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Germany · Work

Germany Job search after study

First stay: 1 yr 6 mo

Residence permit for job search after studies, research or recognition (section 20 AufenthG)

Checked against official sources on Change log

Key facts

Job search after study is a work route for Germany. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.

Government fees
€100 ≈ $110 · €75 ≈ $84
First stay
1 yr 6 mo

Cost, time and long term

Government fees€100 ≈ $110 · €75 ≈ $84
  • EUR 100 (≈ $110)Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity.
  • EUR 75 (≈ $84)Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries.
Renewal18 months max, no extension

Up to 18 months; up to 12 months, extendable once by six months, after an assistant or helper training in health and care. No further extension.

Federal Ministry of Justice

CitizenshipGeneral rule: 5 years of residence

Naturalisation needs 5 years of lawful habitual residence, but this permit type does not qualify you to apply (Section 10(1) no. 2), so you need a different residence title such as a work permit first.

Federal Ministry of Justice

Where to applyInside the country

For people who studied, researched or took a recognition measure in Germany and apply to the immigration office in Germany.

Federal Ministry of Justice

Presence rulesStay rule

The residence permit expires if you leave Germany and do not return within six months, unless the authority sets a longer period.

Federal Ministry of Justice

Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

  • Can't be renewed: 18 months in total at most
  • Needs earlier residence or an existing status in Germany
  • Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports

What you'll need

Who can apply5

  • The applicant is a third-country national.
  • Successful completion in Germany of a stay under section 16b or 16c (studies), 18d or 18f (research), 16a (vocational training) or 16d (recognition).
  • A completed health or care assistant training also qualifies.
  • Subsistence is secured.
  • The intended work must be permitted under sections 18a, 18b, 18d, 18g, 19c or 21.

What you must show and pay2

  • A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110) · Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity.
  • A fee of EUR 75 (≈ $84) · Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries.

When you become tax resident

How Germany decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

Stay on this route

Up to 18 months in total

Tax residence

A continuous stay of more than six months counts as habitual abode from the start (section 9 AO), unless it is solely for a visit, recreation, cure or similar private purpose and lasts no longer than one year; a dwelling kept available for use creates a domicile (section 8 AO).

Foreign-source income

Residents are taxed on worldwide income.

All tax rules for Germany Tax records checked

Official site
Full official text

Permit of up to 18 months to look for qualified work after completing studies, research, a vocational training or a recognition measure in Germany; up to 12 months (extendable once by six months) after a health or care assistant training. 1 2 3 4 5 6

What you must show and pay

  • A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110) · Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity. 7
  • A fee of EUR 75 (≈ $84) · Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries. 8

Requirements

  • The applicant is a third-country national. 1
  • Successful completion in Germany of a stay under section 16b or 16c (studies), 18d or 18f (research), 16a (vocational training) or 16d (recognition). 1
  • A completed health or care assistant training also qualifies. 1
  • Subsistence is secured. 1
  • The intended work must be permitted under sections 18a, 18b, 18d, 18g, 19c or 21. 1

Stay

  • Up to 18 months; up to 12 months, extendable once by six months, after an assistant or helper training in health and care. No further extension.
  • First stay: up to 18 months, decided case by case.
  • Not renewable according to our source.

Nationality

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Family

Your spouse or partner may work in Germany without a separate permit.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

  1. AufenthG section 20: job search after stays in Germany · Federal Ministry of Justice (Gesetze im Internet) · checked 2026-10-10
  2. AufenthG § 4a Zugang zur Erwerbstätigkeit · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
  3. AufenthG § 30 Ehegattennachzug · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
  4. Family reunification with third-country nationals (Nachzug zu Drittstaatsangehörigen) · Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) · checked 2026-10-12
  5. AufenthG § 29 Familiennachzug zu Ausländern · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
  6. Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) section 41: privileged nationals who may obtain the residence title after entry · Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de · checked 2026-10-12
  7. Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 45: fees for the residence permit, Blue Card EU and ICT card · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
  8. Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 46: fees for the visa · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
  9. Nationality Act (StAG) section 10: naturalisation after lawful residence · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
  10. AufenthG section 51: expiry of residence titles · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11

Job search after study and its alternatives

RouteMoney neededStayWork
Job search after study–1.5 yr–
Blue CardNeeds income from €46k a year ≈ $51k4 yr, renewable–
Intra-company transfer permit–3 yr, renewable–
Experienced professional permitNeeds income of €46k+ a year ≈ $51k4 yr, renewable–
Researcher permit–––

Questions people ask

How much money do I need for the Job search after study?

A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110). Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity. A fee of EUR 75 (≈ $84). Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries.

How long can I stay on the Job search after study?

Up to 18 months; up to 12 months, extendable once by six months, after an assistant or helper training in health and care.

Can I bring my family on the Job search after study?

Your spouse or partner may work in Germany without a separate permit.

Who can apply for the Job search after study?

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

More in Germany

Opportunity CardWorking HolidayFreelancer permitSelf-employed permitSkilled worker · degreeSkilled worker · vocationalWestern Balkans work permitStudent permit

Work visas elsewhere

🇵🇹 Blue Card🇪🇸 EU Blue Card🇬🇪 IT sector permit🇮🇹 Blue Card🇬🇷 Large-company director permit🇫🇷 Talent · Company officer

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

Ask the AI about this route AI

An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.

How this was checked

Checked on 2026-10-12 against 10 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

  1. AufenthG section 20: job search after stays in Germany · Federal Ministry of Justice (Gesetze im Internet) · checked 2026-10-10
  2. AufenthG § 4a Zugang zur Erwerbstätigkeit · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
  3. AufenthG § 30 Ehegattennachzug · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
  4. Family reunification with third-country nationals (Nachzug zu Drittstaatsangehörigen) · Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) · checked 2026-10-12
  5. AufenthG § 29 Familiennachzug zu Ausländern · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
  6. Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) section 41: privileged nationals who may obtain the residence title after entry · Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de · checked 2026-10-12
  7. Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 45: fees for the residence permit, Blue Card EU and ICT card · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
  8. Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 46: fees for the visa · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
  9. Nationality Act (StAG) section 10: naturalisation after lawful residence · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
  10. AufenthG section 51: expiry of residence titles · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.