Department of Home Affairs and Sport

Apply for employment toleration

As a person required to leave the country, you can obtain a work permit.

Detailed description

An employment toleration permit is a special form of toleration for people in Germany who are required to leave the country. An employment toleration permit allows you to stay in Germany temporarily in order to pursue employment.


To obtain a work permit, you must submit an application and meet various requirements. This work permit protects you from deportation as long as you continue to meet the requirements.

 

Information

Prerequisites

  • You have been staying in Germany for at least 12 months without interruption.
  • You have been in continuous employment subject to social insurance contributions for at least 12 months with a minimum of 20 hours per week.
  • Your employer is not a temporary employment agency.
  • You can secure your livelihood completely independently through your employment and are not dependent on social benefits.
  • Your identity has been fully verified or you have demonstrably done everything reasonable to obtain a valid passport or passport replacement.
  • You have sufficient oral knowledge of the German language (at least language certificate A2)
  • You have not committed any serious crimes.
  • They have not yet been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of more than one year.

Documents required

  • Recognized identity document (e.g. passport, passport substitute, ID card)
  • Rejection of asylum decision or toleration
  • employment contract
  • Salary slips for the last 12 months
  • Confirmation of occupancy, proof of rent
  • Language certificate
  • Proof of school attendance for school-age, underage, unmarried children
  • Proof of completion of the integration course (if applicable)

The documents and information must generally be submitted in German. In individual cases, the responsible authority may require less or more documentation.

Please note

There are no special features to note.

Deadlines

There is no set deadline within which an application for employment toleration must be submitted. However, you should submit the application as soon as the requirements are met to ensure a seamless transition and protection from deportation.




A work permit is usually issued for 30 months. However, this duration can vary depending on the individual circumstances and the decisions of the responsible authority.

Procedure

  • Find out whether the office responsible for you allows you to submit your application online or has a special application form.
  • If the application can only be submitted in person, make an appointment at the responsible office. If you apply online, the responsible office will contact you after receiving your application to make an appointment.
  • During the appointment, your identity and documents will be checked (please bring your documents, preferably in the original, with you to the appointment).
  • If your application is approved, you may be issued with the employment permit at the appointment. If your application is rejected, you will receive a rejection notice.

Processing time

Processing may take several weeks.

Fees

62.00 EUR according to § 47 Residence Ordinance

Legal remedies

Contradiction


Action before the administrative court

Legal basis

§ 60d Law on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Territory (Residence Act - AufenthG)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__60d.html

Related services

Links on hamburg.de

Address and contact information

Department of Home Affairs and Sport

Mon-Tue 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Thu-Fri 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and by appointment - closed on Wednesdays

Due to the pandemic spread of the disease COVID-19 caused by the pathogen SARS-CoV-2 ("Corona virus"), personal visits in the service building in Hammer Straße are not required and should only take place in emergencies or by appointment.



The following procedures therefore apply until further notice:

  • Holders of residence permits, residence permits, tolerations or other documents relating to residence law (e.g. fiction certificates) whose validity is about to expire will receive a certificate confirming the continuation of legality. At the same time, with this certificate, you will be given a preliminary appointment in a few weeks.
  • The certificate is currently sent by letter
  • If the residents' central office is visited due to the expiry of the validity of the previously valid document, the certificate will be issued in the entrance area
  • The previous document on the right of residence in the federal territory is only valid in connection with the certificate until the preliminary interview.
  • This also applies to all ancillary provisions to your document (e.g. type and scope of permitted employment).
  • Travel abroad and re-entry into the federal territory are only possible with a still valid residence permit.

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Last updated: 08.02.2026