Job Seeker Permit After Study or Training in Germany

Your student or training permit is ending and you do not have a signed contract yet. The fear is a hard stop: leave Germany, lose your network, and restart the job hunt from abroad.

This guide covers the post-stay job search permit under Section 20 of the Residence Act (AufenthG). It is for people who already completed a qualifying stay in Germany and need time to find skilled work that matches their qualification. If you are outside Germany and want to enter to search without a job offer, use the Opportunity Card instead. Not sure which route fits? Start with Which Visa Do You Need in Germany.

After you receive an offer, see Skilled Worker Visa in Germany and EU Blue Card.

Who Section 20 is for

Section 20 covers job search after a qualifying stay in Germany. Common paths include:

• Graduates of a German university degree programme (Section 20(1) No. 1)
• Researchers after a research stay under Sections 18d or 18f (No. 2)
• Graduates of qualified vocational training (qualifizierte Berufsausbildung) in Germany (No. 3)
• People after recognition of a foreign qualification in certain cases (No. 4)
• Completers of certain healthcare assistant or helper training programmes (No. 5)

You generally need a recognized German degree or vocational qualification, or another status listed in Section 20(1). Check anabin and Recognition in Germany if your credentials are foreign or unclear.

Purpose. Find skilled employment aligned with your qualification, then switch to a work residence permit. This is not an open-ended stay and is usually not extendable beyond the maximum period.

Duration, funds, and work rights

Duration. Up to 18 months under Section 20(2) for the pathways in Section 20(1) Nos. 1 to 4. You generally cannot extend beyond that maximum.

Finances. Prove you can support yourself for the stay. Required amounts depend on the exact title and local practice. Post-study job search often sits around €1,027 per month. Do not use the student 12-month blocked-account total (€11,904) as a six-month job-seeker figure. Confirm the current amount with your local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) before you apply.

Insurance. Health insurance valid for the full period is required.

Work while searching. Section 20 holders may generally take paid employment while looking for a matching skilled role (including more than 20 hours per week). Trial work (Probearbeit) and networking remain useful. Freelancing and self-employment still need separate authorization. For freelancing rules, see Freelance Visa for Germany.

After arrival or conversion. Keep your address registration (Anmeldung) current. See Address registration. Use BAMF NAVI to find your local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) if needed.

After you find a job

1. Get a written job offer that meets skilled visa requirements.
2. Apply at the local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) to change to a Skilled Worker permit or EU Blue Card, depending on salary and role.
3. Start regular work under the new permit once it is approved.

Applying inside Germany can save a return trip home compared with starting a work visa entirely from abroad.

Job search tips

• Apply early so interviews are scheduled soon after your permit starts
• Use LinkedIn, StepStone, XING, and Indeed.de
• Consider smaller cities with less competition than Berlin or Munich
• German skills help even for English-speaking roles
• Join professional meetups and expat networks for referrals

If this is not your situation

• Outside Germany, no job offer: Opportunity Card in Germany
• Already have a job offer: Skilled Worker Visa or EU Blue Card
• Still comparing routes: Which Visa Do You Need in Germany

Next steps

1. Confirm you finished a qualifying stay in Germany and Section 20 applies to your case.
2. Check qualification recognition on anabin.kmk.org if relevant.
3. Confirm current proof-of-funds amounts for your exact title with the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde).
4. Arrange health insurance for the full period and apply to convert or extend at the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde).

Keep your address registration current. See Address registration.

Useful links

• Make it in Germany: Quick-Check (self-assessment for work, study, training, and business routes)
• BAMF NAVI: Find local authorities
• anabin database
• Recognition in Germany