As a graduate of a German university, you are legally entitled to a residence permit to look for a job.
The residence permit will be issued to you for a maximum of 18 months directly following your studies. If this maximum period was not used up when the permit was first issued, the residence permit can be extended accordingly. However, if you do not find a job during these 18 months, an extension is excluded and you are obliged to leave the federal territory.
This residence permit allows you to work without restriction.
Who should I contact?
The local foreigners authority (districts and larger cities) is responsible.
The local foreigners authority can be found online here:
Prerequisites
You are in possession of a residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment after successfully completing your studies in Germany. The maximum period of 18 months has not yet been exhausted.
You also meet the general requirements for obtaining a residence permit.
These are in particular
- a secure livelihood
- a clarified identity
- possession of a valid national passport.
Print forms / leaflets
- Forms: Application for a residence permit
- Online procedure possible: no
- Written form required: no
- Personal appearance required: yes
What documents are required?
- Valid national passport,
- Proof of secure means of subsistence (e.g. employment contract and payslips, bank statements, declaration of commitment by a third party),
- Proof of health insurance,
- Degree certificate, transcript or certificate from your university confirming successful completion of your studies,
- 1 current biometric photo,
- Please ask your local immigration office whether you need to submit any further documents.
Procedure
- You can only apply for an extension of a residence permit in person at the foreigners authority responsible for your place of residence.
- You must submit the required documents in the original and pay the application fee.
- The foreigners authority will check whether the conditions for issuing the permit are met.
What deadlines do I have to observe?
The application should be submitted before the current residence permit expires.
An appointment 4 to 6 weeks before the previous residence permit expires is recommended.
What else should I know?
You can find further information on the Internet at the Federal Government's portal for skilled workers from abroad:
Legal basis
§ Section 20 (3) no. 1 and (4) sentence 2 in conjunction with Section 8 of the Act on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Territory (Residence Act - AufenthG)
You can find the legal basis on the Internet under Laws on the Internet
Legal remedy
- Action before the locally competent administrative court