Work Permit for Refugees

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When can I start to work?

You need a work permit before you can start to work in Germany. And whether you would be issued a work permit depends on your residence permit. Here, you can learn more about the regulations which apply to you when it comes to obtaining a work permit in Germany.

If you are not a refugee, you can visit our chapter “Immigration to Germany” to learn when and how you can apply for a work permit and enter the German job market.

Can I obtain a work permit?

I have a residence permit

If your application for asylum has been accepted, i.e. you have been recognised as a refugee, or an individual entitled to asylum or subsidiary protection, you may work as an employee or a self-employed person without any restrictions. That means you have the same rights as a German citizen in the job market.

If your application for asylum has been rejected, but you have been granted a residence permit based on a national deportation ban, the immigration office will decide whether you can obtain a work permit. Check your residence permit or the additional papers given to you to see if you are allowed to work in Germany.

You can find information on looking for a job and the documents you need for an application on our chapter page "Job Search and Application".

I have a “Duldung”

Work can be an important step towards achieving a secure stay in Germany for people with tolerated stay permits. If you have a job, you can apply for a so-called Beschäftigungsduldung under certain conditions. This offers the opportunity to obtain a residence permit at a later date. You can find more information on our chapter page “Beschäftigungsduldung”.

However, If you have a “Duldung” your access to the labour market will remain limited. Self-employment is in principle not allowed and to work as an employee, you must first apply for a work permit at your immigration office ("Ausländerbehörde").

Those who have a “Duldung” can obtain a work permit if they have been in Germany for 3 months and are no longer obliged to live in an initial reception facility. If you still have to live in an initial reception centre, you can obtain a work permit after 6 months.

Keep in mind that you cannot obtain a work permit if you have prevented your deportation through lack of cooperation or deception- OR in case you come from a safe country of origin and have applied for asylum after August 31, 2015. You can find out more about the safe countries of origin in our chapter "Safe countries of origin".

IMPORTANT: In the past, people with tolerated stay permits were only allowed to work if no German or EU citizens could be found for the job - this was known as the priority check. This rule has been abolished. Today, people with tolerated status have a better chance of obtaining a work permit.

Important

Before, work permits were granted to people in asylum procedure and the ones with a “Duldung” only if no German or EU citizen has applied for the position. The regulation (known as priority check or “"Vorrangsprüfung") does not apply anymore.