If you want to live and work in Germany as an expat, you may need to apply for a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel). The type of permit you apply for depends on both your nationality and on your reason for relocating to Germany, whether that be family, work, studies or something else. If you have a national visa, you can convert it into the corresponding type of residence permit shortly after arriving in Germany.
Whether you need a German residence permit depends on your nationality and the amount of time you will spend in Germany.
Citizens of EU/EEA countries have open access to the German labour market. Expats from these countries can freely live and work in Germany without a visa or residence permit. Remember that if you stay in Germany for more than three months you need to register at your local citizens’ office (Bürgeramt), regardless of your nationality.
Nationals of Switzerland also have freedom of movement within the EU, but if you want to live and work in Germany you need to apply for a special declaratory residence permit for Swiss nationals at your local Foreigners’ Office (Ausländerbehörde).
Citizens from outside the EU and EEA may need to apply for a German residence permit, as follows:
You do not need a residence permit for business or leisure stays in Germany of less than 90 days, although, depending on your nationality, you may require a Schengen visa.
If you plan on working in Germany, even if you are staying for less than 90 days, you will need to apply for a national visa and then convert it into a residence permit.
If you will be staying in Germany for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a residence permit. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Iceland, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America may enter Germany without a visa and then apply for a residence permit from inside Germany.
If you are a citizen of a country not included in the above list you will need to apply for a national visa (which functions as a provisional residence permit) at the German mission in your country of residence before you travel to Germany. Once you have arrived in Germany, you can convert your visa into a residence permit at the Foreigners’ Office.
If you will not have a source of income in Germany, you will also need to open a blocked bank account, either before you arrive in Germany (if you need to apply for a visa), or before you submit your residence permit application.
For those wanting to live and work in Germany, there are - broadly speaking - two different types of residence permit:
This page looks in detail at the different types of temporary residence permits. For more information on permanent residence in Germany, see our dedicated page.
The temporary residence permit is the most common type of permit issued to expats in Germany. There are many different types of permits, the descriptions of which are laid out in detail in the German Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz); this page focuses on some of the most common ones and their requirements.
Which type of residence permit you can apply for is determined by the purpose of your stay in Germany, and must match the information you provided on the application for your visa (if you submitted one). If you are unsure which best describes your situation, check with your local immigration office.
Temporary residence permits in Germany are usually valid for one year (unless specified otherwise) and can usually be extended as long as your circumstances stay the same.
This type of residence permit, usually valid for two years (unless your course is shorter), is issued to those who come to Germany to study under section § 16b of the Residence Act. It allows you to work up to 140 days per year (or 280 days, if you work less than four hours per working day).
It is usually possible to continue extending your residency until you have completed your course. After you have completed your studies, you also have the option to extend for an additional 18 months while you seek employment related to your qualifications or previous experience.
To apply, you will need to prove that you have either been accepted by a state-recognised higher educational institution, or have enrolled in a full-time language course or preparatory company traineeship. You will also need to prove that you have the financial means to support yourself for the duration of your studies (for instance, by opening a blocked account).
If you have secured a job in Germany, you can be issued with a residence permit valid for up to four years, depending on the planned duration of the employment. Applicants for work visas used to face some of the strictest requirements. However, responding to Germany's severe shortage of skilled workers, the Immigration for Skilled Workers Act came into force in March 2020, removing some of the stricter barriers.
Under this new law, skilled workers from non-EU countries are allowed to come to Germany, as long as they possess professional qualifications that are recognised in Germany, a professional practice permit (for those seeking employment in a regulated profession) and a concrete job offer. or anyone more than 45 years old who is coming to Germany for the first time for employment purposes, the gross annual salary for the position they are intending to take must be at least 53.130 euros (in 2025), unless you can prove that you have an adequate pension.
In principle, the approval of the BA must still be obtained as part of the visa procedure.
Once the temporary residence permit has been granted, it can be regularly renewed for as long as your situation remains the same (i.e. you stay in the same job). To apply, you will need to provide an employment contract, a role description filled out by your employer and documentation of your professional qualifications.
As of May 2009, highly-skilled workers from outside the EU may be granted a residence permit known as the EU Blue Card (§ 18g). This is reserved for those coming to work in Germany who possess either a German or a foreign higher education qualification (or at least three years of professional work experience). Your occupation is classified as "highly skilled" if your earnings meet the minimum threshold. In 2025 this is 48.300 euros.
For those possessing skills in high demand (for instance, mathematics, IT, natural sciences, technology or medicine), the minimum earnings threshold is reduced to 43.759,80 euros (in 2025). The Federal Employment Agency decides whether your profession is considered “in demand”.
The EU Blue Card is valid for a maximum of four years, or the length of your employment contract plus three months. After 27 months, as an EU Blue Card holder, you may also be issued a permanent residence permit, provided you have held your employment position, have basic German language skills, and have made contributions to the statutory pension scheme for that period. This is reduced to 21 months if you can prove knowledge of the German language (level B1).
If your spouse wishes to join you, as an EU Blue Card holder, they do not require German language certification in order to be granted a residence permit.
The ICT card (§ 19) is a residence permit for the purpose of an intra-corporate transfer of a foreign employee. It is issued to people coming to work at a German branch of their company as a manager or specialist. To qualify, you must have been working for the company for at least six months before the transfer and be able to prove your professional qualifications. Under certain circumstances, an ICT card can also be issued to someone in training who is being transferred.
This type of residence permit is issued for a maximum of three years.
A Mobile ICT card is a similar type of residence permit, with the only difference being that it is issued to people who already hold a residence permit in another EU member state and are being transferred to Germany to work.
Available since 2024, the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) is a new type of residence permit that enables non-EU nationals to come to Germany to look for work (either employment with a company or self-employment). It allows the holder to come to Germany for up to 12 months to look for work or to pursue additional qualifications in order to find a job.
During this jobseeking period, you are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week, or do job trials (with the aim of obtaining employment or an apprenticeship) of a maximum of two weeks per employer.
There are two pathways for obtaining an Opportunity Card:
To qualify under the skilled professionals pathway, you must either:
If your academic or professional qualification is not (yet) fully recognised, you may still qualify for an Opportunity Card via the points-based pathway.
Under this pathway, you must hold an academic degree that took at least two years to complete, is recognised in the country where it was awarded, and has been assessed by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) in Germany. Alternatively, you must have completed at least two years of professional training and hold a recognised qualification that has been assessed by the ZAB.
On top of this, you must have at least A1 level German language proficiency or B2 English language proficiency, and you must also score a minimum of six points in the points-based system.
The points-based system awards points based on the following criteria:
Make it in Germany offers a self-check tool, so you can see whether you would be eligible for the Opportunity Card.
When you find work, you can convert your Opportunity Card into a residence permit for the purposes of employment. The Opportunity Card can only be extended if you find a job but you do not meet the requirements to be issued a different type of residence permit. If you do not find work, you will need to leave Germany and remain outside of the country for at least as long as you stayed in Germany before you can apply for another Opportunity Card.
A residence permit for self-employment, up to a maximum of three years, may be issued to entrepreneurs. To qualify, you need to establish that there is an economic interest or regional need for your planned business that it is expected to have a positive effect on the economy, and that you have the personal capital or an approved loan to realise your idea.
Usually, you will be expected to submit a business plan, financing plan and revenue forecast as part of your application. If you are above the age of 45, you also need to demonstrate adequate provision for old age, such as savings or a pension plan.
It is also possible for you to carry out self-employed work in Germany, even if you hold a residence permit issued for a different purpose. Speak to your local Immigration Office to see if this applies to you.
If, after three years, your business venture is a success, you can apply for a permanent settlement permit, as long as your income ensures the subsistence of both yourself and any dependents.
If you have family members who wish to join you in Germany, they need to apply for a temporary residence permit for family reunification. The rules vary according to your nationality.
If your family member has European citizenship, they can join you in Germany to live, work or study without restrictions.
If your family member does not have EU or EEA citizenship, they must apply for a national visa to enter Germany and then apply for a family reunification residence permit. According to EU law, your family has the right to residence, even if they are not EU nationals.
Dependents of nationals from outside the EU will be considered on a case-by-case basis, according to the following requirements:
Aimed at attracting skilled expats to work in Germany, this type of temporary permit (§ 16a) enables you to take up vocational education, training or a German language course, leading to a qualification. This requires the approval of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) unless the training has been pre-approved. If you will be working towards a vocational qualification, you are also authorised to work (in any job) up to 20 hours a week.
After completing your vocational training course, you may be granted a residence permit to stay in Germany for a further 18 months to look for work.
Under section § 16e, you can also obtain a residence permit for taking up an internship in Germany. For this, you will need to have already completed or be in the process of studying for a university degree. You will also need to show an agreement with a host company regarding the internship. This type of residence permit is issued for a maximum of six months.
Section § 16f allows foreigners to apply for a residence permit to attend a language course run by a public or state-recognised school. With this type of residence permit, you can work for up to 20 hours per week alongside your language class.
A nine-month residence permit (§ 17) is also available for those seeking a training or study position in Germany. To qualify, you must be under the age of 35 and be able to finance your stay in Germany. You must also have demonstrable university-level qualifications. You are permitted to work for up to 20 hours per week or take trial employment for a total of two weeks with this type of residence permit.
As an academic, you can receive a temporary residence permit for conducting research (§ 18d), as long as you have a "host" agreement with a research institute. This is valid for the length of the research project, but at least one year. You are entitled to take up research and teaching activities at the research institution, and to work as a teacher or a freelancer.
For your application, you will need an admission agreement or contract with the research establishment. You also need to demonstrate an adequate monthly income to cover your living expenses. How high your income needs to be depends on your individual circumstances.
After your research activities have concluded, it is possible to extend your residency by up to 18 months for the purpose of seeking employment connected to your qualifications.
Whether you have entered Germany on a national visa and now need to convert it into a residence permit, or you entered without a visa and are applying for residency for the first time, the application process for a residence permit can seem daunting, but it’s relatively simple once you break it down into steps. It can take several months to process your application, so be sure to apply well in advance of the expiry date of your visa.
Before you can submit your residence permit application, there are several steps you need to take to gather the required documents.
One of the documents you will be asked to provide as part of your residence permit application is your registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung). This document can easily be obtained by attending a registration appointment (Anmeldung) at your local citizens’ office (Bürgeramt).
For most residence permit applications, you will also have to provide proof that you are covered by German health insurance. Foreign insurance policies are not usually accepted so you may need to take out a new policy.
Often you are required to prove your financial means, especially if you are applying for a family reunion visa. One of the best ways to demonstrate financial stability is to open a German bank account and transfer your money there. Your bank statements can then be used in your supporting documentation to prove you can provide for yourself and your family.
If you have no income in Germany (for instance, if you are here to study or look for a job), you need to prove that you have sufficient financial resources to cover your living expenses before you can get a residence permit. The most common way of proving this is opening a blocked account (Sperrkonto), a special type of bank account into which you deposit a lump sum of money that is then withdrawn at monthly intervals.
Once you have gathered all the required documentation, you can submit your residence permit application at your local foreigners’ office (Ausländerbehörde). You can find your local office on the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees website. These centres are usually very busy and have limited availability. To avoid going beyond the validity of your visa, it would be wise to book an appointment as soon as possible. Note that some centres do not offer appointments and run a drop-in service only.
You can usually find a digital version of the application form for a German residence permit on the website of your local foreigners’ office. Alternatively, you can pick up a paper copy when you arrange your appointment. Usually, you have to fill out this form in advance and bring it along to your appointment.
You will be required to submit several documents for your temporary residence permit application. The foreigners’ office will be able to advise you on exactly what you need to bring to your appointment. This usually includes:
At your appointment, the official will check through your documentation and, if everything is in order, submit your application for processing.
The foreigners’ office will charge a fee to process a German residence permit application. The cost is usually somewhere between 50 and 110 euros (less for minors), depending on location and the complexity of your case. You can check the exact prices with your local office. Your fees will not be refunded if your application is rejected. Be aware that most offices in Germany accept EC cards, but not credit cards or cash.
Once your forms are submitted and your fee has been paid, the foreigners’ office will assess your application. Depending on the type of residence permit you have applied for, they may also have to contact the Federal Employment Agency. The process usually takes two to four weeks but it can be longer during busy periods. During this time, you will be covered by a certificate stating that you are applying for a residence permit.
If approved, your residence permit is issued and you will be asked to come to the foreigners’ office to collect it. You must pick it up in person. You may also be sent a PIN code in the post which you will need to collect your permit.
Since September 2011, the paper residence titles have been superseded by an electronic "credit card" residence title. This electronic residence permit (eAT) is issued as a plastic credit card with a chip containing all your personal data, your passport photo, and fingerprints. It can be used to confirm your identity online, like an ID card. Paper titles were made invalid as of August 31, 2021.
As of December 2011, the application procedure for permits to work and reside in EU Member States has been simplified. Rather than having to apply to different entities for permission to live and work, a single permit now covers both.
Having a residence permit does not, however, automatically grant you the right to pursue economic activity. The type of residence permit you apply for will determine whether or not you are entitled to work. If for any reason you are unsure, the documents you receive with your residence permit will indicate explicitly whether you are permitted to work.
If your application is rejected, you will receive a letter outlining the reasons for the refusal. The most common reason for a rejection is failing to provide the correct corroborating documents. The letter will explain the next steps to take, including how to lodge an appeal, if applicable.
Temporary residence permits in Germany are usually valid for one year. Note that the foreigners’ office does not routinely notify you if your residence permit is due to expire. It is therefore wise to make note of the expiry date of your residence permit and take steps to renew it well in advance.
Extending your temporary residence permit in Germany is largely a formality as long as your personal circumstances are the same as when you originally applied. If your employment, marital or financial status changes significantly you should contact your local foreigners’ office to check how this impacts your residency status.
It is essential to renew your residence permit long before its expiry date to avoid an illegal stay which may mean you are banned from entering Germany in the future. The cost of renewing a residence permit is usually 50-80 euros, depending on location and the complexity of your case.
If your residence permit has already expired or is due to expire in the near future, and you are still awaiting the outcome of your application for a new residence permit, you may be issued with a fictional certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung). Essentially, this certificate proves that you are living in Germany legally, despite not having a valid residence permit. In some cases, it also permits you to travel in and out of Germany.
There are a few circumstances in which you might receive a Fiktionsbescheinigung:
If you have a valid residence permit and have applied for it to be renewed, but it is due to expire in the near future, you can receive a Fiktionsbescheinigung that shows your residence permit remains valid and you are allowed to work or study (according to the conditions of your residence permit) until a decision is made on your application. You are allowed to leave and re-enter Germany, as long as your fictional certificate remains valid.
If you are living in Germany without a visa because your nationality entitles you to do so (for instance, if you are from the US, the UK, Canada or Austrialia) and you apply for a residence permit for the first time, you can receive a Fiktionsbescheinigung that allows you to remain in Germany until a decision is made on your application. However, you are not entitled to re-enter the country with this fictional certificate, nor does it allow you to work.
You can apply for a fictional certificate at your immigration office. You should ask for one at the same time you submit your residence permit (renewal) application. The application costs around 15 euros and you will need to provide your previous residence permit, a valid passport, and your registration certificate.
Note that you cannot be issued with a Fiktionsbescheinigung if you are in Germany on a short-term (Schengen) visa. In general, you will need to leave Germany and apply for a long-term visa and/or a residence permit from abroad.
If you are considering staying in Germany indefinitely and meet the requirements, you might consider applying for a permanent residence permit or German citizenship.