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Residence permit; application for gainful employment in Germany

A residence permit is generally required to take up gainful employment in Germany. Such a permit can be applied for in various circumstances.

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Procedure details

The following residence permits, among others, can be applied for:

  • EU Blue Card
    The EU Blue Card is a special residence permit for foreign academics or persons with a comparable level of qualification who wish to take up qualified employment in Germany. Further information on this can be found in the separate service description under "Related topics".
  • Residence permit for skilled workers
    Foreigners who have completed qualified vocational training or studies (including outside Germany) and have a job offer can obtain a residence permit in accordance with Section 18a of the Act on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreigners in Germany (Residence Act - AufenthG) or Section 18b AufenthG in order to take up qualified employment in Germany as a skilled worker.
  • Residence permit for experienced professionals
    Experienced professionals with extensive professional experience have good career opportunities in Germany if they wish to work in non-regulated professions. They can then obtain a residence permit for qualified employment in Germany. Formal recognition of your qualification in Germany is not required for this. Special facilitations apply in particular to IT professions.
  • Opportunitycard for job search
    The opportunity card allows you to enter Germany to look for a job. It is issued if you either have a recognized professional qualification or if you have a recognized foreign qualification and have achieved a certain minimum number of points within the framework of a points system.
  • Residence permit for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications and recognition partnership
    If it is determined in a recognition procedure that the foreign qualification cannot be fully recognized, it is possible to attend qualification measures in Germany in order to acquire the missing theoretical and/or practical skills. These can be, for example, training courses in a company, specialist training courses, preparatory courses or job-related German courses. Under certain conditions, it is also possible to work alongside the qualification measure. Alternatively, under certain conditions, it is also possible to have a recognition procedure carried out after entering Germany and to work in the desired profession at the same time.
  • Residence permit for researchers
    You can also apply for a residence permit for the purpose of research.
  • Residencepermit for self-employed work
    A residence permit is required for self-employed commercial or freelance work.

There are also some special regulations. The most important are

  • Special regulation for nursing assistants
    The German labor market is also open to nursing assistants from third countries. This means that people who have completed nursing training that is not considered qualified vocational training or who have been recognized as such (nursing assistants) can work in nursing activities.
  • Study-related internship EU
    Students from foreign universities or foreign nationals who have obtained a university degree in the last two years can obtain a residence permit for a study-related internship under certain conditions.
  • Special regulation for professional drivers
    Drivers of trucks or buses who have the required driving license and the (accelerated) EU or EEA basic qualification can obtain a residence permit for their work.
  • Western Balkans regulation
    Nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia have the opportunity to work in Germany within the framework of a quota, regardless of qualifications. Further information on this can be found in the separate service description under "Related topics".
  • Au pair
    Au pair employment involves the temporary placement of foreign nationals between the ages of 18 and 27 in a German host family. For the foreign national, the focus is on acquiring cultural knowledge and improving their German language skills. In return for imparting this knowledge, the au pair supports the host parents in looking after the minor children.
  • Other specific nationals
    For nationals of Andorra, Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (as defined in Section 1(2)(6) of the Act on the General Freedom of Movement for Citizens of the European Union (Freizügigkeitsgesetz/EU - FreizügG/EU) and the United States of America, a residence permit may be issued for the purpose of exercising any employment irrespective of the employer's place of business.

The conditions for granting a residence permit depend largely on which specific residence permit is considered for the purpose of residence applied for. Further information on the residence permits described above can be found under "Further links". This also shows the main requirements for issuing a residence permit.

Certain requirements must be met for every residence permit to be issued.

In general, the granting of a residence permit usually requires that

  • livelihood is secured,
  • the identity and, if the foreigner is not entitled to return to another country, the nationality of the foreigner has been clarified,
  • there are no grounds for deportation,
  • if there is no entitlement to the issue of a residence title, the foreigner's stay does not impair or jeopardize the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany for any other reason and
  • the passport requirement according to § 3 AufenthG is fulfilled;

and that the foreigner

  • has entered the country with the required visa and
  • has already provided the relevant information for the issue of the visa in the visa application.


The same regulations apply to the extension of the residence permit as to its issue. Before the residence permit is extended, it must be determined whether the foreigner has fulfilled any obligation to properly attend an integration course.

It is also important that the foreigner enters the country with the visa previously applied for at the competent German diplomatic mission abroad. In certain cases and for certain nationals, simplifications apply. Further information can be found under "Further links".

  • The documents to be submitted may vary considerably.

    Please enquire at your local immigration office. As a rule, however, the following documents are required:

    • valid passport
    • current biometric photograph (frontal view)
    • Proof of secure means of subsistence
    • Proof of sufficient living space
    • Proof of health insurance cover
    • Proof of purpose of residence, e.g. employer's certificate or employment contract, marriage certificate
    • Further documents if necessary
  • The following documents may also be required:
    • German or foreign certificates including required translations
    • Documents relating to the intended employment relationship
    • Documents in connection with professional recognition or any compensation measures

Many foreigners authorities already offer an online application procedure. If an online procedure is available, it will be displayed in the BayernPortal under "Online procedure" if you have entered your place of residence under "Select location".

If your foreigners authority does not offer an online procedure, please contact the foreigners authority by e-mail or speak to them in person.

Issue: 100 EUR

Extension up to three months: 96 EUR

Extension for more than three months: 93 EUR

Foreign nationals who require a visa must apply for the residence permit required for further residence during the period of validity of the visa.

Foreign nationals who are exempt from the visa requirement for the specific purpose of their stay must apply for the residence permit required for a further stay immediately after entry or within 90 days at the latest.

The processing time may vary. If necessary, please enquire at the responsible foreigners authority.

Administrative court action

Status: 23.02.2025
Editorial responsibility Bayerisches Staatsministerium des Innern, für Sport und Integration
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