internet. Have you already found a suitable job? If you are from a third country and have an offer of a qualified job, you can apply for a residence permit for qualified employment or an EU Blue Card . Note that your job does not necessarily have to be related to your qualifications (with the exception of the EU Blue Card ). However, you will need a licence to practise if you want to work in a regulated profession. You will need to present the following supporting documents: Proof of successfully completed [...] either work at a university or receive a grant for their research. If you are from a third country and want to do a doctorate in Germany, you will need either a residence permit for study purposes , a residence title for research purposes or an EU Blue Card , depending on how much you work and earn during your doctorate. You can apply for a residence permit at your local foreigners authority. Before you apply, find out from them what documents you need to submit. Complete vocational training Do you [...] long as the expected salary is sufficient to cover your living costs. The foreigners authority is the sole decision-making body in this matter. Info box If you are from the EU, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland, you can live and work in Germany without any restrictions. You can find out more in the " Information for EU citizens " section. Become self-employed There are many reasons to become self-employed in Germany. If you are interested, you might want to contact a start-up advisory service