Residence permit for employment and self-employment
You would like to enter into an employment relationship in Germany, i.e. take up employment or become self-employed here and do not yet live in Germany.
You can find the most important information here:
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Basic information
Foreign nationals are only permitted to move to Germany to work here, i.e. to take up employment or become self-employed, if they have first successfully applied for a visa for employment or self-employment at the German diplomatic mission in their country of origin.
If you enter the country to seek employment, take up employment or set up a company without the required visa, you will have to leave the country again to apply for a visa in your country of origin.
These regulations do not apply to nationals of EU member states, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. They can come to Germany for employment or self-employment without first applying for a visa.
There are also exceptions for the following countries:
Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, USA, Republic of Korea.Citizens of these countries can apply for a residence permit for employment or self-employment in Germany.
The employment or business must secure your livelihood in Germany.
Visas for employment or self-employment in Germany are only issued for certain professions or economic sectors.
The list of requirements for employment or self-employment in Germany is not exhaustive. The German diplomatic missions in your country of origin, which will decide on your application, will provide information on applying for and issuing visas for employment.
The Migration Office is not involved in the visa procedure and therefore cannot provide any information on the procedure!
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Procedure
Foreign nationals are only permitted to come to Germany to work here, i.e. to take up employment or become self-employed, if they have previously successfully applied for a visa for employment or self-employment at the German diplomatic mission in their country of origin (exceptions: please see Basic information).
If you enter the country to seek employment or take up employment or set up a company without the required visa, you will have to leave the country again to apply for a visa in your country of origin.
Information on the visa procedure can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office and at the German diplomatic missions abroad themselves.
If you have entered Germany with the required visa for employment or self-employment or were exceptionally allowed to enter without a visa because you are a national of a certain country (see under Basic information), please fill in the form "Vordruck Terminvergabe Einreise" (see under "Forms") and send it by email to mailto:ref11@migrationsamt.bremen.de
You will then receive an appointment to issue your residence permit as soon as possible.
If you are in possession of a residence permit for studying (§16b AufenthG), have successfully completed your studies in Bremen and are applying for a residence permit for employment for the first time, please book an appointment at bremen_service universität via the link below:
mailto:auslaenderbehoerde-bsu@migrationsamt.bremen.de
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Necessary Documents
- completed application form
- 1 biometric passport photo (not older than 3 months)
According to Bundesdruckerei's photo sample board: https://www.bundesdruckerei.de
- valid passport
- Health insurance certificate
- University certificate
- If you are in possession of a residence permit to study (§16b AufenthG) or
- are employees* of a Bremen university or its scientific institutions
- Employment contract
- If you are in possession of a residence permit to study (§16b AufenthG) or
- are employees* of a Bremen university or its scientific institutions
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Competent Department
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Aufenthalt
- +49 421 361-88630 (montags bis donnerstags von 08.00 Uhr bis 12.00 Uhr)
- Stresemannstraße 48, 28207 Bremen
- office
@migrationsamt. bremen. de
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Migrationsamt
- 0421 361-88630
- Stresemannstraße 48, 28207 Bremen
- office
@migrationsamt. bremen. de
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bsu - bremen_service universität
- (0421) 218-61025
- Bibliothekstraße 6, 28359 Bremen
- Website
- bsu
@migrationsamt. bremen. de
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Fees / Costs
The competent German mission in the country of origin will provide information on costs and deadlines / duration of the procedure for issuing visas.
Fees of up to 110.00 may be charged for the issuance of the residence permit. -
Deadlines & processing time
What deadlines must be paid attention to?
An application for a residence permit after entry with the required visa must be submitted to the Migration Office within the validity of the existing national visa or, in the case of possible visa-free entry, within 90 days.
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Legal Bases
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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. 04.11.2025