Seiteninhalt
Paid employment
Research
If you are pursuing a research activity and have a hosting agreement with your research institution, you have the possibility to apply for a residence permit.
After completing your research activity, you also have the option of obtaining a residence permit to look for a job.
You can find more information on both residence purposes on this page.
While performing research activities
If you are a researcher at a research institution in Germany, especially in Münster, you can obtain a residence permit for your research activities.
If your research activity is part of your doctoral studies, you can find more information on how to obtain and extend your residence permit on the page for doctoral studies.
Please bring the following with you…
If you would like to apply for or extend a residence permit for the purpose of performing research, please bring the following documents with you (if we do not already have them):
- Your valid passport
- A current passport photo
- A completed application form
- Completed and signed hosting agreement
- Proof of health insurance
- Fee: up to € 100.00
Further documents may be required in individual cases. If this applies to you, we will inform you accordingly.
Please note: An appointment is required for the granting and extension of the residence permit. You can send us an enquiry under appointment request.
Period of validity of the residence permit
The residence permit for research purposes is usually issued for at least one year. If your research project is due to last less than one year, the duration of the residence permit will be adjusted accordingly.
Paid employment
The residence permit entitles you to work as a researcher at the research institution with which the hosting agreement was concluded.
In addition, the residence permit entitles you to work as a teacher.
Settling down
After four years of research activity, you may apply for a settlement permit (permanent residence permit). If you completed your degree in Germany, you can even apply for a settlement permit after just two years of research. You can find further information under settlement permit for skilled workers.
After completing research activities
If you do not start a new research project immediately after completing your initial research, your residence permit may initially be extended for the purpose of seeking employment. You will find information on this below.
Please bring the following with you…
If you would like to apply for a residence permit for the purpose of looking for a job after completing your research, please bring the following documents with you (if we do not already have them):
- Your valid passport
- A current passport photo
- A completed application form
- Proof of sufficient funding (employment contract and salary statements / letter of intent in accordance with Section 68 AufenthG (German Residence Act) / blocked account)
- Your tenancy agreement
- Proof of health insurance
- Fee: € 98.00
Further documents may be required in individual cases. If this applies to you, we will inform you accordingly.
Please note: An appointment is required for the granting and extension of the residence permit. Please send us an appointment request.
Period of validity
The residence permit can be issued for up to nine months (calculated from the date of termination of your employment).
If you have found a job or are embarking on a new research activity, you can also apply for a residence permit for employment as a skilled worker or researcher before your residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment expires.
Change in purpose of stay
It is possible to change the purpose of stay in order to take up employment as a skilled worker.
It is also possible to change purpose of stay in order to perform research activities.
Furthermore, you can change to a residence permit if there is a legal entitlement to the same (for example, in the case of family reunification).
If you do not find a job appropriate to your educational qualification within the period allocated to you to seek employment, you must generally leave the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Paid employment
The residence permit issued to you for the purpose of seeking employment after completing your research permits paid employment.