If you have a non-academic professional qualification in your country or another country outside Germany, you can take up employment in Germany under the following circumstances:

Bottleneck professions
There are not enough specialists in your trade in Germany (so-called bottleneck professions).

Job offer
You require a concrete job offer.

Recognition of foreign qualifications
Your vocational qualifications must be recognised as being equivalent to a German qualification. You must apply for this recognition from your home country.

Academic professionals can apply for an EU Blue Card for employment, which is initially limited to four years. These are the prerequisites:

• You must have a German university degree, a university degree recognised in Germany or a foreign university degree equivalent to a German university degree.
• A job offer or an employment contract with an annual gross salary (2015) of at least €48,400.
• Professionals with a university degree in mathematics, computer science, the natural sciences and technology (physicians, engineers, IT specialists) are also eligible for an EU Blue Card if their gross annual salary is at least €37,752 per year (2015). If you have a foreign university degree, you must obtain approval from the Federal Employment Agency first. However, the agency will not conduct a priority review.

If you can prove German language skills to the B1 level, you are eligible for the EU Blue Card after 33 months or for a settlement permit after 21 months.

The EU Blue Card can be obtained from the local Saarland immigration office.

Professionals who possess a German university degree or a foreign university degree equivalent to a German degree can come to Germany for up to 6 months on a job-seeker’s visa to look for work appropriate to their qualifications. It is important that you have enough money to finance your own living expenses for the duration of your stay. You are not permitted to work during this time. Once you have found a job, you can apply for the necessary residence permit in Germany without having to leave Germany first.

If you find a job in your field immediately after graduation, you can obtain a residence permit for 18 months from the immigration office. During this time, you can look for a job that is appropriate to your degree. You are also permitted to do any job to finance your living expenses during this period. You apply for the residence permit at your local immigration office in the Saarland.