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Federal Republic of Germany · work unsponsored

Job Seeker visa (§20 AufenthG)

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 6 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

Historic 6-month job-search visa for applicants abroad, superseded by the Chancenkarte; §20 AufenthG now covers job search after study or training completed in Germany.

No sponsorship requiredDoes not lead to permanent residencyPost-study/post-training job search: up to 18 months. The from-abroad 6-month route is closed to new applicants.
Processing time
Similar to other national visas.
Government fees
€75 visa fee.
Typical duration
Post-study/post-training job search: up to 18 months. The from-abroad 6-month route is closed to new applicants.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed German Federal Foreign Office ↗

In short

As of 8 July 2026, the Job Seeker visa (§20 AufenthG) for Federal Republic of Germany is an unsponsored Germany immigration route. Sources: official Federal Republic of Germany government pages, reviewed 10 September 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/germany/job-seeker-visa#answer

What is the Job Seeker visa (§20 AufenthG) in Federal Republic of Germany?

Job Seeker visa (§20 AufenthG) is an unsponsored Germany route. Indicative government fees are €75 visa fee; indicative processing time is Similar to other national visas; typical duration is Post-study/post-training job search: up to 18 months. The from-abroad 6-month route is closed to new applicants. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Verified against German Federal Foreign Office on 22 June 2026.

Overview

The classic §20 Job Seeker visa allowed qualified workers to spend up to 6 months in Germany looking for work. Since the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) launched in June 2024, that from-abroad route has been superseded: the current §20 AufenthG covers job-search residence permits for people who have completed a degree, vocational training or recognition procedure in Germany (up to 18 months, with work permitted), while new applicants coming from abroad to look for a job apply for the Chancenkarte instead. If you are outside Germany and searching for a German job-seeker visa, the Chancenkarte is the route to check first.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Applying from abroad? Use the Chancenkarte

    The Opportunity Card replaced the from-abroad job-search visa in June 2024 and allows part-time work during the search.

  2. Finishing a German degree or training? Apply under §20

    Apply to your local foreigners authority for the post-study or post-training job-search residence permit (up to 18 months).

  3. Convert on securing offer

    Change status to Blue Card, §18a/§18b, or other appropriate residence permit.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Job Seeker visa (§20 AufenthG), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Job Seeker visa (§20 AufenthG) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to GermanyFirst steps after arrivingDestination moving checklist

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Germany. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Check Job Seeker visa steps ↗

    Use this official page for the academic Job Seeker visa requirements and mission appointment process.

    German Federal Foreign Office · verified

  2. ApplyApplicant
    Compare with Opportunity Card ↗

    Use the official Opportunity Card application page to compare the newer job-search route before choosing Job Seeker.

    German Federal Foreign Office · verified

Fees and processing time

Indicative government fees: €75 visa fee.. The issuing authority does not publish a central processing time for this route, so plan against comparable cases. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the German Job Seeker visa still available?+

Not as a from-abroad route. The classic 6-month Job Seeker visa was superseded by the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) in June 2024. The current §20 AufenthG job-search permit is for people who have completed a degree, vocational training or a recognition procedure in Germany, and it allows up to 18 months of job search with work permitted. If you are applying from outside Germany, check the Chancenkarte instead.

Can I work while searching for a job in Germany?+

It depends on the permit. The post-study and post-training §20 job-search permit allows any employment while you look for a qualifying role. The Chancenkarte allows part-time work of up to 20 hours a week plus short trial placements. The old from-abroad Job Seeker visa, which did not permit work, is no longer offered.

Should I use the older Job Seeker visa or the Chancenkarte to look for work in Germany?+

For most applicants the Chancenkarte is the stronger option, because it offers a longer validity and limited work rights, whereas the §20 Job Seeker visa lasts up to 6 months, is non-renewable, and does not permit any work. The Job Seeker visa remains available, mainly for university graduates who do not meet the Chancenkarte points threshold.

Does the Job Seeker visa lead to permanent residence?+

No. The §20 Job Seeker visa does not lead to settlement on its own and is non-renewable. To stay long-term you change status to a Blue Card, a §18a/§18b Skilled Worker permit, or another appropriate residence permit once you secure an offer.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

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How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: German Federal Foreign Office

Last checked: 22 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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