If you are employed as a civil servant by a German employer, you are entitled to a residence permit to fulfill your official duties in Germany.
The residence permit can be obtained in particular by university teachers appointed to civil service positions and other members of academic and artistic staff.
The residence permit is issued for a period of three years, unless a shorter period is planned for your stay in Germany.
The Federal Employment Agency is not required to be involved in the issuance of the residence permit.
Under certain circumstances, the Foreigners' Registration Office may require you to attend an integration course. This will then be noted on your residence permit.
Once you have obtained a residence permit to perform official duties for a German employer, you have the option of obtaining a permanent right of residence (settlement permit) after just three years. The requirement to have paid contributions to the statutory pension insurance scheme for at least 60 months does not apply.
German employers who wish to bring a foreign civil servant from abroad to Germany to perform official duties can apply to the immigration office on behalf of the foreigner for the accelerated skilled worker procedure, which can facilitate and speed up entry.
Union citizens who are civil servants of a German employer are not subject to the Residence Act, but to the Freedom of Movement Act/EU.
The residence permit must be applied for at the immigration office responsible for your place of residence. The procedure is as follows:
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Depending on the immigration office and your specific situation, it may be possible to apply online. Find out whether your immigration office offers electronic applications for residence permits.
If you apply
electronically, the immigration office will contact you after receiving your application to arrange an appointment at the immigration office. Your supporting documents will be checked during the appointment (please bring them with you to the appointment).
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If the application can only be submitted in person, make an appointment with the immigration office.
During the appointment, your application will be accepted and your supporting documents will be checked (bring these with you to the appointment).
- To renew your electronic residence permit (eAT card), your fingerprints will be taken at the immigration office.
- After about six to eight weeks, you can pick up the eAT card at the immigration office. You must pick it up in person.
- There are fees for issuing the residence permit. The timing and form of payment vary depending on the authority.
To carry out the accelerated skilled worker procedure, the German employer contacts the Foreigners' Registration Office responsible for the place of employment. In some cases, a central office may have been set up in the federal state to carry out the procedure.
Section 19c (4) of the Residence Act
The immigration office responsible for the applicant's place of residence;
For the fast-track procedure for skilled workers:
The immigration office at the place of employment, unless a central office has been set up to carry out the procedure.
