To Germany as a graduate , Date: 2023.11.18, format: Article, area: Migration and residence

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Important note

The contents of this page are no longer up-to-date and are currently being revised.

You wish to look for a job in Germany

If you didn’t find a job before entering Germany, you have the opportunity to come to Germany for up to six months to look for a job.

You can find further information at the website www.make-it-in-germany.com.

You wish to take up a new job in Germany

If you are interested in working here in future and already have a university degree, there are several possibilities for you to come to Germany.

Good to know!

As a University graduate, you can in principle work in any qualified employment.

With a concrete job offer

To obtain a residence title for employment, two important conditions need to be met:

  1. Proof of a German or recognised foreign university degree or a foreign university degree which is comparable to a German university degree (further information on the recognition and comparability of degrees is available from the hotline Working and Living in Germany).
  2. Presentation of a concrete job offer or an employment contract for a job that can be performed with this academic qualification.

    For people aged 45 or over, when this residence title is issued for the first time, the salary must correspond to at least 55 percent of the annual contribution assessment ceiling in the general pension insurance scheme, or proof of adequate pension provision must be provided.

The EU Blue Card

If you earn a certain minimum salary, you are legally entitled to be issued an EU Blue Card.

For more information on this topic, please see www.make-it-in-germany.com.

To obtain recognition of your degree or vocational qualification

Make it in Germany: Working and Living in Germany Link to the information hotline "working and living in Germany" Source: © Make it in Germany

In order to assess the comparability of your foreign vocational qualification or degree, you need to go through the recognition process. This may show that additional skill-building measures are necessary in order to attain comparability. You can come to Germany for up to 18 months in order to acquire these additional qualifications.

As the procedures and requirements vary between the individual occupations and degrees, you should contact the "Working and Living in Germany Hotline" for individual advice.

You may take up employment to a limited extent during your stay in Germany. After obtaining your qualifications, you will be able to spend up to 12 months seeking employment in Germany. The job which you take up must be appropriate to your recognised degree or recognised vocational qualification.

Recognition of a foreign University degree

The "anabin" database of the Standing Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs provides a good overview of the equivalence of foreign academic degrees. The "Working and Living in Germany" hotline can advise you, among other things on the recognition of foreign vocational qualifications. Further information can be found in the section "Foreign professional qualifications" (see "further information/texts and articles") and at www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de.

You wish to shorten the entry procedure

On 01 March 2020, Germany introduced a special procedure for skilled workers which facilitates and accelerates the entry of skilled workers. Read more in the section Accelerated procedure for skilled workers.

After successful completion of a German university degree

If you have successfully completed your degree in Germany, your residence permit can be extended for up to 18 months in order for you to find a job that matches your qualifications. You may work during this time.

After termination of employment

If, after termination of your employment in Germany, you have not found a subsequent job, you have the option of applying for a residence permit for up to six months to look for a job. For this, please contact the foreigners’ registration office responsible for your place of residence in good time.

The legal basis

  • Section 4a of the Residence Act
  • Section 18 of the Residence Act
  • Section 18b of the Residence Act
  • Section 20 of the Residence Act
  • Section 26 of the Employment Ordinance (BeschV)