Source: BUS Sachsen-Anhalt (Linie6PLus)

Apply for a residence permit for employment as a skilled worker with an academic qualification

Description

A residence permit for employment as a skilled worker with academic training gives you access to the labour market in Germany. It can only be applied for in person at your local Foreigners' Registration Office. Spouses of holders of a residence permit to pursue qualified employment are also entitled to a residence permit.

You can apply for a residence permit if you have a completed university degree. If you do not have a German university degree, your degree must either be recognised or comparable with a German university degree. You can have your degree recognised or determined to be comparable before you enter Germany.

You must also submit 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 is EUR 45,540 in 2020. Even if you do not reach this minimum salary, you can still obtain a residence permit to pursue 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 examines 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 national of an EU state, you have access to the labour market on the basis of your right to freedom of movement and do not require a residence permit. Within the framework of the right of settlement or the freedom of movement of workers, you can pursue a self-employed activity or employment in Germany. 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.

Prerequisites

You have
- a German university degree, or
- a recognised 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 licence to practise your profession, e.g. licence to practise 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 cover 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.

Required documents

If you are entering Germany with an appropriate visa:
- valid passport with visa
As far as there is a previous stay with a residence title for another purpose:
- valid passport
- 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:
- Notification 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: licence to practise your profession
Proof of health insurance
Rental contract

Fees (costs)

Issue of residence permit: EUR 100,00

Deadlines

Residence permit application: 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.

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

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

Procedure

You must apply for your residence permit in person:

Make an appointment with the foreigners authority 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 Employment Agency.
The Employment Agency sends feedback to the Aliens' Registration Office.
If your application is approved, the Aliens' Registration Office commissions the Bundesdruckerei to produce the eAT card.
You will receive notification by post that your application has been approved and the eaT card will be produced, or that your application has been rejected.
As the eAT card is linked to an online ID function, you must collect it in person.
You will receive information by post that you can collect the eAT card from the Aliens' Registration Office.