Registering as a jobseeker in Germany

Do it as soon as you know your job will end, even before your last day

The Arbeitsuchendmeldung is a notice to the Agentur für Arbeit, the local office of Germany’s federal employment agency, that you need help finding work. It gets you advice and job placement and should be made as soon as you know your employment is ending, fixed-term contracts included. It is not the same as registering as unemployed, and on its own it does not start unemployment benefit.

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How it works

Register as a jobseeker

Register with the public employment service to get help finding work.

Registering with the public employment service gives you access to job offers, advice and training, and is often required before you can claim unemployment benefit. You usually register online or at the office for your home address, then have an interview with an adviser. Bring your ID, proof of address and details of your work history and qualifications. Registering as a jobseeker and applying for benefit are often separate steps, so check whether you need to do both.

Also searched as

jobseeker registrationregister as unemployedemployment officejob centrepublic employment servicehelp finding a job

At a glance

Offices
48 offices in 38 cities
Book online
At 46 of 48 offices
Apply online
At 47 of 48 offices

Online, by phone or in person, depending on the branch

Employment agencies that take your registration

Jobseeker registration is handled by the Agentur für Arbeit, not by the city’s Bürgeramt. Branches in places such as Berlin, Alsdorf and Bielefeld each cover certain addresses and set their own visiting rules.

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Other countries

The same task in other countries

Moving on, or comparing before you decide? See how this works elsewhere.

Where to next

Employment agencies for jobseekers

Local agencies take jobseeker registrations in their own way, and only one branch is responsible for your home address.

Jobseeker registration offices in Germany

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