Residence permit - skilled workers with academic training
If you have completed your studies outside Germany, you can apply for a residence permit for qualified employment.
Course description
Visa procedure If you belong to a third country (not the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland), you generally need a visa to enter the country for the purpose of employment, which must be applied for at the German diplomatic mission abroad.
The visa is not required for citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America.
After entering the country You must first register your residence at the Citizens Office.
Application and deadline You must apply for your residence permit before your visa/residence permit expires. If you can enter the country without a visa for this purpose, you must apply for a residence permit at the Immigration and Naturalisation Service Office within 90 days of entering the country.
Please submit the application form and the required documents online or by post. After submitting your online application, you can download a completed document as a PDF for your records. The document will confirm your application and the authorisation/continuation of your previous residence. Once we have checked your application, you will receive an appointment for a personal interview.
Period of validity The residence permit is valid for four years. If you have an employment contract of less than four years, your residence permit will be valid for as long as your employment contract.
Prerequisites
- You have the following qualifications:
- You hold a German higher education qualification or
- a foreign higher education qualification that is comparable to a German higher education qualification (see anabin H+ for the higher education institution and qualification, or a qualification assessment from the Central Office for Foreign Education – ZAB)
- An employment contract or a concrete job offer for a skilled position. This means that, as a rule, a university degree or qualified vocational training is required to carry out this role.
- A vocational training permit (for regulated professions, such as those in healthcare, legal advice or teaching)
- Approval from the Federal Employment Agency or an exemption from the requirement for approval
- Approval is obtained through the German diplomatic mission abroad or the Service Centre for Immigration and Naturalisation.
- If you are over 45 years of age and are travelling to Germany for the first time for the purpose of employment:
- You must earn a gross annual salary of at least 55,770 euros (in 2026) from your intended employment in Germany, or you must provide evidence of adequate pension provision from public or private sources (assets or pension insurance)
Required documents
- Fully completed application form
- Valid passport or passport replacement
- current biometric passport photo submitted digitally by a certified photo studio or drugstore. Alternatively, you can use one of the photo terminals at the Immigration and Naturalisation Service Centre for a fee.
- Valid visa for entry to pursue qualified employment and entry stamp (if required, only for initial application)
- University degree certificate: If you have a foreign certificate, you must submit a certified German or English translation and an extract from anabin(H+ for university and degree) or a certificate evaluation from the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs for recognition
- Professional licence (for regulated professions, only for first-time applications)
- Employment contract or a concrete job offer (only for initial application)
- Current and fully completed assurance of employment(only for initial application, please upload together with the employment contract)
- Current and fully completed declaration of employment
- In the case of an extension: Proof of salary for the first two and last three months
- Adequate pension provision (required from the age of 45 if the salary is not at least 55,770 euros per year (in 2026))
- Proof of assets or pension insurance from public or private sources in Germany or abroad
Please note
- The documents submitted (such as proof of identity and language certificates) are checked for authenticity. We will report any forgeries to the police.
- Further documents may be required in individual cases.
Questions & Answers
We’ll give you six months to look for a new, suitable job.
Documents required via the contact form:
- Proof of funds of at least 5,166 euros (bank statement, savings book)
- Proof of health insurance
- A letter from your employer stating your date of leaving
- Copy of your passport
- Copy of your residence permit
You will receive a reply from us.
Further information on finding a job is available online.
You can check this yourself at www.anabin.de. The higher education institution must be marked with ‘H+’ and the qualification must be equivalent to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.
If you cannot find your university or the degree you obtained there, you can contact our service centre for the recognition of foreign qualifications.
It is possible to change employers. Further information on changing employers.
To practise a regulated profession (such as medical or teaching professions), a state licence to practise is absolutely essential. In the case of non-regulated professions (such as software development), however, proof that your foreign qualification is comparable to the relevant German reference qualification is sufficient to practise the profession.
You can find all the relevant information under ‘Settlement permit for skilled workers’.
Legal basis
§ Section 18b (1) AufenthG
Contact Us
Servicestelle für Zuwanderung und Einbürgerung
Internet address
Phone number
Postal address
Servicestelle für Zuwanderung und Einbürgerung
Ruppertstraße 19
80466 München
Fax: +49 89 233-44284
Contact address
Ruppertstraße 19
80337 München
Only with appointment