Seeking employment after completing vocational training

Once you have successfully completed your vocational training, you have several options. On the one hand, you can apply for a residence permit for the purpose of employment as a skilled worker if you have already found a job in your training profession. You can find further information about this here.

Secondly, you can obtain a residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment. You can find more information on this page. The purpose of the residence permit is to find a job that corresponds to your training qualification.

Please bring the following with you…

If you would like to apply for a residence permit for the purpose of looking for a job after completing your vocational training, please bring the following documents with you (if we do not already have them):

• Your valid passport
• A current passport photo
• A completed application form
• Proof of sufficient funding (employment contract and salary statements / letter of intent in accordance with Section 68 AufenthG (German Residence Act) / blocked account)
• Your tenancy agreement
• Proof of health insurance
• Certificate of completion of training
• Fee: up to € 100.00

Further documents may be required in individual cases. If this applies to you, we will inform you accordingly.

Please note: An appointment is required for the granting and extension of the residence permit. Please send us an appointment request.

Period of validity

The residence permit can be issued for up to 18 months (calculated from the day of your graduation) after the completion of a qualified vocational training (duration of at least two years). After completing an assistant or helper training in a state-recognized or similarly regulated training occupation in a profession in the health and care sector, the residence permit can be issued for twelve months and extended once by six months.

If you have found a job, you can also apply for a residence permit for employment as a skilled worker before your residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment expires.

Change in purpose of stay

It is possible to change the purpose of residence for the purpose of employment as a skilled worker.

Furthermore, you can change to a residence permit if there is a legal entitlement to the same (for example, in the case of family reunification).

If you do not find a job appropriate to your vocational qualification within the period allocated to you to seek employment, you must generally leave the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Paid employment

The residence permit issued to you for the purpose of seeking employment after completing vocational training permits paid employment. This means that you can take up any form of employment you wish or become self-employed.