Work & Study
Job-seeker residence permit after a stay in Germany (§20 AufenthG)
For qualified people who want to search for a job from inside Germany. See the conditions and what to have ready.
- 18 monthsto look for a job after finishing in GermanySource: 18 months to look for a job after finishing in Germany (opens in new tab)
- Any workallowed meanwhile, including self-employmentSource: Any work allowed meanwhile, including self-employment (opens in new tab)
Your local offices
City not listed? Find your Bürgeramt with the federal service search and your Ausländerbehörde with BAMF-NAvI, or see the guide for your state.
General information summarised from official sources. Rules change and the authorities make every decision. Check with your Ausländerbehörde or a qualified adviser.
General information only, and no outcome is promised. Check with your local Ausländerbehörde before acting.
Your local office: documents, fees, booking and waiting times are set by each Ausländerbehörde and differ from city to city. Pick your situation and city in the step finder to get a direct link to your own office, or see the local office guide for your state. You can also find your office with BAMF-NAvI or the federal service finder.
Note: if you are coming from abroad without a job offer, the relevant route is the Opportunity Card (see the Opportunity Card guide).
Found a job? See the EU Blue Card guide and the skilled worker guide.
Who it's for
People who have successfully completed one of the following in Germany: studies (§16b/16c), research (§18d/18f), qualified vocational training (§16a), recognition of a qualification or licence to practise (§16d), or certain health or care assistant training (§20 Abs. 1, checked 2026-11-04).
Requirements
- You hold a valid residence permit for one of the purposes above and have completed it (§20, checked 2026-11-04).
- You can cover your living costs (§20 Abs. 2, checked 2026-11-04). The law sets no fixed amount for this permit: the fixed amounts in §2 Abs. 3 apply only to §§16a–16g and §17, not to §20 (§2 Abs. 3, checked 2026-11-04). Ask your Ausländerbehörde what proof it accepts.
- The job you are looking for must be one foreigners may do under §§18a, 18b, 18d, 18g, 19c or 21 (§20, checked 2026-11-04).
Rights
- Up to 18 months, or 12 + 6 months for assistant training. It cannot be extended beyond that for job search (§20 Abs. 2, checked 2026-11-04).
- Any work is allowed, including self-employment (MIG studying, checked 2026-11-04).
Documents, fees and steps at your local office
Each Ausländerbehörde publishes its own document checklist, fees and booking or online-application process, so this guide doesn't copy one city's list. Pick your situation and city in the step finder for a direct link to your office's page, or open the local office guide for your state. Fees for residence permits are set nationwide in § 45 AufenthV; your office tells you the exact amount.