Residence Permits

The most common permission to remain is the residence permit. It is:

• linked to the purpose of your stay in Germany – i.e. whether you are in Germany to work or for training, for example. 
• temporary, i.e. only valid for a certain period of time.

You must apply for a residence permit in person at your local immigration office after arriving in Germany. You can find the immigration office responsible for your place of residence in FrankfurtRheinMain in our overview and using the search function on our map. There is also a Germany-wide search function.

This residence permit is relevant if you 

• want to work in Germany 
• and already have a job offer in Germany. 

The same requirements apply as for the work visa for qualified professionals.

How long is this residence permit valid? 

The residence permit for taking up qualified employment is issued for up to four years. If your employment contract in Germany is for a shorter period, the residence permit will be issued for that period plus three months.

After three years with a residence permit for work, you can obtain a settlement permit under certain conditions.

This residence permit is relevant if you: 

• want to work in Germany,
• already have professional experience
• and have a job offer in a non-regulated profession in Germany. 

The same requirements apply as for the visa for professionally experienced workers.

How long is this residence permit valid? 

As long as your employment relationship remains in effect and your livelihood is secure, your residence permit can be extended. After five years in Germany, you can obtain a settlement permit under certain conditions.

This residence permit is relevant if you:

• want to work in Germany
• already have a job offer there, 
• But your foreign professional qualifications have not yet been recognised in Germany. 

This residence permit allows you to have the recognition procedure carried out after your entry and, at the same time, to already work in your profession in Germany. You may also take up secondary employment for up to 20 hours per week.

The same requirements apply as for the visa for recognition partnership

How long is this residence permit valid? 

It is initially issued for up to 12 months. If your qualifications have still not been fully recognised after this period, the period can be extended for one year at a time – up to a maximum of three years. 

In order to obtain an extension, you must participate in the qualification measures required to achieve full equivalence of your qualifications. Your employer must enable you to participate in these qualification measures as part of the recognition partnership.

Once your qualifications have been fully recognised, you can apply for a different residence permit.

This residence permit is relevant if you: 

• have already applied for recognition of your foreign professional qualifications,
• but the competent authority in Germany has determined in a recognition notice that you still lack certain skills for full recognition. 

With this residence permit, it is possible to participate in appropriate qualification measures and examinations in Germany to acquire the skills lacking for full recognition. 

You are also allowed to work alongside the qualification measure:

• You may work for up to 20 hours per week in a job that is not related to the qualification measure. 
• If the employment is related to the occupational field for which you are seeking recognition, there is no time limit. However, the Federal Employment Agency must approve the employment.

The same requirements apply as for the visa for the recognition of foreign qualifications.

How long is this residence permit valid for? 

This residence permit is issued for up to 24 months and can be extended once for a further 12 months – for example, if you need to retake an exam. The maximum duration is three years.

What happens after that?

If your qualifications have been fully recognised, you can stay in Germany for up to 12 months to find a qualified job. This requires a residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment (Section 20 (1) No. 4).

If you have already found a job, you can apply for one of the following residence permits without leaving the country: the EU Blue Card or a residence permit for taking up qualified employment

This residence permit is relevant if you 

• wish to undertake vocational training in Germany,
• but have not yet found a training place. 

With this residence permit, you can come to Germany for up to nine months to look for and apply for a vocational training place. The requirements for a residence permit to seek a training place are the same as those for the visa to seek a training place.

While searching for a training place, you may work up to 20 hours per week. You may also take up trial employment for up to two weeks.

This residence permit is relevant if you:

• wish to undertake vocational training (at school or in a company) in Germany and 
• have already found a training place. 

The residence permit is issued for the duration of the vocational training. The same requirements apply as for a visa to undertake vocational training.

With this residence permit, you can work up to 20 hours per week if this is independent, regardless of your vocational training.

What happens after the training?

Once you have successfully completed your vocational training, you can stay in Germany for up to 18 months to find qualified employment. To do so, you must apply for a residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment in accordance with Section 20 (1) No. 3 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) at your local immigration office.

Once you have found a qualified job, you can apply for a residence permit to take up qualified employment without having to leave Germany. 

This residence permit is relevant if you wish to study in Germany. The same requirements apply as for a student visa.

During your studies, you are permitted to work up to 140 full days or 280 half days per year, or up to 20 hours per week. You may engage in part-time student work without any time restrictions.

How long is this residence permit valid? 

This residence permit is usually issued for two years when it is first granted. If you have not yet completed your studies within this period, the residence permit can be extended for a further two years upon application.

What happens after that?

Once you have successfully completed your studies, you can apply for a residence permit to look for work in accordance with Section 20 (1) No. 1 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) at your local immigration office. You will then have up to 18 months to find a job in Germany. 

Once you have found a qualified job, you can convert your residence permit into a residence permit for taking up qualified employment or into an EU Blue Card. 

The opportunity card for job seekers is relevant if you: 

• want to work in Germany, 
• but do not yet have a job offer. 

With the opportunity card, you can enter Germany without a fixed employment contract and look for suitable work there. As long as you are still looking for a job, you may take on one or more jobs totalling 20 hours per week. 

You can obtain the Opportunity Card in two cases:

1. You have a university degree or vocational qualification that is fully recognised in Germany. In addition, you can prove that you have sufficient financial resources to cover your living expenses while looking for a job in Germany (generally at least € 1,091 net per month, amount valid for 2026).

1. Your university or vocational qualification is not fully recognised in Germany, but you achieve at least six points in the points system of the Opportunity Card (see below). You also meet the following requirements: 

• You have a foreign vocational or university qualification that is recognised by the state in the country in which it was obtained. You must provide evidence of this. In the case of a vocational qualification, the training must also have lasted at least two years.
• You have German language skills at least at level A1 or English language skills at least at level B2. 
• You can prove that you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself while looking for a job in Germany (generally at least € 1,091 net per month, amount valid for 2026).

The following overview shows how you can collect points in the points system: 

• 4 points if you have applied for recognition of your foreign qualification and your foreign university or vocational school degree has been partially recognised in Germany.
• 3 points if you have gained at least five years of professional experience in the profession for which you are qualified in the last seven years; 2 points if you have gained at least two years of professional experience in the profession for which you are qualified in the last five years.
• 2 points if you are younger than 35; 1 point if you are between 35 and 40 years old.
• 1 point if you are qualified for an occupation that is considered a shortage occupation in Germany.
• 1 point for German language skills at language level A2, 2 points for level B1 or 3 points for language level B2 or better
• 1 additional point for language level C1 in English or if English is your native language.
• 1 point if you have lived legally and without interruption in Germany for at least six months in the last five years and can prove this – for example, for study, work or language courses. Holiday trips and visits do not count.
• 1 point if you would like to come to Germany with your spouse or partner using the Opportunity Card and they already meet the requirements for the Opportunity Card.

How long is the opportunity card valid, and what happens afterwards?

The opportunity card is initially issued for up to 12 months (search opportunity card). 

If you have found a job for qualified employment in Germany during this period, you should have the opportunity card converted into a suitable residence permit before starting work. Please contact the hotline ‘Working and Living in Germany’ for advice on this.

If you do not meet the requirements for this, you can apply for an extension of the opportunity card for up to two additional years (follow-up opportunity card).

The EU Blue Card is a residence permit specifically for foreign skilled workers with a university degree (or comparable tertiary qualification). It offers attractive advantages.

The EU Blue Card is relevant for you if: 

• you have a foreign university degree that is comparable to a German university degree. 
• and you have a binding job offer in Germany that is appropriate to your qualifications. The following applies: The planned duration of employment must be at least six months. In addition, you must earn a minimum gross annual salary of 50,700 euros in 2026 (slightly less in a shortage occupation). 

Further information on the requirements can be found on the Make it in Germany website and on the Foreign Office's international portal.

In some countries, it is possible to apply for the EU Blue Card online. Further information on the digital application process can be found on the Foreign Office's international portal.

How long is the EU Blue Card valid?

The EU Blue Card is issued for the duration of the employment contract plus three months, but initially for a maximum of four years. It can be extended.

What are the advantages of the EU Blue Card?

With the EU Blue Card, you can stay in a non-European country for up to twelve consecutive months. You may also enter almost all EU member states without a visa. In addition, the EU Blue Card makes it easier to bring your family to join you.

The settlement permit is a permanent residence permit (in other words: not just valid for a limited period) and not restricted to a specific purpose of stay. 

With a settlement permit, you can live permanently in Germany, together with your family members. It offers extensive equality with German citizens, for example, in terms of access to the labour market and social benefits.

Settlement permit for skilled workers (Section 18c (1) of the Residence Act)

As a skilled worker, you can apply for a settlement permit at your local immigration office if all of the following requirements are met: 

• You have had a residence permit in Germany for three years in accordance with Sections 18a, 18b, 18d or 18g of the Residence Act.
• Your livelihood is secured without recourse to state benefits.
• You have paid into the statutory pension insurance scheme for at least 36 months.
• You have a job in Germany that you are allowed to do with your residence permit.
• You have German language skills at least at level B1. 
• You have a basic knowledge of the legal and social system and living conditions in Germany. As a rule, this can be proven by taking the ‘Leben in Deutschland’ (Living in Germany) test.
• You have sufficient living space for yourself and your family members who live with you in Germany.

Settlement permit for holders of an EU Blue Card (Section 18c (2) of the Residence Act)

If you hold an EU Blue Card, simplified requirements apply for obtaining a settlement permit. All of the following requirements must be met: 

• You have been in qualified employment in Germany for at least 27 months and pay contributions to the statutory pension insurance scheme.
• You have German language skills at least at level A1. If you have German language skills at level B1, the period is reduced to 21 months.
• You have a basic knowledge of the legal and social regulations and living conditions in Germany. As a rule, this can be proven by taking the ‘Living in Germany’ test.
• You can prove that you have sufficient living space.
• You can prove that your livelihood is secure.

Settlement permit after vocational training or studying in Germany 

If you have completed your studies or vocational training in Germany, simplified requirements also apply for obtaining a settlement permit. All of the following requirements must be met: 

• You have a residence permit since at least two years to work as a ‘skilled worker’ in Germany (residence title according to Sections 18a, 18b or 18d of the Residence Act).
• You have a job in Germany that you are allowed to do with your residence permit.
• You have paid contributions into the statutory pension insurance scheme for 24 months.
• You have German language skills at least at level B1. 
• You have a basic knowledge of the legal and social regulations as well as the living conditions in Germany. As a rule, this can be proven by taking the ‘Living in Germany’ test.
• You can prove that you have sufficient living space.

Settlement permit for highly skilled workers (Section 18c (3) of the Residence Act)

In special cases, highly skilled workers can obtain a settlement permit right from the start – i.e. without having to have lived in Germany for a minimum period of time beforehand. Further information on this can be found on the Make it in Germany website. 

Settlement permit for self-employed persons

If you have a residence permit for self-employment (Section 21 of the Residence Act), you can obtain a settlement permit after just three years. Further information on this can be found on the Make it in Germany website.

Settlement permit for spouses of skilled workers (Section 9 (3) and (3a) of the Residence Act)

As a spouse or partner who has joined your partner in Germany, you will receive your own settlement permit after a certain period of time. To qualify, all of the following requirements must be met:

• Your partner has a settlement permit for skilled workers in accordance with Section 18c of the Residence Act.
• You yourself have had a residence permit for at least three years.
• You are in gainful employment for at least 20 hours per week and have the necessary permit for this.
• You and your partner live in a marital relationship.
• You have German language skills at least at level B1. 
• You have a basic knowledge of the legal and social regulations as well as the living conditions in Germany. As a rule, this can be proven by taking the ‘Living in Germany’ test.

The EU long-term residence permit is a permanent residence permit and is not tied to a specific purpose of residence. 

This permit allows you to live in Germany permanently. It offers extensive equality with German citizens, for example, in terms of access to the labour market and social benefits.

The main difference to the settlement permit is that with the EU long-term residence permit, you can enter almost all other EU member states (except Ireland and Denmark) and settle there under simplified conditions. Further information is available on the website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).

You can obtain a permanent residence permit for the EU if all of the following requirements are met:

• You have been living legally in Germany with a residence permit for at least five years. 
• You have paid into the statutory pension insurance scheme for at least 60 months on the basis of your gainful employment. 
• You have sufficient knowledge of German. 
• You have a basic knowledge of the legal and social system and living conditions in Germany. 
• Your livelihood and that of your family members is secure.
• You have sufficient living space for yourself and your family members.