Register as jobseeker Unfortunately this specification of service has not yet been completely translated.

If your training or employment relationship ends, you must register as a jobseeker at least 3 months in advance.

As an employee, you are required by law to register as a jobseeker with the Employment Agency at least 3 months before the end of your employment. If you have learned of the end of your employment relationship less than 3 months beforehand, you must register as a jobseeker within 3 days.

The same applies if you are undergoing extra-company training and are subsequently threatened with unemployment.

After you have registered as a jobseeker, the Employment Agency will support you in your search for a suitable job.

In general, you should register as a jobseeker with the Employment Agency as early as possible if

  • you have been dismissed,
  • your fixed-term employment contract is expiring,
  • you have concluded a termination agreement with your employer by mutual agreement,
  • you are looking for work again after a long illness
  • school, vocational training or studies are coming to an end and you do not yet have a contractually fixed job or training position,
  • you want to return to work after having raised children for a longer period of time, or
  • you are looking for work for other reasons.
  • Identification document (ID card or passport and certificate of registration) when registering in person at the Employment Agency.
  • Registration before the online job seeker registration on the website of the Federal Employment Agency

Forms: none
Online procedure possible: yes (to meet deadline)
Written form required: no
Personal appearance required: yes








Related Links

  • Online-Portal der Bundesagentur für Arbeit zur Arbeitsuchend-Meldung

Preconditions

  • You are currently in an apprenticeship or employment relationship that is about to end.
  • You can also pursue employment subject to compulsory insurance for at least 15 hours per week thereafter.

Hints

The online display of the job seeker notification is not in itself a legally effective job seeker notification. It only serves to meet the deadline. The personal job-seeker notification must be made up for at the latest on the first day of unemployment.

§ Section 38 (1) of the Third Book of the German Social Code (SGB III)

Related Links

  • § 38 Absatz 1 Sozialgesetzbuch Drittes Buch (SGB III)

Related Links

  • Informationen zur Arbeitsuchend-Meldung auf der Internetseite der Agentur für Arbeit

You can register as a jobseeker with the Employment Agency online, in writing, by telephone or in person. If you do not register as a job seeker in person at the Employment Agency, you must do so at a later date, no later than the first day of unemployment.

In writing:

  • Send an informal letter or fax to your local Employment Agency office or to the Employment Agency's general address by the deadline.
  • Tell them your name and address, as well as the date when your employment ends and that you want to register as a jobseeker.
  • The employment agency will then contact you about a counseling appointment.

By phone:

  • Call the service hotline within the deadline and tell them you want to register as a job seeker.
  • The Employment Agency will then schedule a counseling appointment with you.

Online:

  • Log on to the portal of the Employment Agency.
  • Select there that you want to register as a job seeker.
  • Fill in the fields indicated.
  • The employment agency will then contact you about a counseling appointment.

In person:

  • Within the deadline, visit the employment agency office responsible for you and register as a job seeker there.
  • If possible, you will be given a counseling session immediately. If this is not possible, you will receive a counseling appointment.

Responsible for the content
Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs

Last update or date of publication
17.06.2020