Our employees only speak German in the office and on the phone.

Apply for an extension of the residence permit for recognition of professional qualifications based on an agreement with the Federal Employment Agency

Is your residence permit—issued in recognition of your foreign professional qualification based on an agreement with the Federal Employment Agency—about to expire? If so, you may be able to have your residence permit extended under certain conditions.

  • Basic information

    You have a residence permit issued in recognition of your foreign professional qualification and have been placed in a job through an agreement between the Federal Employment Agency and the employment agency in your country of origin.

    If the recognition process has not yet been completed, you can apply to extend your residence permit.

    To do so, you must meet the same requirements as when you first applied. This includes having sufficient means to support yourself during the extension period. Additionally, the Federal Employment Agency must approve the employment. It will only grant approval if you are pursuing the recognition process with the appropriate authority.

    If your residence permit is extended, it will again be valid for a limited period. The residence permit for the recognition of professional qualifications, based on an agreement with the Federal Employment Agency, is extended in one-year increments up to a maximum duration of 3 years.

    Even with the extended residence permit, you may work up to 20 hours per week on the side.

    Requirements

    • You have a residence permit
    • You have a secure source of income and adequate health insurance coverage.
    • Your identity and nationality have been verified.
    • There are no grounds for deportation or an entry ban against you.
    • You meet the passport requirement.
    • You entered the country with the required visa. Your stay is lawful.
    • Approval from the Federal Employment Agency
    • You have sufficient knowledge of German (at least B1 level)
    • You hold a qualification that is state-recognized by the country in which it was obtained and for which a training period of at least two years was required, or
    • You hold a college degree that is officially recognized by the country in which it was earned.
    • Your primary residence is in the city of Bremen

  • Procedure
    • The application and the required documents can be sent to us by email or mail. 
    • If necessary, the Immigration Office will request additional documents.
    • If your application is approved, you will receive an appointment to come in for an interview.

    More information

    Due to the complexity of residence law, this description is provided for informational purposes only and is not legally binding.

    Passport photos are now accepted only in digital form. The passport photo must be taken using a registration system on-site at the Office of Migration, at a photo studio, or at a photo service provider. You cannot submit a digital passport photo from your cell phone. For more information, please visit our website. Limited exceptions to the biometric requirements are permitted for infants and young children.

    A residence permit can only be issued for the duration of your national passport’s validity. Please apply for a renewal well in advance of your national passport’s expiration date.

    If you do not have a valid national passport, you must provide evidence of your efforts to obtain one (for example: written confirmation from the embassy, reasons for delay).

    Legal Remedies:

    • Appeal
    • Lawsuit

  • Necessary Documents
    • National Passport / Proof of Identity
    • A current biometric passport photo
    • Proof of qualifications and employment:
      • Proof of qualification (certificate of completion of vocational training or degree, with a translation if necessary)
      • Certificate confirming the necessary steps for the recognition of your professional qualifications
      • Statement regarding employment status (completed by the employer)
      • Employment or internship contract, or a confirmation from the employer stating your personal information, salary, and the duration of the employment relationship. Any information not required may be redacted in the employment contract.
      • Registration for a language course, including the expected duration
      • Proof of proper completion of the educational program in the event of an extension
      • Proof of health insurance
      • Proof of financial support (e.g., blocked account, letter of financial commitment, scholarship, etc.)
      • Certificate or documentation of completion of the program and recognition or equivalence of the professional qualification
      • Medical license or license to practice, if required
      • If available:
        • School certificate
        • Registration for the adaptation course or proficiency exam
        • Continuing education plan

  • Forms

  • Fees / Costs

    96,00 EUR for extensions of up to 3 months
    93,00 EUR if extended by more than 3 months
    6,00 EUR in addition, for taking a digital passport photo at the on-site self-service kiosk.

  • Deadlines & processing time

    What deadlines must be paid attention to?

    8 weeks You should apply for a residence permit no later than 8 weeks before your current residence permit expires.

    How long does it take to process

    Once we receive your application, we will need some time to process and review it. Once the review is complete, we will get back to you.

  • Legal Bases

  • More Information

This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.

The official information in German is complete and correct.

Updated on 20.08.2026

Dienstleistungen · syfq nzm