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IMPORTANT: Select a location.To obtain application forms, location-specific information and contacts, select a town or zip code.

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Please specify an area.

Your selected location: Lathen

Which place to enter?

The location is used to determine the responsible office for the selected administrative service. In most cases you can enter your place of residence to find the competent authority. However, there are also cases in which a different location must be specified. Here are some examples:

Birth certificateYou want to get married and need a birth certificate. You live in Hanover, but you were born in Celle. You must therefore state your place of birth, i.e. Celle.

Business registrationYou would like to register a business in Braunschweig. Your place of residence is Hanover. You must therefore state the location of your future business, i.e. Braunschweig.

Apply for a building permitYou would like to build a house in Wunstorf and therefore apply for a building permit. Her place of residence is currently Hanover. You must indicate the place where the house is to be built. In this case it is Wunstorf.

Apply for a residence permit for employment as a specialist with academic training

Read aloud

A residence permit for employment as a skilled worker with an academic qualification gives you access to the labor market in Germany. It can only be applied for in person at your local immigration office. Spouses of holders of a residence permit for qualified employment are also entitled to a residence permit.

You can apply for a residence permit if you have a university degree. If you do not have a German university degree, your degree must either be recognized or be comparable to a German university degree. You can apply for recognition or assessment of comparability before you arrive in Germany.

You must also present an employment contract or a binding job offer. From the age of 45, you must provide proof of a certain minimum salary. The minimum gross salary is set annually and amounts to EUR 46,860 in 2021. Even if you do not reach this minimum salary, you can obtain a residence permit for qualified employment if you provide proof of adequate pension provision or in special cases. A special case may be that there is a public interest in the employment.

The Federal Employment Agency checks whether the working conditions correspond to those of comparable German employees and whether a domestic employment relationship exists.

The residence permit is a temporary residence title. It is issued for 4 years for permanent employment relationships and can be extended. If the duration of your employment relationship is less than 4 years, the residence permit will be issued for the duration of your employment contract.

As the holder of a residence permit for qualified employment for skilled workers with a university degree, you can also obtain a settlement permit under certain conditions. This entitles you to permanent residence.

Exception: As a citizen of an EU country, you have access to the labor market due to your right to freedom of movement and do not require a residence permit. You can be self-employed or employed in Germany under the right of establishment or freedom of movement for workers. This also applies to nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

Note: If you are highly qualified, you may also be eligible for an "EU Blue Card" as a residence permit. Other requirements apply here, including a minimum salary regardless of age.

Who should I contact?

Foreigners' Registration Office of your city or municipality

Federal hotline "Working and living in Germany"
Telephone: 030 18151111
Service hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:00

Responsible authorities

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Landkreis Emsland - Fachbereich Sicherheit und Ordnung
Address: Ordeniederung 1 , 49716 Meppen
Timetable
Postal address: Post Office Box 15 62 , 49705 Meppen
Timetable
Telephone: 05931 44-0
Email: Get in touch
www: https://www.emsland.de
Transport Connection:
Station Haltestelle Kreishaus
Bus: 993
Building Access
elevator available, wheelchair-accessible

Contact

Ausländerbehörde
Telephone: 05931 44-0
Email: Get in touch
responsible for:

Requirements

  • You have
    • a German university degree, or
    • a recognized foreign university degree, or
    • a foreign university degree that is comparable to a German university degree.
  • You have
    • a job or
    • a job offer.
  • You have a qualification that qualifies you for the job.
  • If necessary, you have a license to practice the profession, for example a license to practice as a pharmacist.
  • Working conditions and, in particular, salary must be comparable to those of a German employee; the approval of the Federal Employment Agency is required.
  • You can secure your livelihood and health insurance cover from your income without claiming public benefits.
  • There is no interest in deporting you.
  • Your stay does not jeopardize or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Applications / forms

  • Forms: yes
  • Online procedure possible: no
  • Written form required: yes
  • Personal appearance required: yes

You can obtain the forms from your local immigration office or on their website.

Which documents are required?

  • If you are entering Germany with an appropriate visa:
    • valid passport with visa
  • As far as there is a previous stay with a residence title for another purpose:
    • valid passport
    • residence permit

Additionally:

  • current biometric photo
  • Original of employment contract or binding offer of employment
  • Original of the certificate of successfully completed university education
  • if available:
    • Notification of recognition or comparability of the university degree
    • Certificate evaluation of the Central Office for Foreign Education
  • for regulated professions: Your professional license (for example, approbation or professional permit)
  • Current certificate of registration
  • if required: licence to practise your profession
  • Proof of health insurance
  • Rental contract

What are the fees?

Issue of residence permit: EUR 100,00

Fee: 100,00 EUR
Payment in advance: no

Process flow

You must apply for your residence permit in person:

  • Arrange an appointment with the immigration office responsible for your place of residence.
  • During the appointment, your documents will be checked and your fingerprints will be taken for the electronic residence permit (eAT card). The authority will send your application to the employment agency.
  • The employment agency will give feedback to the foreigners authority.
  • If your application is approved, the Immigration Office will commission the Bundesdruckerei to produce the eAT card
  • You will receive notification by post that your application has been approved and the eaT card will be produced, or that your application has been rejected.
  • As the eAT card is linked to an online ID function, you must collect it in person.
  • You will receive information by post that you can collect the eAT card from the Foreigners' Registration Office.

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

Residence permit application: at least 8 weeks before your visa or residence permit expires.

Validity of your residence permit:

  • As long as your employment contract if your employment contract is valid for less than 4 years,
  • 4 years if your employment contract is valid for at least 4 years or indefinitely.

Processing duration

about 6 to 8 weeks

Legal basis

Source: Serviceportal Niedersachsen (Portalverbund des Bundes und der Länder)

Further Links

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Single points of contact of the state of Lower Saxony, Single points of contact of the countries of Europe, advice and assistance for EU citizens and their families.
Access information on the single point of contact for the state of Lower Saxonyvisit Website Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEsVisit advice and assistance for EU citizens and their families