Coming to Germany as a scientist , Date: 2020.03.01, format: Article, area: Migration and residence

Several options are available enabling scientific personnel to come to Germany for teaching and research purposes.

Residence for research purposes

In order to be able to conduct research in Germany, you must have concluded either

• an admission agreement, or
• a contract with the research establishment concerned.

This may be any organisation at which research is carried out - from a University through to a research department within a company.

The residence permit for research purposes also enables you to carry out teaching work as a scientist. You can furthermore spend a limited period carrying out research in other EU States without requiring an additional residence title there. Further information on this can be found under Mobility in the EU (see at "Further information/Texts and articles").

Once the research contract or the admission agreement has expired, you can apply for your residence permit to be extended for up to nine months so that you can seek employment in Germany. Your future job must match your qualifications.

Residence for employment

You can also carry out scientific and resarch work if you hold a residence title for employment purposes, provided that you have a job offer and two further conditions are fulfilled:

• Your academic qualifications must enable you to take up the desired employment.
• If you have graduated from a foreign higher-education establishment, the equivalence of your qualification to a corresponding German degree must be ascertained. The "anabin" database of the Standing Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs provides a good overview in this regard.

Scientists with special expert knowledge as well as teaching and scientific personnel in prominent positions can be granted open-ended residence immediately. Further information in this connection is to be found in the section entitled "Settling in Ger­many" (see at "Further information/Texts and articles").

Residence for doctoral candidates

As a PhD student, there are various ways in which you can obtain a doctorate in Germany. The type of residence permit depends in particular on how your livelihood is to be assured in Germany.

• If you have concluded an employment contract or an admission agreement with a research establishment, you may qualify for a residence title for employment or research purposes or an EU Blue Card.
• If you have a half-time position or less, you may be able to obtain a residence title for study purposes.
• Scholarship holders receive a residence title for study purposes.

There are also various ways in which your livelihood can be ensured while you are studying for your Doctorate. You may for instance support yourself from your own savings, or your parents may provide a guarantee. The "Working and Living in Germany Hotline" can advise you as to which residence titles are possible in these cases.