Work permit
Hi,
I completed my Master's degree at a German university in 2023. I am a Turkish citizen, and I came to Germany for my Master's studies. After graduation, I received an 18-month job-seeking visa (Aufenthaltserlaubnis zur Arbeitsplatzsuche nach dem Studium). During this period, I was allowed to work full-time, and I worked for a year and a half as an event manager, which is somewhat related to my field of study.
My permit expired in March 2025, and I had to quit my job in January 2025. As a result, when I needed to apply for a work permit, I was unemployed. The Ausländerbehörde granted me an additional three months to find a job and apply for a work permit. I was only able to find a part-time job, which does not meet the minimum annual salary requirement for the EU Blue Card.
- My first question is: Do I have to apply for a Blue Card because I have a Master's degree from a German university, or can I apply for a regular work permit without worrying about the minimum salary requirement for the Blue Card? I would earn enough to support myself annually with this part time job, just not as much as required for the Blue Card.
- My second question, which is related to the first, is whether a part-time job would be accepted for a work or residence permit, or if there is a restriction that prevents me from obtaining a residence permit with part-time employment. Is there a specific regulation I should be aware of?
- Lastly, if I cannot find a job before my Fiktionsbescheinigung expires, I was informed that I would need to leave the country. I am wondering if there is any other type of permit I could apply for in that case.
Thank you very much for your help in advance.
Hi @viovio , thank you for getting in touch.
If you have a Master's degree from a German university, you do not need to apply for an EU Blue Card. Instead, you can apply for a regular residence permit for skilled workers. If you are over the age of 45, you must also have adequate pension provision or prove that you will earn at least €53,130 gross per year. You can find out more information about this here: https://handbookgermany.de/en/visa-skilled-workers
Here is an overview of the opportunities that are available to you as a skilled worker:
https://handbookgermany.de/en/information-skilled-workers
It's also possible to get a residence permit with a part-time job, as long as your income is sufficient to cover your living expenses without relying on public assistance.
If your Fiktionsbescheinigung expires and you haven't secured a qualifying job by then, you can only remain in Germany if you apply for another valid residence permit before it expires.
One possible option is to apply for an extension of your job-seeking period. Some immigration authorities may grant this if you're close to signing a contract - it's worth asking politely.
Another option is to enrol in a new academic programme or an intensive German language course, which may allow you to apply for a study-related residence permit.
Please consider contacting the Immigration Advice Centre, they can give you detailed information and help you through the whole process: https://bamf-navi.bamf.de/en/Themen/Beratungsstellen/
If you have any further questions, please let us know.
Best
Barbara