You can obtain a residence permit to look for a job for skilled workers if you have a university degree. If you do not have a German university degree, your degree must either be recognized or be comparable to a German university degree. You can apply for recognition or assessment of comparability 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 previously in possession of a residence permit for gainful employment or a residence permit for the purpose of an EU study-related internship.

If you wish to work in a regulated profession, the required professional license must already have been granted or approved when the residence permit for job-seeking purposes is issued.

Regulated professions are professional activities that are subject to the possession of certain professional qualifications by law or administrative regulations. Regulated professions in Germany are, for example, doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, educators or engineers.

With a residence permit to look for a job, you can carry out a trial employment for up to ten hours per week if you have the qualification to do so.

The residence permit is issued for up to six months.