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Register with the Agentur für Arbeit

Selected criteria

  1. I recently arrived in Germany
  2. Find a job or change careers
  3. Register with the Agentur für Arbeit

This route helps you find your bearings calmly after losing a job or before your contract ends. First distinguish registering as a job seeker from registering as unemployed, and gather information for an Arbeitslosengeld application. Then prepare for a meeting with an adviser: decide what job-search support you need, update your documents, and make a clear application plan. There are also materials for dismissal, probation periods, and questions related to residence status. Rules on benefits, deadlines, and the right to work depend on your personal situation, so use the articles to prepare and check the decision with the Agentur für Arbeit or a specialist adviser.

Plan overview

A sequence of actions for registering with the Agentur für Arbeit, preparing an application, and organising your further job search.

What to do step by step

  1. 1

    Record the end of your job and begin registration

    Check what you need to do before and from the first day of unemployment, and separate notifying the authority, registration, and the application.

    Articles for this step

    Arbeitslosengeld in Germany: ALG eligibility, registration deadlines, and documents Unemployment benefits in Germany for foreigners
  2. 2

    Gather information for the application

    Prepare employment details and find out what type of support applies to your situation.

    Articles for this step

    Arbeitslosengeld in Germany: ALG eligibility, registration deadlines, and documents Unemployment benefits in Germany for foreigners
  3. 3

    Keep your options after dismissal

    If you received a Kündigung or are in a probation period, check the separate steps and do not make rushed decisions.

    Articles for this step

    Termination of an Employee by an Employer in Germany: Grounds, Deadlines, and What to Do Probation Period in Germany: Probezeit, Dismissal, Vacation, and Sick Leave
  4. 4

    Prepare your new job search

    Identify suitable vacancies, organise your Bewerbung, and manage applications systematically.

    Articles for this step

    Job Search in Germany: Where to Start and How to Prepare Your Bewerbung Working in Germany: Sick Leave, Minijobs, and Where to Find Job Openings
  5. 5

    Discuss the support you need with an adviser

    If you need support with your CV, applications, or interviews, prepare a goal and examples of your difficulties for the meeting.

    Articles for this step

    AVGS Voucher in Germany: Free Coaching for Job Search and Starting a Business Job Coaching in Germany: How to Get Coaching through AVGS and Who It Is For
  6. 6

    Find the right authority

    Use the short guide to distinguish the Agentur für Arbeit, Jobcenter, and other institutions.

    Articles for this step

    Government Agencies and Documents in Germany: A Short Guide for Migrants

Important notes

  • Do not delay notifying the authority that you are looking for work if you already know your employment end date.
  • Registering as unemployed and applying for ALG are separate actions.
  • For foreigners, eligibility for support depends on residence status.
  • Coaching through AVGS requires an adviser’s decision.

Common mistakes

  • Waiting until the first day of unemployment
  • Treating registration as an application
  • Starting coaching without approval