Aufenthaltserlaubnis zum Zweck der Erwerbstätigkeit Erteilung

A residence permit is generally required to take up gainful employment in Germany. Such a permit can be applied for in various circumstances.

You can apply for the following residence permits, among others:

• EU Blue Card: The EU Blue Card is a special residence permit for foreign academics or persons with a comparable level of qualification who wish to take up qualified employment in Germany. Further information on this can be found in the separate service description under "Related topics".
• Residence permit for skilled workers: Foreigners who have completed qualified vocational training or studies (including outside Germany) and have a job offer can obtain a residence permit in accordance with Section 18a of the Act on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreigners in Germany (Residence Act - AufenthG) or Section 18b AufenthG in order to take up qualified employment in Germany as a skilled worker.
• Residence permit for experienced professionals: Experienced professionals with extensive practical work experience have good career opportunities in Germany if they wish to work in non-regulated professions. They can then obtain a residence permit for qualified employment in Germany. Formal recognition of your qualification in Germany is not required for this. Special facilitations apply in particular to IT professions.
• Opportunity card to look for a job: The opportunity card allows you to enter Germany to look for a job. It is issued if you either have a recognized specialist qualification or if you have a recognized foreign qualification and have achieved a certain minimum number of points within the framework of a points system.
• Residence permit for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications and recognition partnership: If it is determined in a recognition procedure that the foreign qualification cannot be fully recognized, it is possible to attend qualification measures in Germany in order to acquire the missing theoretical and/or practical skills. These can be, for example, training courses in a company, specialist training courses, preparatory courses or job-related German courses. Under certain conditions, it is also possible to work alongside the qualification measure. Alternatively, under certain conditions, it is also possible to have a recognition procedure carried out after entering Germany and to work in the desired profession at the same time.
• Residence permit for researchers: You can also apply for a residence permit for the purpose of research.
• Residence permit for self-employment: A residence permit is required for self-employment as a business or freelancer.

There are also some special regulations. The most important are

• Special regulation for nursing assistants: The German labor market is also open to nursing assistants from third countries. This means that people who have completed nursing training that is not considered qualified vocational training or who have been recognized as such (nursing assistants) can work in nursing activities.
• Study-related internship EU students from foreign universities or foreign nationals who have obtained a university degree in the last two years can obtain a residence permit for a study-related internship under certain conditions.
• Special regulation for professional drivers: Drivers of trucks or buses who have the required driving license and the (accelerated) EU or EEA basic qualification can obtain a residence permit for their work.
• Western Balkans regulation: Nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia have the opportunity to work in Germany within the framework of a quota, regardless of qualifications. Further information on this can be found in the separate description of services under "Related topics".
• Au pair: Au pair employment involves the temporary placement of foreign nationals between the ages of 18 and 27 in a German host family. For the foreign national, the focus is on acquiring cultural knowledge and improving German language skills. In return for imparting this knowledge, the au pair supports the host parents in looking after the minor children.
• Pursuant to Section 26 (1) of the Employment Ordinance (BeschV), nationals of Andorra, Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland within the meaning of Section1(2) No. 6 of the Freedom of Movement Act/EU and the United States of America may be granted approval with a priority check to take up any employment regardless of the employer's registered office (BAA involvement is required).

The documents to be submitted may vary considerably. Please enquire at your local foreigners authority.

The conditions for granting a residence permit depend largely on which specific residence permit is considered for the purpose of residence applied for.

In general, the granting of a residence permit usually requires

• that the applicant's livelihood is secured,
• the identity and, if the foreigner is not entitled to return to another country, the nationality of the foreigner has been clarified,
• there are no grounds for deportation,
• if there is no entitlement to the issue of a residence title, the foreigner's stay does not impair or jeopardize the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany for any other reason and
• the passport requirement according to § 3 AufenthG is fulfilled;

and that the foreigner

• has entered the country with the required visa and
• has already provided the relevant information for the issue of the visa in the visa application.
• The same regulations apply to the extension of the residence permit as to its issue. Before the residence permit is extended, it must be established whether the foreigner has fulfilled any obligation to properly attend an integration course. It is also important that the foreigner enters the country with the visa previously applied for at the competent German diplomatic mission abroad. In certain cases and for certain nationals, simplifications apply.

Issue: EUR 100 Extension up to three months: EUR 96 Extension for more than three months: EUR 93

Many immigration authorities already offer an online application procedure. If an online procedure is available, it will be displayed in the Saarland Service Portal under "Online procedure" if you have entered your place of residence under "Select location". If your foreigners authority does not offer an online procedure, please contact the foreigners authority by e-mail.

The processing time may vary. If necessary, please enquire at the responsible foreigners authority.

Foreign nationals who require a visa must apply for the residence permit required for further residence during the period of validity of the visa. Foreign nationals who are exempt from the visa requirement for the specific purpose of their stay must apply for the residence permit required for a further stay immediately after entry or within 90 days at the latest.

Administrative court action

A residence permit is generally required to take up gainful employment in Germany. Such a permit can be applied for in various circumstances.

Central Aliens Office of the Saarland