Residence permit - Employment

Access to the labour market

Access to the labour market and the conditions attached to it are clear from the wording of the residence permit. Each residence title must therefore indicate whether the exercise of gainful employment is permitted. The employment of foreigners is based on the requirements of Germany as a business location, taking into account the conditions on the labour market.

In general, the application can only be made for a specific job, i.e. there must be a concrete job offer. As a rule, this must be an occupation that requires qualified vocational training or a completed course of study.

Information on employment can be found directly in the residence title.

Since 2005, the Employment Agency has no longer issued separate work permits for employees. The residence title already indicates whether gainful employment is permitted. If the entry in the residence title reads "gainful employment permitted", any gainful employment is permitted. Gainful employment includes self-employment and salaried employment.

If, for example, the entry reads "Employment only permitted with the permission of the foreigners authority", a corresponding application for permission for employment must be submitted to the foreigners authority. In order for the application to be processed, the specific job offer must be submitted and the employer must be notified as the contact person and the company number.

Before making a decision on this application, the Foreigners' Registration Office must always involve the competent Employment Agency. As a rule, the Employment Agency checks whether preferential employees are available for the intended employment. This procedure can take up to six weeks.

Residence title for the purpose of self-employment

A residence title for the purpose of self-employment entitles the holder to pursue the gainful employment specified therein.

Please make an appointment in advance using the online appointment form.

To make an appointment, you must be registered with your main residence in Jena.

Register with the appointment code

You will receive an appointment code with your appointment. If you are not on time, the appointment will be cancelled. Half an hour before the appointment you can register at the multilingual registration terminal of the Foreigners' Registration Office with the appointment code. You do not need to pull a ticket!

Appointment confirmation is considered a fictitious certificate

If you make your appointment via our online appointment system, you will receive a fictitious certificate which you can print out together with the binding appointment confirmation. This certificate is valid in Germany and bridges the time until the appointment.

• completed form (-> see forms)
• passport
• a biometric passport photo (format 35 x 45 mm)
• Registration at the bürgerservice
• Proof of accommodation (e.g. tenancy agreement)
• Health insurance
• Wage or salary statement (if already available)
• Proof of qualification (e.g. skilled worker's certificate, university degree)
• Concrete job offer (e.g. fictitious employment contract)
• Company number of the future employer

• Act on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Territory (Residence Act - AufenthG)
• Ordinance on the Employment of Foreigners (Employment Ordinance - BeschV)
• Residence Ordinance (AufenthV)
• Regulation on the implementation of integration courses for foreigners and late repatriates (Integration Course Regulation - IntV)