You can find out whether your degree is comparable to a German university one via the Anabin database: https://anabin.kmk.org/anabin.html (Öffnet in einem neuen Tab). The equivalence is fulfilled, provided that your university has been evaluated there with "H+" and your degree as "equivalent". In other cases, you must get a “Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications” from the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen – ZAB):

https://www.kmk.org/zab/central-office-for-foreign-education/statement-of-comparability-for-foreign-higher-education-qualifications.html  (Öffnet in einem neuen Tab)

With a residence permit for qualified employment, you are not allowed to engage in unqualified employment.

Main requirements:

• University degree (recognized in Germany)
• Work contract or concrete employment offer
• Sufficient financial means (including health insurance)
• Sufficient housing

Disclaimer of the Foreigners' Registration Office Potsdam

The information on this website is merely intended as a guideline. There is no guarantee for the completeness and correctness concerning the information provided on this website. The completeness of the stated documents does not mean that the residence permit will be issued. Each case must be assessed individually. Therefore, the requested documents may vary.

Required documents:

• Application form - filled out and signed (issuance (Öffnet in einem neuen Tab) or extension (Öffnet in einem neuen Tab) of a residence permit)
• 1 new biometric passport photo
• Valid passport & copies (data sheet, entry visa, stamps, labels)
• Current health insurance membership certificate, not older than 3 months (no chip card)
• Current proof of residence (housing form from the Potsdam Foreigners' Registration Office (Öffnet in einem neuen Tab), filled out and stamped by the homeowner/landlord, homeowners must submit an excerpt from the land register)
• Residence registration from the City Hall (Bürgerservice)
• Joint declaration of marriage (Öffnet in einem neuen Tab) for one another (one form per spouse)
• Current employment contract
• Last 6 salary slips
• Completed employer form (Öffnet in einem neuen Tab) of the Federal Employment Agency
• University degree:
  • German or
  • Foreign (in German translation)
    • Extract from the Anabin database of university "H+" and classification of your degree as "equivalent" or
    • Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications from the ZAB

Fees

• First application: 100,00 Euro
• Prolongation: 93,00 Euro

Method of payment

• Debit card or cash