What German residence permit do you need?
You might need a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) to live, work and study in Germany. This guide explains how residence permits work.
Who needs a German residence permit?
Most people need a residence permit to live in Germany for more than 90 days.12 It depends on your citizenship:
- European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway
You don’t need a residence permit. You can already live, work and study in Germany.1 If you work in Germany, register your address, get a tax ID, and get German health insurance. - Switzerland
It would be best to have a residence permit, but you can get any job.2 – More information - Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom or the United States
A work, study, or freelance residence permit in Germany would be best. You can visit Germany for up to 90 days without a visa.4 You can apply for a residence permit in Germany or your home country. - Any other country
It would be best if you had a job seeker visa to look for work in Germany.4 You need a residence permit to work, study, or freelance in Germany. You might need a Schengen visa to visit Germany as a tourist. You can’t convert a Schengen visa to a residence permit.5
As a permanent German resident, you can live, work, and study in Germany. You do not need another residence permit. You don’t need permission to change jobs or start a business.
If you want to visit Germany as a tourist, you don’t need a residence permit, but you might need a Schengen visa.
Types of residence permits
Complete list of residence permits – diplo.de
Residence permits to work
If you have a job offer:
- Work visa – How to apply
To work in Germany, you need a job offer to apply for this visa. You might also need professional training. - Blue Card – How to apply
Working in Germany is only for university graduates or IT specialists with 3 years of experience. There is a minimum salary requirement. - Working holiday visa
This residence permit is for citizens of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Uruguay. You must be between 18 and 30 years old. It lets you work and travel in Germany. It’s valid for up to one year. It’s easier to get than a work visa or Blue Card. - Youth mobility visa
This residence permit, valid for up to one year, lets Canadian citizens between 18 and 35 work and travel in Germany. It’s easier to get than a work visa or Blue Card. - Au pair visa
This is for people who want to be a helper (au pair) for a host family in Germany. You need an au pair contract. You must be under 27 years old.10 . It’s valid for up to 1 year.
If you don’t have a job offer:
- Opportunity card
For looking for work in Germany. It gives you 1 year to find a job. You can work 20 hours per week. You must apply for a work visa or a Blue Card to work full-time. - Job seeker visa
For looking for work in Germany. It gives you 6 to 18 months to find a job. To start working, you must apply for a work visa or a Blue Card. The opportunity card is a better option because you can work 20 hours per week.
If you are a permanent resident, you can have any job. You don’t need permission from the Ausländerbehörde.
Residence permits to start a business
- Freelance visa – How to apply
This is for freelancers and self-employed people who want to live in Germany. It would be best if you had clients in Germany. The Artist visa is a type of freelance visa.
The work visa and the Blue Card sometimes allow self-employment. Look at your residence permit and Zusatzblatt. If it says Selbständige Tätigkeit gestattet or Erwerbstätigkeit erlaubt, you can be self-employed besides your job. It would be best if you kept your job, and it must be your primary source of income.11
By default, the student visa does allow self-employment. You must first get permission from the Ausländerbehörde. They will update your student visa and let you study and run a business simultaneously. – More information
If you are a permanent resident, you can be self-employed. You don’t need permission from the Ausländerbehörde.
How to start a business in Germany
Residence permits to study
- Student visa
This is for people who want to study in Germany. You must be enrolled in a German university. You can work during your studies. You can work while you study. - Internship visa
For university students.6 This residence permit lets you do an internship in Germany. It’s valid for 6 to 12 months.7
If you are a permanent resident, you can study in Germany. You don’t need permission from the Ausländerbehörde.
Residence permits for your family
- Family reunion visa
For spouses and family members of German residents, a family reunion visa is a way to bring your family to Germany. With this visa, your spouse and your children can work or study in Germany.
How to get a residence permit
You can apply for a residence permit in your home country or Germany.13
- At the Ausländerbehörde in Germany
If you apply in Germany, you get a residence permit. Usually, it takes 2 to 3 months, but it can take longer. You can’t work or study during that time, so you must have enough savings to survive. You can only apply in Germany if…- You are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom or the United States
- or you already have a German residence permit and want to renew or change it.
- At the German embassy or consulate in your country
If you apply to the country where you live, you will get a national visa. It’s valid for up to 12 months. When you get the National Visa, you can move to Germany and start working or studying. When you arrive in Germany, you must convert your National Visa to a residence permit at the Ausländerbehörde. You must do this before your visa expires.9 In some cases, you can apply for a National Visa online.
Please apply in your home country. Then, you can start working as soon as you arrive in Germany instead of living there without income.
How to renew a residence permit
Your residence permit is valid for 6 months to 4 years. Around 8 weeks before it expires, you must go to the Ausländerbehörde to renew it.
They will check if you still meet all the requirements. You might need to bring a lot of documents, so prepare in advance.
How to renew a freelance visa
After a few years, you might qualify for German permanent residence or citizenship. These don’t need to be renewed.
