Temporary Residence Permit

Family members who are themselves citizens of the EU or nationals of Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein can provide evidence of their right of residence and their right of access to the employment market with their passport and certificate of registration.

Family members of citizens of EU/EEA states who are themselves not citizens of the EU or EEA citizens: they need a  visa to travel to Germany. They then receive a so-called residence card for EU-family members in Germany.

Subsequent immigration of dependants to join German nationals

The children and spouses of German citizens may obtain a residence permit for family-related reasons. This also applies to the guardians of under-age, unmarried German citizens. They may move to Germany and work here.

The same applies to the following same-sex civil partnerships.

The following additional requirements are necessary in addition to the   general conditions for granting a permit  :

• The person who the family member is joining is a German citizen and normally lives in Germany.
• With the subsequent immigration of a spouse: Minimum age of both spouses is 18 years of age and the family member joining the person has basic knowledge of the German language (level A1 of the "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages" of the European Council).

More information:  www.service-bw.de (opens in a new tab)

Subsequent immigration of dependants to join third-country nationals

Spouses and under-age children of third country citizens who have a residence permit to enable them to reside in Germany can apply to a German embassy abroad for the subsequent immigration of their family.

Subsequent immigration of spouses and partners 
The subsequent immigration of spouses has certain conditions in Germany. A third party citizen living in Germany must

• have a a residence title,
• have adequate housing available,
• generally be able to ensure that they have shared means of subsistence including health insurance cover.

Both spouses must also be at least 18 years of age and the spouse immigrating subsequently must generally prove a basic knowledge of German (language certificate A1). There are exceptions to this. There must also be no reasons for deportation. The duration of stay must be more than one year.
These rules also apply to same-sex partnerships.

  (opens in a new tab)Subsequent immigration of children
Under-age, unmarried children of foreign nationals have a fundamental right to subsequently immigrate to Germany with their parents. Children under 16 years of age are privileged; they only require legal guardianship and a residence or settlement permit. They must have adequate housing available and the means of subsistence including health insurance cover.

Additional conditions for subsequent children between the age of 16 and 18:

• Entry as a family group with parents (or you immigrate to Germany within three months of your parents coming to Germany) or
• you can provide evidence of German proficiency at level C1 or
• it can be assumed that you will find it easy to become integrated into life in Germany. This will generally be the case if you have attended a German school abroad for some time at least, or if you have grown up in a German-speaking household elsewhere in the EU. 

More information:  www.service-bw.de (opens in a new tab)

Subsequent immigration of other family members
Other family members  are considered dependants who are not children, spouses or registered civil partners. Such as grown-up children and grandparents. They can only apply for subsequent immigration if "exceptional hardship" would otherwise occur. This would be the case, for example, if the family member living in Germany or abroad requires illness- or age-related assistance and no proof of this can be shown in the local country.

 Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (opens in a new tab)

In addition to the possibility of coming to Germany for qualified vocational training, there is also a visa for looking for a training place, apprenticeship or study place. So, this enables people to apply for an appropriate training place.

What are the requirements for a visa to be issued to find a training place?

The applicant:

• Must be under the age of 25.
• Has a university entrance qualification (in Germany or in the country of the school-leaving qualification) or a qualification from a German school abroad.
• Can prove German language skills at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
• Can guarantee his/her livelihood for the entire period.

The visa or the permit of residence for finding a training place entitles the applicant to enter Germany for a period of up to six months to apply for a training place here or respectively 9 months to apply at universities. During this period, he/she is not allowed to work. 

Further information and leaflets are available on the respective website of the German Embassies or e.g.  Handbook Germany (opens in a new tab).

As a highly qualified non-national with vocational training or university education, you can obtain a permit of residence for up to six months to find suitable employment to match your qualification. 

In addition to the intended vocational training, it is a prerequisite that you have the respective language skills.

The equality of status of qualification must be determined by the professional approval board responsible. If the equality of status is not possible, further qualifications can be obtained in Germany.

Also with a university education, the qualification has to be recognised here in Germany. This can be checked via www.anabin.de (available only in German).

Besides it must be clarified whether further professional permits are required to pursue a career (regulated professions), for instance in medical professions.

For further information go to:  www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de (opens in a new tab)

With this residence permit for job search, you may only be employed on a trial basis up to ten hours per week in accordance with your qualification.

Prerequisites for the issue of a residence permit are:

• You fulfil your passport and visa obligation.
• You can guarantee your livelihood.
• There is no deportation order against you.
• For skilled workers with vocational training: you have the necessary language skills for the intended job.

 Further information:

 https://www.service-bw.de/leistung/-/sbw/Aufenthaltserlaubnis+zur+Arbeitsplatzsuche+fuer+Fachkraefte+beantragen-2091-leistung-0 (opens in a new tab)