Germany has numerous significant research institutes. If you want to come to Germany to work as a researcher from outside the EU, you need a visa or a residence permit for the purpose of research according to §18d Residence Act.
You can obtain a visa as a researcher if you meet the following requirements:
- You have a hosting agreement with a research institution recognised by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). A list of currently recognised research institutions is available at bamf.de.
- The research project must actually be carried out.
- Your specific knowledge or skills can be proven by certificates, etc.
- In principle, the research institute must also pledge (in writing) to secure your livelihood and to cover any costs that may arise from possible further unauthorised residence or deportation.
If you need a visa to enter Germany, the first step is to apply for one at the German embassy/consulate in your home country or a neighbouring country and present the required documents.
Please note that your visa application can take several months to process.
If you do not need a visa to enter Germany, visit the Immigration Office at your new place of residence after your entry and present the required documents.
Whether you need a visa depends on your country of origin. On auswaertiges-amt.de, you will find a list of countries whose citizens need an entry visa to come to Germany.
In our chapter "National Visa", you will find a list of all documents third-country nationals need for a national visa.
For a research visa, you will also need the following documents:
- A hosting agreement from a research institution recognised by the BAMF. A list of currently recognised research institutes is available at bamf.de.
- A confirmation from the research institute that the research project has actually been carried out
- Evidence of your specific knowledge and skills
- A declaration of commitment by the research institute to cover all costs
After entering the country, you must report to the Immigration Office at your new place of residence within three months and apply for a residence permit. To do so, you must submit the documents mentioned above as well as, in principle, a police registration certificate and a rental agreement. The authorities will check your papers and then decide whether you can obtain a residence permit.
You can then stay in Germany for at least one year and do your research work. If the requirements are still met, the residence permit can be extended.
After you have finished your work at the research institute, you can apply for a residence permit to look for another job. For researchers, this residence permit is valid for nine months. You can apply for a residence permit directly at the Immigration Office responsible for you.
You can learn more about work contracts and labour rights in our chapters "Employment Contract", "Employee Rights" and "Job Hunting and Application".
Employment Contract
Searching for the proper job can be tedious- but it is fabulous when you finally get a "yes" from a company you like. Before you sign the contract and start to work, you should examine the proposed employment agreement thoroughly.
Visa for Jobseekers
Many companies in Germany are looking for skilled workers. With a sought-after professional qualification, you can come to Germany to work and live here. But finding a job from abroad is often a challenge. That is why according to section 20 of the Residence Act, you can obtain a visa or a residence permit for job hunting in Germany. This way, you can enter Germany legally and then look for a suitable job on-site.
Job Hunting and Application
The job market in Germany has numerous rules and regulations. In addition, you must meet some requirements to get a job. Many employers choose their employees mainly based on their certificates or degrees in the desired field. But even without the relevant certificates, you still have a chance to find a job.
Here you will learn about the steps you need to take to start your first job in Germany and the ways you can increase your chances of finding your dream job.
Here are two essential points you need to consider in advance:
- German is spoken in most companies in Germany. In some cases, English will do; but for most jobs, you need to be able to communicate in German. There are many ways to learn German or to improve your proficiency. Find out more in our chapters on "Language".
- You need a work permit before you can start to work in Germany. For migrants, the work permit is directly linked to the residence permit. You can find out more about this in our chapter "Migration to Germany". If you have fled to Germany, whether you can work or not depends on your current residence status. You can find out more in our chapter "Work Permit for Refugees".
National Visa Type D
All citizens of so-called "third countries" (non-EU countries) need a visa to stay in Germany for more than three months or work here. That means only citizens of the EU countries and Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and the US do not require a visa to enter Germany. The long-stay visa most foreign citizens need to obtain is called the "National Visa Type D".
Most people from third countries also require a visa for shorter visits. You can find out more about it in our chapter "Visitor Visa".
- The information on this page has been reviewed and verified by our consulting lawyer, Astrid Meyerhöfer.
Permanent Residence Permit for Immigrants
A permanent residence permit (also known as "settlement permit") is, in fact, an unlimited permit to reside in Germany, i.e. contrary to a regular residence permit, you do not have to have your permanent residence permit extended frequently at the immigration authorities. A permanent residence permit also allows you to work without restrictions.
In order to get a permanent residence permit, some requirements apply:
- You must have had a residence permit for at least 5 years.
- You must be able to secure a living for yourself (and your family) independently, i.e. you are not allowed to receive any money from the Job Centre or Social Welfare Office. Child benefits (“Kindergeld”) and parental allowance (“Elterngeld”) count as exceptions to this rule.
- You must be able to speak German at level B1 and provide relevant evidence.
- You must have made pension insurance contributions for at least 60 months. The amount of contributions does not matter. Learn more in our chapter "Retiring in Germany".
- You must have enough living space for yourself and your family. Note: The standard size varies from state to state - ask the staff at the Immigration Office or a counselling centre nearby for more information.
- You must have a work permit.
- You must have successfully completed the orientation course. Find out more in our chapter "Integration course".
- You must not have committed any major offences (Minor convictions with fines of up to 90 days of income or suspended sentences of up to three months do not, in principle, affect your case)
If you meet all the prerequisites mentioned above, you can receive a permanent residence permit and settle in Germany.
For some groups of people, however, the requirements for obtaining a permanent residence permit are somewhat more straightforward.
* The information on this page has been reviewed and verified by our consulting lawyer, Astrid Meyerhöfer.
Here you can find the German embassy in your country.