Moving Regulations - Germany

A visa permits the holder to reside in Germany only for its duration. The holder may stay in the country if only he/she has residence permit gained after entry into Germany.

If you want to stay longer, you should apply for (temporary) residence permits and (permanent) settlement permits. National visa is required for first-time entry into the country. Later it is converted into a residence or settlement permit. Temporary residence permit is issued for the individuals who arrived in Germany for family, education or training, gainful employment, humanitarian, international-law or political reasons. As for permanent settlement permits they are issued if a foreigner has possessed a residence permit for five years. Moreover, a foreigner has to meet the additional requirements: no criminal records, adequate command of the German language, secure income etc.

In 2005 a new kind of residence was introduced, replacing the previous system of separate residence and work permits. It also grants access to the labour market.

The Act provides for highly qualified persons to be granted permanent residence from the outset. They may gain a settlement permit at once. Members of their family who come to Germany with them or join them later are entitled to engage in gainful employment.

Students may remain in Germany for up to one year after successfully completing their studies for the purpose of seeking employment.

A residence permit may only be issued once a concrete job offer has been made. Approval by the authorities generally depends on the situation on the German labour market as a business location.