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Post Study :: Work Permit (Germany)

As of 16 October 2007, foreign students who are not nationals of an EU member state and who have successfully completed their studies at a German university will be permitted to work in Germany in an employment commensurate with their training without being subject to a prior "individual Vorrangprüfung" or assessment of precedence. The abandonment of this "individual Vorrangprüfung" means that no investigation will be carried out to ensure that Germans or foreigners with preferential status are given priority for a specific job. They are permitted to look for a job in Germany for a period of one year. In the event that they do not find employment within this period, they will be obliged to leave Germany. If they do find employment, they will be given a residence permit restricted to this employment. After two year's employment or three year's residence they will be entitled to a work permit without being restricted to a specific company. Persons from Eastern European EU-member states who completed their degree at a German university will receive an EU-work permit initially limited to a period of one year. After one year's admission to the German labor market they will be entitled to receive an EU-work permit. This permit is issued without restrictions. They do not require a residence permit. The term "foreign students" refers to all students from Eastern European EU-member states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republik, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria) as well as all other foreigners from any third countries who complete their degree in Germany. Students from the 15 EU states (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Ireland, France, Denmark) are not considered "foreign students". They, as well as members of Cyprus and Malta, have the right of unhindered access to the German labor market.

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