Apply for a Residence Permit for Highly Skilled Professionals
Service description
Foreign nationals with high professional or academic qualifications may, in special cases, receive a permanent residence permit immediately after obtaining a visa.
Note: Your spouse or partner and your children under the age of 18 are entitled to family reunification. They are also permitted to engage in gainful employment.
Procedure
Before entering Germany, you must apply for a national visa in your home country.
After entering the country, you must apply in writing to the Immigration Office for a settlement permit before your visa expires.
Prerequisites
The requirements for a settlement permit are:
- You must meet the passport and visa requirements. For
the passport requirement, it is sufficient to have a substitute identification document. - Your livelihood is secure without having to rely on public funds. Your
livelihood is considered secure if you- Income equal to the basic social assistance rate (e.g., 391.00 euros for a single person) plus
- Costs for housing and heating, as well as
- generate any health insurance premiums.
- There are no grounds for deporting you.
- Your stay does not endanger or harm the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.
- You belong to one of the following groups:
- Scientists with specialized expertise
- Faculty or academic staff in leadership roles
- Their integration into the social fabric of the Federal Republic of Germany is assured.
- You must meet the passport and visa requirements. For
What documents are required?
Proof
- compliance with passport and visa requirements
- that you have a secure means of support and that your integration into life in the Federal Republic of Germany is assured (usually by presenting a job offer)
- professional or academic qualifications
What fees apply?
The fee for issuance is €147 (half of which is due upon submission of the application).
Processing time
4–6 weeks
Legal basis
- Section 5 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) (General Requirements for Granting a Residence Permit)
- Section 19 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) (Permit of Settlement for Highly Qualified Individuals)
- § 44 Residence Regulation (AufenthV) (Fees for the Settlement Permit)
- § 284 of Book III of the Social Code (SGB III) (EU Work Permit for Nationals of the New EU Member States)
What else should I know?
You will receive your residence permit in the form of a card with additional electronic functions. For more information, see "Apply for an Electronic Residence Permit (eAT)."
Nationals of European Union (EU) member states have access to the German labor market under their right to free movement. They may engage in self-employment in Germany under their right of establishment. The same applies to other nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals.
Transitional provisions regarding the free movement of workers and the freedom to provide services apply to Croatian nationals. They must obtain a work permit from the Employment Agency before taking a job.
If you do not meet the academic or professional requirements, you may be eligible to receive the following residence permits after entering the country:
- Residence Permit for the Purpose of Employment
- Residence Permit for the Purpose of Engaging in Self-Employment
You can determine which residence permit to apply for as early as the visa application process.