Apply for residence permit for skilled workers with academic training

How do you get a residence permit as an academic skilled worker?

You have a university degree and a job in Germany? Then you have a right to a residence permit as a skilled worker. The authority must grant it to you. With it, you may carry out any qualified employment in Germany.

The residence permit is valid for up to four years. If your employment contract is shorter, the State Office for Immigration (Landesamt für Einwanderung, LEA) issues it for this shorter period. The same applies if the Federal Employment Agency has only consented for a shorter period. Afterwards, you can renew it.

You need several things for the permit. You must already be legally residing in Germany, for example with a national D-visa. You can submit the application at the earliest 4 months before your current residence title expires. You also need an employment contract or at least a draft of one. Your employer must have a place of business in Germany. Normally the Federal Employment Agency must consent. Your university degree must be recognized in Germany or correspond to a German degree. First check this in the Anabin database of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). If nothing suitable is listed there, you must apply for a fee-based individual evaluation from the ZAB. For certain professions such as doctors or engineers, you also need a license to practice the profession. You must also have health insurance in Germany. Foreign health insurance is generally not sufficient. Your primary residence must be in Berlin. A secondary residence is not enough.

If you are already 45 years old or older, a special rule applies. Then you must normally provide proof of adequate retirement provision. For this, your salary in 2026 must be at least 4,647.50 euros gross per month. This is lower if you have already made sufficient retirement provision from other sources. In addition, you must not pose a threat to public security. Even fines can prevent the issuance. During an ongoing investigation, the LEA does not process your application.

Note: If your spouse or your child also lives in Berlin, do not submit a separate application for them. Simply enter them in the online application. The LEA will then contact you regarding their residence permits. Submit the online application "Temporary residence title for employment" and pay the processing fee before submitting. You can pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard) or PayPal. Be sure to save the confirmation as a PDF afterwards. It shows that your current residence title remains valid. However, this does not apply with a Schengen visa (C-visa) or if your title has already expired on the day of the application.