Germany Job Search Permit After Graduation: 18 Months, Fee and Steps
After you finish a degree in Germany, you can get a residence permit for up to 18 months to look for a job that matches your qualification. During those 18 months you may take any job to support yourself. You must apply at your local foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde) before your student residence permit expires. All facts checked on official German government pages on 29 October 2026.
Who this is for: Pakistani and other non-EU students who are finishing a bachelor's or master's at a German university and want to stay and work.
What is the 18-month job search permit?
It is a residence permit under Section 20 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) for graduates who want to find qualified work in Germany. It is not a visa you get in Pakistan. You switch to it inside Germany from your student residence permit.
- It lasts up to 18 months, starting directly after your studies.
- It cannot be renewed beyond that 18-month maximum.
- If you received it for a shorter period, you can extend it for the unused months.
- If you have not found a job within the 18 months, a further extension is not possible and you must leave Germany.
Sources: Make it in Germany, Seeking employment after graduation and Federal service portal, Extension of a residence permit to look for a job after studies.
Last verified 29 Oct 2026 against Make it in Germany and the German federal service portal.
Who can apply?
You can apply if you hold a study residence permit (Section 16b or 16c) and have successfully completed your studies in Germany. The federal service portal lists these conditions:
- A valid passport
- A valid study residence permit under Section 16b or 16c
- Successful completion of your studies in Germany, with your current permit expiring
- Your living costs and health insurance are covered without public benefits
- No grounds for expulsion
Make it in Germany names three documents to bring: proof that you completed your studies, proof of health insurance, and proof that you can support yourself. Your local foreigners authority tells you exactly which papers it wants.
Sources: Federal service portal, Residence permit to look for a job after graduation and Make it in Germany.
Last verified 29 Oct 2026 against the German federal service portal and Make it in Germany.
How much money do I need to show?
Neither official page we checked gives a fixed monthly amount for this permit. They only say your livelihood must be secure without public benefits. Ask your local foreigners authority what amount and which proof it accepts, for example savings, a blocked account or a work contract.
If you came to Germany on a student permit, you will remember the money you had to show for your German student visa. Do not assume the same figure applies to the job search permit. Confirm it with your authority.
Last verified 29 Oct 2026 against Make it in Germany and the German federal service portal.
Can I work while I look for a job?
Yes. Make it in Germany says: "During these 18 months, you are allowed to take up any type of job." The federal service portal adds that any gainful employment is permitted and does not need a separate permit.
This is different from the limits that apply while you are still studying. Our guide to working as a student in Germany covers the rules before graduation.
Sources: Make it in Germany and Federal service portal.
Last verified 29 Oct 2026 against Make it in Germany and the German federal service portal.
When and how do I apply?
Apply in person at the foreigners authority for your place of residence, before your current study permit expires. Book early, because appointments can take time.
- Ask your university for proof that you have completed your studies.
- Arrange health insurance that covers you after you leave student insurance.
- Prepare proof that you can cover your living costs.
- Book an appointment at your foreigners authority before your student permit runs out.
- Bring your originals and pay the fee. The office takes your biometric data and orders your electronic residence permit card.
For extensions of this permit, the federal service portal says processing takes about 5 to 6 weeks, depending on the local office's workload. It recommends booking an appointment 4 to 6 weeks before your permit expires.
Sources: Make it in Germany and Federal service portal, extension.
Last verified 29 Oct 2026 against Make it in Germany and the German federal service portal.
How much is the fee?
Fees are set locally and can differ slightly between offices. These are the amounts listed on the German federal service portal:
| Service | Fee listed |
|---|---|
| Granting the residence permit to look for a job after graduation | EUR 98.00 (extra fees may apply for the electronic residence permit card) |
| Extending it for unused months | EUR 93.00 to 96.00 |
Sources: Federal service portal, granting and Federal service portal, extension.
Last verified 29 Oct 2026 against the German federal service portal.
What happens when I find a job?
You apply for a residence permit for qualified employment or an EU Blue Card. You will need proof that you completed your studies, proof of health insurance and a concrete job offer. Regulated professions also need a licence to practise.
EU Blue Card salary thresholds for 2026
| Case | Minimum gross salary per year (2026) |
|---|---|
| Standard | EUR 50,700 |
| Shortage occupations, or new entrants whose last degree is less than 3 years old | EUR 45,934.20 (Federal Employment Agency approval required) |
The thresholds are published each year, so check them again before you sign a contract in 2027.
Sources: Make it in Germany, Seeking employment and Make it in Germany, EU Blue Card.
Last verified 29 Oct 2026 against Make it in Germany.
When can I get permanent residence?
Graduates of German universities can get a settlement permit (permanent residence) once they meet all of these conditions, according to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF):
- You have held a residence permit for two years for work as a skilled worker or researcher
- You have a job
- You have paid compulsory pension insurance contributions for 24 months
- You have sufficient knowledge of German
EU Blue Card holders have a separate route. Make it in Germany lists a settlement permit after 27 months with A1 German, or after 21 months with B1 German.
Sources: BAMF, Settling in Germany and Make it in Germany, EU Blue Card.
Last verified 29 Oct 2026 against BAMF and Make it in Germany.
Checklist: switching to the job search permit
- Note the expiry date of your student residence permit
- Get written proof from your university that you completed your studies
- Arrange health insurance for after graduation
- Ask your foreigners authority how much money you must show and in what form
- Book your appointment before your student permit expires
- Bring your passport, current permit, originals of all documents and the fee (around EUR 98)
- Keep the 18-month limit in mind; it cannot be extended beyond that
- Once you have an offer, check whether your salary meets the EU Blue Card threshold
What to do next
Plan your monthly budget for the job search months with the AbroadDreaming cost calculator.
Related: studying in Germany as a Pakistani student, German student visa steps and documents from Pakistan and student job rules in Germany.
By the AbroadDreaming Editorial Team. Facts checked against official sources on 29 October 2026. Updated 29 October 2026. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team before publishing. Rules change, so always confirm with your local foreigners authority before you apply.