Residence permit for qualified skilled workers with vocational training

• Legal residence • You are already residing in Germany with a residence permit or another residence title (e.g., a national D visa). Or, based on your nationality, you are entitled to apply for a residence permit after visa-free entry. • Applications for a residence permit extension can be submitted no earlier than four months before its expiration date. • Employment contract or specific job offer There should already be an employment contract, or at least a draft. • Employment in Germany An employment relationship in Germany must be established. In addition, the employer must have a place of business in Germany. • Approval of the Federal Employment Agency As a rule, a temporary residence permit for the purpose of employment may only be granted if the Federal Employment Agency has agreed to this. • Occupation practice permit If a permit is required for professional practice (e.g. doctors, engineers), the person in question must prove they hold that permit or that it has been promised before the temporary residence permit is issued. • Equivalence of qualification For the skilled worker’s temporary residence permit the person in question must hold a German professional qualification following training lasting at least two years or hold an equivalent foreign professional qualification. As a rule, a foreign professional qualification must be verified by a recognition body and its equivalence established. More information on this subject can be found in the “More information” section • An adequate retirement pension scheme (only if you are over 45 years of age) For the issuance of the temporary residence permit as a qualified skilled worker, as a rule persons over the age of 45 must have an adequate retirement pension scheme. • The salary must correspond to at least 55 per cent of the annual calculation limit in the general pension insurance scheme. For the year 2026, this corresponds to a monthly gross income of at least 4,647.50 euros. • The salary may be lower if an adequate retirement pension scheme has already been secured from other public or private sources. • Adequate health insurance www.berlin.de/einwanderung/_assets/merkblatt_zur_krankenvers You have health insurance in Germany, either in the statutory health insurance system or a comparable private health insurance. Foreign health insurance is not sufficient. For more information, please read the leaflet. • No indications of a threat to public safety or order • Fines alone can prevent the granting of a residence permit. • An application for a residence permit may not be processed while investigation proceedings are ongoing. • You pose no threat to the free democratic basic order or the security of the Federal Republic of Germany. • You are not involved in acts of violence in pursuit of political or religious goals, do not publicly call for the use of violence and do not threaten to do so. • Main residence in Berlin You live in Berlin. A second residence in Berlin is not sufficient. • Current email adress The Berlin Immigration Office will contact you via your current email address. Please also check your spam folder regularly. • For the online application: Consent to the electronic payment process The following methods of payment are available to you: • Credit card (Visa, Mastercard) • Paypal

• Application for a residence permit for employment as a skilled worker • only possible online • You will receive a PDF document to confirm your application. This document will certify that your current residence title remains valid in the federal territory beyond the previous validity date. (This does not apply if you hold a Schengen visa (C visa) for a short-term stay or if your current residence title has already expired on the day you apply.) • Please therefore make sure to save this document and print a copy if possible. • In the case of an application being filed by an authorised representative: power of attorney stating the subject matter of the procedure • If you already have a residence permit or another German residence title for the Federal Republic of Germany: Copy of your residence title • Passport copies (in color) Copies of the following pages of your passport are required: • Always: Data pages (with your photo and personal details) • If you have entered the country and are applying for a residence permit for the first time, additionally: Entry stamp and visa for entry or residence permit from another EU country in your passport (if applicable) • Your employment contract or job offer • Proof of qualification as a qualified skilled worker with vocational training Supporting documents confirming • completed German vocational training lasting a minimum of two years, or • a foreign professional qualification recognised as being equivalent (recognition decision) More on the topic in the section "More information" • Form "Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis" (filled out and signed by your employer) • Occupation practice permit Only if required (see 'Prerequisites') • Proof of your residence • Certificate of registration at the main residence (Melde-Bestätigung) or • lease and written confirmation of occupancy from the landlord (Wohnungsgeber-Bestätigung) • Proof of the size and cost of the living space The floor space and the monthly rent or housing costs of your own property (house or apartment) must be demonstrated as follows. In the case of a rental property: • Tenancy agreement (without house rules or other annexes) and • Proof of the current monthly costs (rent with utility costs included – “Warmmiete”), e.g. bank statements In the case of an owned property: • extract from the land register, third section, • costs of the home-owner charges and • possible monthly loan costs for the property • Proof of your health insurance • If you have statutory health insurance: electronic health card (copy front and back) or a current confirmation from the health insurance company • In the case of private health insurance: certificate from the insurer regarding the scope and costs of the insurance in accordance with § 257 Para. 2a SGB V. V. Please point out to your insurer that you need the certificate for a residence permit for gainful employment. • For the extension of the residence permit: Proof of current employment • Employer confirmation of the duration of the ongoing employment relationship (not older than 14 days). • Salary slips for the first two and last two months

• Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis (job description) www.berlin.de/einwanderung/_assets/stellenbeschreibung.pdf?t

The fee must be paid before you send off the online application (by credit card or PayPal). • 56.00 euros: for the initial issue of the residence permit as a sticker label • 49.00 euros: for the renewal of the residence permit as a sticker label • 100.00 euros: for the initial issue of the residence permit as an electronic residence permit (eAT) • 93.00 euros: for the renewal of the residence permit as an electronic residence permit (eAT) • 27.60 euros: for Turkish nationals up to the age of 24 for the initial issue / for renewal • 46.00 euros: for Turkish nationals aged 24 and over for the initial issue / for renewal • 6.00 euros extra: for creating a digital passport photo at the self-service terminal on site A refund is not possible in the event that the application is withdrawn if we have already begun to process the application (by examining the documents you sent or sending you an appointment for an in-person interview).

• Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) [Residence Act] § 18 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__18.html • Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 18a www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__18a.html

• You will receive an appointment if your application is reviewed positively. • A residence permit in the form of a sticker label can be issued directly on site during the appointment. • If issued as an electronic residence permit (eAT), it takes 4 to 6 weeks before it can be collected.

• Recognition bodies (the federal government’s information portal on the recognition of foreign professional qualifications) www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de/html/en/index.php • Certificate of registration at the main residence (Melde-Bestätigung) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/120686/de_plain/ • Example: confirmation of occupancy from the landlord (Wohnungsgeber-Bestätigung) www.berlin.de/formularverzeichnis/?formular=/labo/zentrale-e

This service can only be used at the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA, State Office for Immigration), Berlin-Charlottenburg location, Keplerstraße 2.