence permit.
You can apply for the residence permit 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. The recognition or determination of comparability can be made before you enter Germany.
You must also present an employment contract or a binding job offer. From the age of 45, you must provide evidence of a certain minimum salary. The minimum gross salary is set annually and amounts to EUR 46,530 in 2022 . Even if you do not reach this minimum salary, you can obtain a residence permit for qualified employment if you present proof of adequate retirement benefits or in special cases. A special case may be that there is a public interest in the employment.
The Federal Employment Agency checks whether the working conditions correspond to those of comparable German employees and whether a domestic employment relationship exists.
The residence permit is a temporary residence title. It is issued for 4 years in the case of unlimited employment relationships and can be extended. If the duration of your employment relationship is less than 4 years, the residence permit is issued for the duration of your employment contract.
As the holder of a residence permit for qualified employment for skilled workers with a university degree, you can also obtain a settlement permit under certain conditions. This entitles you to permanent residence.
Exception: As a citizen of an EU country, you have access to the labor market due to your right of free movement and do not need a residence permit. You can pursue self-employment or employment in Germany within the framework of the right of settlement or the freedom of movement of employees. This also applies to nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
Note: If you are highly qualified, you may also be eligible for the "EU Blue Card" as a residence permit. In this case, other requirements apply, including a minimum salary regardless of age.

• If you are entering Germany with an appropriate visa:
  • valid passport/passport replacement with visa
• As far as there is a previous stay with a residence title for another purpose:
  • valid passport or passport replacement
  • Residence permit

Additionally:

• current biometric photo
• original of employment contract or binding offer of employment
• Original of the certificate of successfully completed university education
• if available:
  • Certificate of recognition or comparability of the university degree
  • Certificate evaluation of the Central Office for Foreign Education
• for regulated professions: Your professional license (for example, approbation or professional permit)
• Current certificate of registration
• if required: professional practice permit
• Proof of your health insurance
• Rental contract

• You have
  • a German university degree, or
  • a recognized foreign university degree, or
  • a foreign university degree that is comparable to a German university degree.
• You have
  • a job or
  • a job offer.
• You possess a qualification that qualifies you to perform the job.
• If required, you have a professional license, e.g. license to practice as a pharmacist.
• Working conditions and in particular salary must be comparable to those of a German employee, the approval of the Federal Employment Agency is required.
• You can secure your livelihood and health insurance coverage from your income without claiming public benefits.
• There is no interest in deportation against you.
• Your stay does not endanger or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.

You must apply for your residence permit in person:

- Arrange an appointment with the immigration office responsible for your place of residence.
- During the appointment, your documents will be checked and your fingerprints will be taken for the electronic residence permit (eAT card). The authority will send your application to the Federal Employment Agency.
- The Federal Employment Agency gives feedback to the immigration authority.
- If your application is approved, the Aliens' Registration Office commissions the Federal Printing Office to produce the eAT card.
- You will receive a message by mail that your application has been approved and the eAT card will be produced, or that your application has been rejected.
- Since the eAT card is associated with an online ID function, you must pick it up in person.
- You will receive information by mail that you can pick up the eAT card at the Aliens' Registration Office.

Application for residence permit: at least 8 weeks before your visa or residence permit expires.
Validity of your residence permit:

- As long as your employment contract, if your employment contract is valid for less than 4 years,
- 4 years if your employment contract is valid for at least 4 years or indefinitely.
- Time limit for action: 4 weeks

The decision of the Foreigners' Registration Office may be appealed to the court specified in the decision.

• Residence permit for the purpose of gainful employment, issued for the purpose of employment in the case of qualified employment as a specialist with academic training
• Residence permit for non-EU foreigners with a university degree and a job (offer)
• includes the "work permit
• Spouses of holders of this residence permit are also entitled to a residence permit.
• Prerequisites include:
  • German or recognized/comparable foreign university degree
  • employment contract or written promise of employment
  • fulfillment of passport and visa requirements
  • secure livelihood
  • there is no interest in deportation against you
  • your stay does not endanger or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany
• The residence permit is only issued for a limited period of time:
  • in case of unlimited employment contracts: 4 years validity, it can be extended
  • in the case of shorter-term employment contracts: valid for the duration of the employment contract
• Skilled workers with a university degree can obtain a settlement permit after fulfilling certain requirements, which enables unlimited residence.
• Spouse entitled to apply for residence permit for family reunification
• Application only possible in person
• Responsible: the foreigners authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence.

The foreigners authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence.

The immigration authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence.

• Forms: yes
• Online procedure possible: no
• Written form required: yes
• Personal appearance required: yes

You can obtain the forms from your responsible foreigners authority or on their website.