The Job Seeker Visa (Aufenthaltserlaubnis zur Arbeitsplatzsuche für qualifizierte Fachkräfte) is a way for qualified applicants to stay in Germany for an additional 6 months while they search for work. Eligible applicants have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, 5 years of work experience, and a valid passport. Turn up in Germany on a tourist visa, fill out the paperwork specified by the Ausländerbehörde (foreigner’s office), and voila! One short-term residence permit for you.
I started on the path to a Job Seeker Visa in the fall of 2018 and was accepted in December 2018. I poured over every resource I could find online and talked to several visa experts before compiling this guide.