§ 20 AufenthG: Job Search Following Periods of Residence in the Federal Territory
This text was rewritten into plain language (B1 level) automatically and may contain errors. Only the official German statute is authoritative — when in doubt, read the original text below or consult a lawyer.
What is this about? You held a certain residence title in Germany. Now you want to look for work here. This section regulates when you get a residence permit for that.
Who has a legal entitlement to this residence permit? There are five groups. In each of these cases, the authority must grant you the residence permit. This is a legal entitlement — not at the authority's discretion.
Group 1: Studies You successfully completed your studies in Germany. Before that, you held a residence title under § 16b or § 16c. Then the authority must grant you a residence permit to look for a job.
Group 2: Research You completed your research activity in Germany. Before that, you held a residence title under § 18d or § 18f. Then the authority must grant you a residence permit to look for a job.
Group 3: Qualified vocational training You successfully completed qualified vocational training in Germany. Before that, you held a residence title under § 16a. Then the authority must grant you a residence permit to look for a job.
Group 4: Recognized professional qualification Your professional qualification was found to be equivalent in Germany. Or: You received a Berufsausübungserlaubnis (licence to practise your profession) in Germany. Before that, you held a residence title under § 16d. Then the authority must grant you a residence permit to look for a job.
Group 5: Assistant or auxiliary training in the healthcare and nursing sector You successfully completed assistant or auxiliary training. This training was state-recognized or regulated in a comparable way. It was in a training occupation in the healthcare and nursing sector. You completed this training within the federal territory. Then the authority must grant you a residence permit to look for a job. One additional condition applies: The activity must be permitted for foreigners under §§ 18a, 18b, 18d, 18g, 19c and 21.
Which requirement applies to all five groups? You must be able to secure your own living costs. This means: You need enough money to live on, without state assistance. Without secured living costs, you will not get this residence permit.
How long is the residence permit valid? For groups 1 to 4: The residence permit is valid for a maximum of 18 months. For group 5: The residence permit is valid for a maximum of 12 months. This permit from group 5 can be extended once. The extension is for a maximum of six months. The requirement for this is: Your living costs are secured. The authority decides on this extension. It is not a legal entitlement.
Is there a limit to the extension? Yes. Beyond these periods, no further extension is possible. This is excluded.
(1) Zur Suche nach einer Erwerbstätigkeit
- 3.ist einem Ausländer nach erfolgreichem Abschluss einer qualifizierten Berufsausbildung im Bundesgebiet im Rahmen eines Aufenthalts nach § 16a eine Aufenthaltserlaubnis zu erteilen,
- 4.ist einem Ausländer nach der Feststellung der Gleichwertigkeit der Berufsqualifikation oder der Erteilung der Berufsausübungserlaubnis im Bundesgebiet im Rahmen eines Aufenthalts nach § 16d eine Aufenthaltserlaubnis zu erteilen,
- 5.wird einem Ausländer nach erfolgreichem Abschluss einer Assistenz- oder Helferausbildung in einem staatlich anerkannten oder vergleichbar geregelten Ausbildungsberuf in einem Beruf im Gesundheits- und Pflegewesen im Bundesgebiet eine Aufenthaltserlaubnis erteilt, sofern die Tätigkeit nach den Bestimmungen der §§ 18a, 18b, 18d, 18g, 19c und 21 von Ausländern ausgeübt werden darf.
(2) Die Erteilung einer Aufenthaltserlaubnis nach Absatz 1 setzt die Lebensunterhaltssicherung voraus. Sie wird in den Fällen des Absatzes 1 Nummer 1 bis 4 für einen Zeitraum von bis zu 18 Monaten erteilt. In den Fällen des Absatzes 1 Nummer 5 wird sie für einen Zeitraum von bis zu zwölf Monaten erteilt und kann einmalig um bis zu sechs Monate verlängert werden, wenn der Lebensunterhalt gesichert ist. Die Verlängerung nach Absatz 1 über diese Zeiträume hinaus ist ausgeschlossen.
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