Residence permit to look for an apprenticeship or higher education place
General information
Looking for a higher education place
According to § 17 Residence Act, a residence permit can be issued to look for a higher education place as long as the applicant has the school qualifications and language skills to be accepted for a study course. A higher education place search applies if no guaranteed higher education place is yet available and no courses to prepare for study are to be attended.
If a (conditional) admission to a study course is already present, please find out the necessary information on the pages about study preparation or the study course.
A residence permit cannot be obtained if you are currently undergoing an asylum procedure or your deportation has been suspended. You need to be at least 18 years old or produce a declaration of consent from your parents.
Looking for an apprenticeship
According to § 17 Residence Act, a residence permit can be issued to look for an apprenticeship place as long as your school qualifications and language skills enable you to complete a qualified vocational training course. You are not allowed to be older than 35 years.
You need to be at least 18 years old or produce a declaration of consent from your parents.
Legal basis
- Looking for an apprenticeship: § 17 Section 1 Residence Act
- Looking for a higher education place: § 17 Section 2, Residence Act
Documents/forms to be submitted
You can submit this application completely online. If you are not able to use the online application, please use the "Residence permit application/Application for renewal of a temporary residence permit" (PDF 227 KB) and submit the documents by mail.
Looking for a higher education place
- Instructions on looking for a higher education place (see below)
- Visa for applying for a study course (copy)
- Valid passport (copy)
- Rental contract (copy)
- Confirmation of health insurance
- in the case of statutory health insurance: informal letter from the health insurance company
- in the case of private health insurance: Certificate of insurance (see below)
- Evidence of financing through a blocked account, scholarship or letter of obligation; 1,027.00 euros per month
Looking for an apprenticeship
- Instructions on looking for an apprenticeship place (see below)
- Visa for looking for an apprenticeship (copy)
- Valid passport (copy)
- Rental contract (copy)
- Confirmation of health insurance
- in the case of statutory health insurance: informal letter from the health insurance company
- in the case of private health insurance: Certificate of insurance (see below)
- Evidence of financing through a blocked account, scholarship or letter of obligation; 938 euros per month
- German B1 certificate from a certified language course provider (Goethe-Institute, TestDaF-Institute, telc GmbH (DVV), ÖSD) (copy)
Process and procedure
Please submit your application and related documents via online application. You will be invited to collect your biometric data after a decision has been made on your application. After the decision about your application, you will be invited to have your biometric data recorded.
Costs and fees
- Issue: 100 euros
- Extension: 93 euros
The cost of residence permits for underage children is half the respective adult fee. If you are receiving a scholarship from public funds for your stay in the Federal Republic of Germany, you do not have to pay the fees. You need to show evidence that you are currently receiving the scholarship.
Payment possibilities:
- Paying by cash
- Paying by EC card
Paying by credit card is possible.
Special requirements
- The residence permit for looking for a higher education place can be issued for a maximum of 9 months.
- The residence permit for looking for an apprenticeship can be issued for a maximum of 9 months.