Vera, a young and determined woman from Ukraine, came to Germany shortly after the war broke out in her country. Thanks to being granted status under § 24 of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz), she received temporary protection as a refugee. This provision, which took effect in March 2022, allows Ukrainian citizens to obtain a temporary residence permit with the right to work and study.
But Vera had no intention of stopping there. She understood that successful integration into German society and long-term residency required more than just temporary-protection status. With a higher education degree in economics and work experience at a logistics company in Ukraine behind her, she set herself a clear goal right away — to establish herself in Germany and build a successful career.
Changing Your Basis of Stay
Switching from temporary protection (§ 24 AufenthG) to a stable residence permit through an employment contract requires advance preparation of documents and consultation with a lawyer.
Integration Through Learning German
The first step toward this goal was an intensive course of German. Thanks to her refugee status, Vera was entitled to free integration courses offered by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). In these courses she reached a basic level of the language, which allowed her to actively engage with German society. However, she understood that basic knowledge alone would not be enough to find a job in her field.
Integration Through Education and Professional Development
As a trained economist with experience at a logistics company, Vera didn't waste any time. She decided to study German in order to have more opportunities on the job market. Using the free integration courses, Vera reached level B1 within a short time and continued her studies through paid courses, gradually improving her German to level B2 — all despite the fact that, in Vera's particular situation, knowledge of German is not actually a mandatory requirement for obtaining a residence permit for employment purposes…
§ 18g — the EU Blue Card — offers an excellent opportunity for highly qualified professionals to remain in Germany long-term. However, this requires meeting a number of strict requirements. The EU Blue Card was created to attract professionals with higher education and qualifications into Germany's economy. With her degree in economics and work experience, Vera was able to meet these criteria.
Main Requirements for Obtaining the EU Blue Card (§ 18g AufenthG):
1. Higher education recognized in Germany: One of the key requirements for obtaining the EU Blue Card is holding a higher education degree. Vera had graduated from a university in Ukraine, and the next important step was checking her diploma against German standards via the ANABIN database. ANABIN is a platform used to verify whether foreign education meets German standards.
For the diploma to be recognized, the educational institution and study program must meet ANABIN's criteria. Vera turned to our lawyer to submit a request to ZAB (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen), the body that evaluates diplomas. After reviewing and confirming Vera's qualification, her diploma was recognized in Germany, allowing her to proceed with obtaining the EU Blue Card.
2. Employment contract: To obtain the EU Blue Card, you need a job offer in Germany with a salary that meets the established minimum thresholds. In 2024, this minimum for highly qualified professionals is €43,800 per year (or €39,682 for professionals in shortage occupations such as IT, mathematics, and engineering).
Thanks to her knowledge of English and German, along with her professional experience, Vera was able to secure a job at an international company matching her qualifications. Her salary exceeded the established minimum, which was an important factor in obtaining the EU Blue Card.
3. Confirmation of qualification: In addition to diploma recognition, it's important to provide evidence of professional experience if the employer requires it. Vera provided a CV, reference letters from previous employers, and an employment contract from her new employer, all of which strengthened her application.
4. Language proficiency: The EU Blue Card does not require German language proficiency if the job is performed in English. Nevertheless, Vera understood that knowing German at the B2 level would give her greater opportunities for integrating into German society and advancing her career, which she demonstrated in her application.
The Application Process and Legal Assistance
After turning to us for legal assistance, Vera received comprehensive support in preparing all the necessary documents. We helped her gather:
Confirmation of diploma recognition via ANABIN, the employment contract and required supporting documents, and financial documents confirming compliance with the EU Blue Card requirements.
Based on all these documents, we prepared an application to the foreigners' authority (Ausländerbehörde) and monitored the progress of its review.
The Result
A few weeks later, Vera received the foreigners' authority's approval for the long-awaited EU Blue Card. This gave her the opportunity to remain in Germany long-term, develop professionally, and fully integrate into German society. The EU Blue Card also gives Vera additional benefits, such as the ability to apply for a permanent residence permit after just 21 months of employment.
Conclusion
Vera's story, like that of many others who received temporary protection under § 24 of the Aufenthaltsgesetz (temporary refuge for refugees from Ukraine), shows that it is possible to change your residence status in Germany to something more permanent, using employment as the basis for obtaining a residence permit. And you don't necessarily need a higher education degree…
If you have a higher or vocational secondary education, or a confirmed qualification in one of the skilled trades, and you are employed in line with your qualification, you can switch from temporary status under § 24 to a more stable residence permit. This makes it possible to legalize your stay on the basis of your professional activity.
If you are under temporary protection status under § 24 and want to find out how you can change your status based on employment, our law firm is ready to offer you free recommendations. Our immigration lawyers, who speak your language, will be happy to provide you with a phone consultation and help identify your individual options for obtaining a more secure residence permit.
We Offer:
An assessment of your chances of changing your status under § 24 AufenthG; a detailed legal consultation on the required documents and requirements; and assistance in preparing an application for the EU Blue Card or another category of employment-based residence permit.
Contact us to get an initial consultation and start the document process today!
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