Germany now gives you 6 months, not 3, to find a new job

If you lose your job in Germany, you now have at least six months to find a new one. Before 29 July 2026, you had three. This change matters for your German work visa, because your permit depends on having a job.

Germany changed Section 18 of the Residence Act (AufenthG, the main law for residence permits). Here is what it means for you, and what to do in the first days after a layoff.

What exactly changed on 29 July 2026?

The grace period is the time you can stay and look for work after your job ends. It is now longer in three situations.

Six months is the minimum. It is not a promise of exactly six.

The nine-month period is for people whose employer treated them badly.

Does the change cover my work visa?

Most Indian professionals in Germany hold a permit under Section 18. That includes skilled workers and graduates who moved from study to work. All of them are covered.

Blue Card holders fall under a different section, Section 18g. In practice, local Ausländerbehörden (foreigners' offices) also give them the six-month window. I would still ask your office to confirm it in writing.

People with a Niederlassungserlaubnis (permanent residence) are not affected. Their status is not tied to one employer.

Why was three months so hard?

German hiring is slow. You often face several interview rounds, and many jobs come with long notice periods. Ninety days was rarely enough.

Six months gives you time to search properly. You don't have to think about leaving the country, moving your family or switching to another visa too early.

What must I do at the Bundesagentur für Arbeit?

The Bundesagentur für Arbeit is the Federal Employment Agency. Its local offices are called Arbeitsagentur. The longer permit window does not change its deadlines. These deadlines still catch people out.

Step 1: register as job-seeking (arbeitsuchend)

You must register at least 3 months before your job ends. If your notice is shorter, for example in a sudden layoff, you must register within 3 days of getting the termination letter.

Miss this deadline and you get a Sperrzeit. That is a one-week block on your unemployment benefit.

Step 2: register as unemployed (arbeitslos)

Do this no later than your first day without a job. This step lets you claim Arbeitslosengeld I (ALG I, the unemployment benefit).

ALG I pays 60% of your net salary (your pay after tax). With children, it pays 67%. You must have worked 12 of the last 30 months.

Documents to bring

• Your passport
• Your Meldebescheinigung (the certificate that shows your registered address)
• Your termination letter

You can register online only with a German eID (the electronic ID function on a German ID card or permit). Without it, go in person or call.

What must I do at the Ausländerbehörde?

Tell your local Ausländerbehörde as soon as your job ends. Do not wait until you find something new.

The office will adjust your residence permit to show the new six-month window. Bring these documents:

• Your passport
• Your current residence permit
• Proof that your job ended, such as the termination letter

Send an email on the day you get the letter, and keep a copy. That gives you proof of when you told them.

Why are there two different deadlines?

Many people mix them up. The permit clock is now six months. The unemployment benefit clock is still three days or three months.

A longer permit window does not protect your money. If you wait to register at the Arbeitsagentur, you lose a week of ALG I even though your permit is safe.

Is your company cutting jobs? Read our post on the two deadlines for Blue Card holders after job cuts. You can also read about the 3 weeks you have to fight a dismissal.

To check the official rules, see arbeitsagentur.de for registration and Make it in Germany, the government portal for skilled workers. This is the rule as of July 2026, so check for updates.

Your next step is simple. Get your termination letter, register as arbeitsuchend within 3 days, and email the Ausländerbehörde the same day.