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

Apply for an extension of your residence permit to take an exam for the recognition of a foreign professional qualification

Do you need more time to take an exam to have your foreign professional qualification recognized? If so, you can have your current residence permit extended.

  • Basic information

    If your residence permit is about to expire and you have not yet completed the examination process required for the recognition of your foreign professional qualification, you can apply to have your residence permit extended.

    The same requirements apply to the extension of a residence permit as to its initial issuance. In particular, you must be able to demonstrate that you have sufficient means to support yourself and health insurance coverage for the duration of your stay.

    If your residence permit is extended, it will again be valid for a limited period, generally for the remainder of the examination process. The residence permit is valid for the period from the date you take the exam until the exam results are announced or until you receive the decision from the competent authority.

    You are not permitted to engage in gainful employment during this period.

    Your residence permit cannot be extended if

    • you are unable to take the exam or exams within a reasonable period of time, or
    • the Foreigners’ Registration Office has already ruled out an extension at the time of issuance or during the most recent extension.

    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 entry bans 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 officially recognized by the country in which it was obtained and that required at least two years of training, or
    • You hold a university 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 submitted 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 capture 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 any delays).

    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 the extension is for more than 3 months
    6,00 EUR in addition, for taking a digital passport photo at the on-site self-service terminal.

  • Deadlines & processing time

    What deadlines must be paid attention to?

    8 weeks You should submit your application for renewal to the Immigration Office no later than 8 weeks before your 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

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