Graduates

Having graduated from a German college or university, you may stay up to 18 months in Germany seeking employment corresponding to your qualification.

If you have got a foreign university or college degree which is recognised or equivalent to a German university or college degree, you can seek employment corresponding to your qualification in Germany for up to six months.

Job-seeking

As soon as you have found an appropriate job, you can be granted a corresponding residence permit for the occupation.

The residence permit for Graduates seeking employment is limited  and can not be renewed.

For graduates of German universities or colleges, it is valid for a maximum of 18 months. In all other cases, an EU Blue Card is granted for a maximum of six months.

Graduates from a German university or college can receive a residence permit to work self-employed under facilitated conditions provided that the desired activity relates to the obtained university or college degree. Graduates from a German university or college you may be granted a permanent residence permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) under facilitated conditions.

The granting of a residence permit requires that the applicant can show that their means of subsistence is ensured in Germany and that the residence does not infringe or endanger the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany for any other reason.

While seeking employment, it is possible for a Graduate from a German university or college to work without the agreement of the labour administration. In all other cases, gainful employment during the six-month job-seeking period is not permitted.

Apart from the usual documents several further documents are necessary:

• proof of the successful completion of the course of studies at a German university or college or recognition or equivalence of a foreign university or college degree [original and a copy],
• proof of sufficient means of subsistence e.g. by employment contract or declaration of commitment by parents or a third party or a security deposit on a blocked account in Germany [original and a copy]

Questionnaire for the declaration of commitment
Statement by the signer of the declaration of commitment
Checklist required documents for the residence permit for PhD Students

Having graduated from a German university or college you may be granted a permanent residence permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) under facilitated conditions. The permanent residence permit entitles to any kind of occupation.

Apart from the general requirements to be granted a permanent residence permit it is required that you have had a residence permit to work as an employee or self-employed or have held an EU Blue Card for two years, have got employment corresponding to your qualification, have paid compulsory or voluntary contributions to the statutory pension insurance for at least 24 months or have made expenses to be entitled to comparable benefits from insurance or pension scheme institution or an insurance company.

Apart from the usual documents several further documents are necessary:

• valid employment contrat(s) [original and a copy],
• proof of payment of compulsory or voluntary contributions to the statutory pension insurance [original and a copy],
• if nec., a permission to practice one‘s profession [original and a copy],

checklist required documents for the Permanent Residence Permit for Graduates

Application Form for a Residence Permit