Apply for Residence Permit for Skilled Workers with Vocational Training
Your vocational training opens the way to a residence permit for any qualified employment in Germany.
At a glance
How do you get a residence permit as a skilled worker with vocational training?
You have completed vocational training and want to work in Germany? Then as a skilled worker you have a statutory right to a residence permit. The authority must grant it to you.
You need either a completed German vocational training of at least 2 years or a foreign professional qualification recognised as equivalent. You also need an employment contract or a specific job offer in Germany.
The residence permit is valid for up to four years. If your employment contract runs for a shorter period, the residence permit is issued for a correspondingly shorter period. With it you may take up any qualified employment.
Important: As a rule, the Federal Employment Agency must approve your employment. If you are older than 45, you must also demonstrate a minimum gross salary of 4,647.50 euros per month or have adequate retirement provision.
Requirements
Who qualifies?
- You are a skilled worker with a completed German vocational training (at least 2 years) or a foreign professional qualification recognised as equivalent, and you have a specific job offer in Germany
Additional requirements
- You need a valid residence title or a national D visa and must be registered in Berlin.
- The Federal Employment Agency must generally approve your employment.
- If a professional practice licence is required for your profession, you must demonstrate this before the issuance.
- If you are older than 45, your salary must be at least 4,647.50 euros gross per month, or you must demonstrate adequate retirement provision.
- You need sufficient health insurance in Germany and must not pose a threat to public safety.
How to apply
Submit the online application for a residence permit for employment as a skilled worker and have all documents ready in PDF format
Pay the processing fee by credit card or PayPal before submitting the application
Save the application confirmation as a PDF and print it — it certifies the continued validity of your current residence title
Wait for the review by the State Office for Immigration and submit further documents if requested
Attend the assigned appointment with all original documents
Done! The authority must grant you the residence permit if you meet all the requirements
First-time issuance as sticker
- Extension as sticker49,00 EUR
- First-time issuance as electronic residence title100,00 EUR
- Extension as electronic residence title93,00 EUR
- Turkish nationals up to 24 years (issuance and extension)22,80 EUR
- Turkish nationals from 24 years (issuance and extension)37,00 EUR
- Digital passport photo at self-service terminal6,00 EUR
Good to know
The Federal Employment Agency restricts your residence permit to the planned employment. You may not simply take any position. The restriction is entered as an ancillary provision in your residence title.
wobei die Beschäftigung weiter auf die beabsichtigte Beschäftigung durch die Bundesagentur beschränkt wird
VAB A.18/A.18a, S. 188-194
If your profession is not regulated, you do not need a professional practice license. This requirement only applies to certain professions. Your qualification certificate is then sufficient.
Sofern die Ausübung einer Tätigkeit keine Berufsausübungserlaubnis erfordert, ist diese Anforderung für den Ausländer nicht einschlägig.
VAB A.18/A.18a, S. 188-194
For regulated professions in Berlin, a special specialist authority is responsible. This applies, for example, to medicine, engineering, or teaching professions. The immigration authority will refer you to the correct office.
Soweit der Beruf im Land Berlin reglementiert ist (z.B. Human-, Zahn-, und Veterinärmedizin, Ingenieurwesen, Notariat oder Lehrberufe an staatlichen Schulen) ist die jeweilige Fachbehörde zuständig, an die der Betroffene jeweils zu verweisen ist.
VAB A.18/A.18a, S. 188-194
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Apply for Residence Permit for Skilled Workers with Vocational Training
If your application is approved, you will receive an appointment. A residence permit as a sticker can be issued on site at the appointment. If issued as an electronic residence title (eAT), it takes 4 to 6 weeks until it can be collected.