Bundesportal | Residence permit to look for a job after vocational training: Apply for an extension

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Contact

The government service telephone number 115 – your point of contact for questions related to the federal, state and local.

Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 18:00 (and beyond these times in some regions).

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Government service telephone number calls are charged at local rates.

If you have successfully completed school-based or company-based training in Germany, you may be granted a residence permit to look for a job.

The residence permit will be issued to you for a limited period directly following your previous training. An extension is possible if the maximum period of 12 months was not used up when the permit was first issued. If you do not find a job during this time, an extension is still not possible. You are then obliged to leave the federal territory.

This residence permit allows you to work without restriction.

Valid national passport
Proof of secure means of subsistence (e.g. employment contract and payslips, bank statements, declaration of commitment by a third party)
Proof of health insurance
Proof of qualification (diploma, certificate or certificate from your training company or educational institution confirming successful completion of training)
1 current biometric photo
Please ask your local immigration office whether you need to submit any further documents.

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

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Preconditions

You must already be in possession of a residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment after successfully completing school or company training in Germany, which has not yet exhausted the maximum period of 12 months.

You must also meet the general requirements for obtaining a residence permit. These are in particular

a secure livelihood,
a clarified identity,
possession of a valid national passport.

Fee
93.00 to 96.00 EUR
Advance payment
no

Basis for legal action

§ Section 20 Job search for skilled workers (Residence Act - AufenthG)

§ Section 8 Extension of the residence permit (Residence Act - AufenthG)

Legal Remedies

Appeal

Detailed information on how to lodge an appeal can be found in the decision rejecting your application.

Appeal to the administrative courts.

You can find more information on the Federal Government's portal page for skilled workers from abroad.

Procedure

You can only apply for a residence permit in person at the foreigners authority responsible for your place of residence.

You must submit the required documents in the original and pay the application fee.
The Foreigners' Registration Office will check whether the requirements for issuing the permit have been met.
If all requirements are met, the immigration authority will take your biometric data (photo, fingerprints) and order the electronic residence permit (eAT) from Bundesdruckerei GmbH.
As soon as the eAT is ready, it will be issued to you by the Foreigners' Registration Office.

Deadlines

Application before the current residence permit expires. It is recommended that you apply 4 to 6 weeks before your current residence permit expires. The residence permit is limited to 12 months, including any extension.

Processing time

The processing time depends on the workload at the local foreigners authority.