What is a residence permit?
A residence permit is a temporary residence title with a specific purpose. This can be, for example, residence for the purpose of gainful employment (§§ 18 ff. AufenthG), purpose of education (§§ 16-17 AufenthG) and others. The requirement for issuing a residence permit is linked to specific purposes.
Work permit
Third-country nationals who are neither EU nor EEA citizens generally need a residence permit AND a work permit to be allowed to work in Germany. The Foreign Office in the respective country of origin is responsible for issuing this permit. For qualified employment, the national visa is set for a period of one year and can be extended with a valid local employment contract at the competent foreigners authority.
Settlement permit
Residence permits for skilled workers according to § 18a and 18b AufenthG are issued for a period of three years. After this period, a permanent settlement permit can be applied for.