Job Seeker Visa (Section 20)
🇩🇪 Germany visas · Exploring
What it is
Long-stay visa allowing qualified professionals to enter Germany and search for skilled employment matching their qualification.
Key facts
- Category
- Exploring
- Duration
- Up to 18 months (AufenthG §20: job search after a qualifying stay in Germany; 12+6 months for health/care assistants). Not extendable beyond the cap.
- Processing time
- Not specified on page
- Maximum validity
- 18 months
- Extendable
- No
- Dependants
- Conditional
- Work allowance
- 0 hours per week
- How to apply
- Embassy
- Health insurance
- Required
Standard figures for this route. Some applicants pay a reduced fee or none at all, so confirm your own case on the official page.
Fees
- Application fee (national (D) visa to enter)
- EUR 75
- Application fee (residence permit, issued after arrival)
- EUR 100
Key requirements
- Recognised academic or vocational qualification (or qualification recognised in country of origin and equivalent to a German one)
- Proof of sufficient funds for the duration of the stay
- Health insurance valid in Germany
- Valid passport
- No specific job offer required at the time of application
Working on this visa
Purpose is to SEARCH for employment (Arbeitsplatzsuche) after a completed study/research/qualified-training stay in Germany; the §20 permit itself confers no general employment right, the holder switches to a work title once a job is…
Bringing family
Spouse reunification possible under AufenthG §30(1) no. 3(e) where the stay is expected to exceed one year.
Facts checked against the official source. Last updated 27 July 2026.