Visa for job-
or apprenticeship search
How you can come to Germany to look for a job or training place
You would like to come to Germany and work or start an apprenticeship herebut you haven't found a suitable job yet? Then there are several options open to you: You have the choice between a residence permit to look for a job according to § 20 of the Residence Act (AufenthG), the visa to search for a training or study place according to § 17 AufenthG, and the opportunity card according to § 20a AufenthG. All of these residence permits allow you to enter Germany or extend your stay in Germany and look for job offers or training places directly in Germany. We will explain which visa or residence permit is right for you, which requirements you need to meet and what else you need to consider.
Job search visa
There are essentially two different residence permits available to you in Germany when looking for a job: The residence permit for job search according to § 20 AufenthG and the new so-called opportunity card. In the following, we will first explain the differences between the two titles before going into more detail about their respective requirements.
Opportunity card or residence permit to look for a job - which residence permit is the right one?
In principle, both the Chancenkarte and the residence permit to look for a job in accordance with Section 20 AufenthG allow you to stay in Germany legally to look for a job. However, the two residence permits are aimed at different people: The title according to § 20 AufenthG can only be obtained by who are already resident in Germany. The opportunity card on the other hand, is also open to foreigners who are not yet in Germany. Only the Chancenkarte is therefore a "real" visa.
In other words: If you are are not yet in Germanythe Chancenkarte is your only option for obtaining a visa to look for a job. In this case, we recommend our detailed page on the opportunity card and our free points calculator for the opportunity map. There you will find all the information you need on this topic.
However, if you are are already in Germanyyou can either still choose the route via the Chancenkarte or opt for a residence permit in accordance with § 20 AufenthG. In many respects, the two titles differ only slightly. For both, for example you must be able to support yourself independentlyand after obtaining both, you are free to change to other residence permits free.
However, the residence permit according to § 20 AufenthG offers the advantage that you can use it for up to 18 months to look for a job, whereas the Search Opportunity Card only for a maximum of one year is issued. You may also according to § 4a para. 1 sentence 1 AufenthG with a residence permit to look for a job you may work without restriction during your search. The Search Opportunity Card, on the other hand, only allows you to work 20 hours per week. However, the advantage of the opportunity card is that its requirements are less strict: Although it is only to skilled workers or according to a points system it is generally available to all holders of a residence permit for training or gainful employment (§§ 16 - 21 AufenthG). The residence permit to look for a job according to § 20 AufenthG, on the other hand, is only granted in certain cases. We will explain what these are in the next section.
Requirements for a residence permit to look for a job
The residence permit to look for a job is generally only granted in five cases. These cases are as follows:
- You have successfully completed a successfully completed your studies in Germanyfor which you have a residence permit according to § 16b or § 16c AufenthG had;
- You have successfully completed successfully completed qualified vocational training in Germanyfor which you have a residence permit according to § 16a AufenthG had;
- You have had your foreign qualification have your foreign qualification recognized as equivalent or your received a license to practice your professionand had a residence permit according to § 16d AufenthG;
- You have completed a completed a research activity in Germanyfor which you have a residence permit according to § 18d or § 18f AufenthG had; or
- You have a training as an assistant or helper in the health and care sector (e.g. training as a nursing assistant) successfully completed.
There are also some general requirements that must be met. For example, if you wish to pursue a profession for which a license is required under German law (e.g. human medicine), you must be able to prove that you have been granted such a license.
In addition, you must have a residence permit in accordance with § Section 20 (1) sentence 2 AufenthG provide proof that your livelihood is secured for the duration of your stay in Germany. You can provide such proof either through a corresponding paid professional activity or through a blocked account or a declaration of commitment. A blocked account is an account that cannot be used or can only be used to a limited extent. With a declaration of commitment a person living in Germany undertakes to the Foreigners' Registration Office to finance your stay if necessary.
Duration of the residence permit
The residence permit to look for a job in accordance with § 20 AufenthG can be for a maximum of 18 months issued and cannot be extended thereafter no longer be extended thereafter. A new application is not possible immediately.
If your job search is unsuccessful, you will not be able to continue your stay in Germany with this title. However, you are free to subsequently any other residence permit to apply for. For example, after your residence permit to look for a job expires in accordance with § 20 AufenthG, you can still apply for an opportunity card provided you meet the requirements.
However, if you have found a job, you can apply directly and without leaving the country beforehand for a residence permit for the purpose of gainful employment for skilled workers or an EU Blue Card Blue Card.
Visa to search for a training place
In addition to the visa to look for a job, it is also possible to apply for a visa to search for a training place to apply. This serves to facilitate the application process for an apprenticeship. If you want to complete qualified vocational training in a company in Germany, you can apply for this visa in accordance with § 17 Para. 1 AufenthG in order to look for a training place in Germany. You must meet the following requirements in particular:
Requirements for a visa to search for a training place
If you want to apply for a visa to look for a training place, you must be under 35 years of age. Furthermore, you need a school-leaving qualification that entitles you to study at a university - either in the country in which you obtained this qualification or in Germany. Alternatively, you can also obtain a visa to look for a training place with a degree from a German school abroad. Your German language skills must correspond to level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). As with the visa to look for a job, you must also be able to prove that you will be able to that your livelihood is secured for the entire duration of your stay (e.g. through a blocked account or a declaration of commitment).
Entitlements with the visa to search for a training place
The visa to look for a training place also serves precisely this purpose - the search for a training place. It does not entitle you to work full-time. However, you may work for up to 20 hours a week, for example to earn a living.to secure your livelihood, for example. You are also permitted to work for the entire duration of your stay for work with potential employers on a trial basis for up to two weeks in total.
With a visa to look for a training place, you are entitled to to stay in Germany for up to nine monthsto find a training place. If your search was successful, you can obtain a residence permit for the purpose of training in accordance with § 16a AufenthG to extend your residence permit for Germany beyond the nine months.