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In Germany, there is a shortage of specialists in many professions, both in apprenticeship-based fields and in academic professions. Specialists from abroad therefore have many opportunities on the German job market.
With a residence permit issued under Section 18a of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG), specialists from third countries who have completed vocational training may come to Germany to take up skilled employment. Specialists who have completed a university degree, on the other hand, may enter Germany with a residence permit under Section 18b of the Residence Act. But what requirements must be met in order to be allowed to work in Germany?
Eligibility: Vocational training (Section 18a of the Residence Act)
To be eligible to apply for a residence permit under Section 18a of the Residence Act, an applicant must have completed a vocational training. This must either have been completed in Germany or have been fully recognized in Germany. It must be a qualified vocational training program, which means the total duration of the training must be at least two years.
To obtain a residence permit under Section 18a of the Residence Act, the competent recognition authority must have determined that the foreign vocational training is equivalent to a German vocational training. For more information on the topic of recognition, visit the German federal government’s information portal on the recognition of foreign professional qualifications, “Recognition in Germany.” With the help of the Recognition Finder, specialists from abroad can find out how and where they can have their degrees recognized in Germany.
If, as part of the recognition process, it is determined that the vocational training received in Germany is only partially recognized, a residence permit under Section 18a of the Residence Act is not (yet) an option. In this case, entry into Germany would first have to be granted on the basis of a residence permit for recognition proceedings (Section 16d of the Residence Act). After successfully completing a recognition procedure, the residence permit may be changed in accordance with § 18a of the Residence Act.
Qualification: University degree (Section 18b of the Residence Act)
The foreign university degree must be comparable to a German academic degree. For non-regulated professions, proof of the equivalence of foreign higher education degrees can be provided by submitting a printout from the anabin database, which is maintained by the Central Office for Foreign Education of the KMK (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB)).
If the degree and/or the university or its status cannot be found in anabin, you must apply to the ZAB for a statement of comparability.
Regulated Professions
There is one particular point to note regarding regulated professions. "Regulated" means that recognition of professional qualifications is required to practice the respective profession in Germany (regardless of whether a residence permit is required). Recognition is governed by federal or state laws or administrative regulations and requires a specific qualification to practice the profession. Regulated professions include, for example, medical and legal professions, as well as teaching at public schools. However, most professions in Germany are not regulated.
To work in a regulated profession, a license to practice is required in addition to recognition. This license also includes the right to use a professional title.
Job offer
Another requirement for a residence permit under Sections 18a and 18b is a concrete job offer from an employer in Germany. It is important that the job be a qualified position. A job is considered qualified if it generally requires at least two years of vocational training to perform. Auxiliary or entry-level tasks are therefore not sufficient.
Specialists with a university degree may also be admitted to perform non-academic work in order to make it easier for them to enter the workforce in Germany.
With the exception of regulated professions, the employment does not have to be related to the professional qualification.
Employment Conditions
As a general rule, the Federal Employment Agency of Germany must approve the employment. Among other things, the authorities examine whether the employment qualifies as “qualified employment” and whether the terms of employment (salary, working hours, vacation entitlement) are comparable to those of domestic employees.
Retirement Planning
For individuals who are 45 years of age or older, an additional review of their retirement coverage is conducted. The aim is to ensure that a sufficient pension can be accumulated by the time the individual retires. Anyone aged 45 or older who enters Germany for the first time for employment purposes must therefore, as a general rule, earn a gross annual salary of at least 55,770 euros (as of 2026). If the gross annual salary is lower, it is possible to provide proof of an adequate retirement plan. Evidence of this can be provided, for example, through pension entitlements already acquired, private retirement savings plans, or other forms of long-term financial security. Under Sections 18a and 18b of the Residence Act, the German diplomatic mission abroad is responsible for verifying retirement coverage.
Change of Employer
During the first two years of employment in Germany, employees are generally bound to their employer. The supplementary provisions of the residence permit therefore specify that the individual is permitted to work only for a specific employer. However, a change is generally possible with the permission of the relevant immigration office.
Possibilities
Family reunification is generally possible with a residence permit issued under Section 18a or Section 18b of the Residence Act.
Changing employers is generally possible, but you must apply for permission with the relevant immigration office.
The duration of a residence permit issued under Sections 18a or 18b of the Residence Act is determined by the term of the employment contract. If the employment contract is for a fixed term, the residence permit is issued for the duration of the employment contract plus three months. An extension is generally possible, but it must be requested through the immigration office. In the case of a permanent employment contract, a residence permit may be issued for up to four years.
After three years of employment with a residence permit issued under Sections 18a or 18b of the Residence Act, an applicant may generally apply for a settlement permit. To apply for a settlement permit, applicants must meet additional requirements in addition to providing proof of employment, including proof of sufficient living space for themselves and their family members, proof of German language proficiency at the B1 level (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), and proof of basic knowledge of the legal and social system and living conditions in Germany. A settlement permit is a permanent residence permit that guarantees unrestricted access to the labor market.