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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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Your selected location: Salzbergen (484...)

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

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A residence permit for employment as a specialist with academic training gives you access to the labour market in Germany. It can only be applied for in person at your locally competent immigration authority. Spouses of holders of residence permits for the purpose of skilled employment are also entitled to a residence permit.

You can apply for a residence permit if you have completed a university degree. If you do not have a German university degree, your degree must either be recognised or comparable to a German university degree. You can recognise or establish comparability before you enter Germany.

You must also submit an employment contract or a binding job offer. From the age of 45, you must prove 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 on presentation of proof of adequate retirement provision or, in special cases. A special case may be that there is a public interest in employment.

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

The residence permit is a temporary residence permit. It is granted for 4 years in the case of 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 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 labour market on the basis of your right to free movement and do not need a residence permit. You can exercise self-employment or employment in Germany within the framework of the right of establishment or the free movement of workers. This also applies to citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

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

Who should I contact?

Foreigners' registration office in your town or municipality

Hotline "Working and Living in Germany" of the Federal Government
Telephone: 030 18151111
Service hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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
Fax: 05931 44-3621
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:

Competent authority

Aliens department of your city or municipality

Requirements

  • You have
    • a German university degree, or
    • a recognised 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 possess a qualification that qualifies you to perform the job.
  • If required, you have a licence to practise your profession, e.g. licence to practise 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 deportation against you.
  • Your stay does not endanger 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 competent foreigners authority or from 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:

  • Make an appointment with the foreigners authority 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 sends feedback to the Aliens' Registration Office.
  • If your application is approved, the Aliens' Registration Office commissions 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 Aliens' 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