Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
7th May 2012

Germany eases post-study work and immigration legislation for foreign students

University World News has reported

that regulations just approved by the federal parliament, to implement a European Union (EU) directive on the highly qualified, could considerably improve conditions for foreign students and academics in Germany. The new law provides for far-reaching changes going beyond the EU requirements.

  • Students will be allowed to work to earn a living for 120 instead of 90 days a year.
  • On graduating, they can stay in Germany for 18 instead of the current 12 months to seek skilled posts.
  • No restrictions will be imposed on employment during the period in which they are looking for permanent employment, and Federal Labour Agency consent will not be required.
  • A permanent resident’s permit will be granted after two years.

Furthermore, foreign academics will be granted a resident’s permit for up to six months. Academics holding an employment contract and earning a minimum of €44,800 (US$59,000) a year (and with some professions, just €35,000 a year) will receive a Blue Card. With this, they can obtain a permanent resident’s permit after two to three years. And their next of kin will not require approval by the Federal Labour Agency when taking a job. Finally, the maximum stay for students including preparatory courses has once again been raised, to 10 years, and the maximum for a doctorate is five years. In 2009, time for a first-degree course plus a doctoral course was restricted to 10 years, which the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has always maintained is too little time even if the prescribed duration of first-degree studies is observed. The organisation stresses that the new measures give students and academics more freedom of decision – an important aspect, it says, in a cosmopolitan and hospitable country. These legislation changes come in the wake of an interesting report based on a survey conducted by the Expert Council of German Foundations on Integration and Migration (SVR). More than one in 10 of Germany’s two million plus students are foreigners, and that proportion is on the increase. However, while four out of five foreign students said they wished to stay on in Germany after graduating, most of them return home. Many appeared to be frustrated by the complex regulations that have to be met to gain the right to stay, and 39.4% reported facing prejudice. Survey results from Germany, France, the UK, The Netherlands and Sweden will be reported in more detail in tomorrow's post - stay tuned! Source: University World News

Most Recent

  • New analysis forecasts marginal growth for foreign enrolment in Australia through 2030 Read More
  • China opens up to global STEM talent with new visa class Read More
  • US proposes new rules for student visas including term limits and other restrictions Read More

Most Popular

  • Which countries will contribute the most to global student mobility in 2030? Read More
  • Research shows link between study abroad and poverty alleviation  Read More
  • Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe Read More

Because you found this article interesting

New analysis forecasts marginal growth for foreign enrolment in Australia through 2030 In the five years leading up to the pandemic, Australia’s foreign enrolment grew at an average of 10%...
Read more
China opens up to global STEM talent with new visa class The contrast offered by the global news headlines over the past couple of weeks could not have been...
Read more
US proposes new rules for student visas including term limits and other restrictions On 28 August 2025, the US Department of Homeland Security published a proposed rule: Establishing a Fixed Time...
Read more
US Office of Management and Budget grants budget reprieve to key exchange programmes In a highly unusual intervention in an area of Congressional authority, the US Office of Management and Budget...
Read more
Canada: How is study permit processing taking shape this year? There are two important and recurring themes in our conversations with education agents over the last few months...
Read more
UK study visa grants strengthening in first half of 2025 A 21 August 2025 data release from the UK Home Office shows that student visa grants were up...
Read more
Asian destinations show their strength in latest ranking of student cities The QS Best Student Cities 2026 rankings were released last month, and, for the first time ever, Seoul...
Read more
Many foreign students want to stay in Germany but need more help with the transition to life after study Early findings from an extensive survey of international students in Germany finds that two-thirds would like to stay...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links