Your post-graduation options
Stay in Germany, move within the EU, or return to Kenya
German graduates from any nationality can apply for an 18-month job-search visa (§20 AufenthG) after completing their degree. This visa allows you to stay in Germany while searching for employment matching your qualifications, with part-time work permitted up to 10 hours per week. Once you find a qualifying role, you apply for the EU Blue Card or a standard skilled worker permit. For Kenyan graduates who return home, a German engineering or computer science degree carries significant premium value with multinationals operating in East Africa and pan-African firms.
EU Blue Card — key thresholds
| Minimum salary (general) | €45,300 gross/year (2024) |
|---|---|
| Reduced threshold (shortage fields) | €41,042 gross/year — STEM, IT, medicine |
| Validity | Up to 4 years |
| Path to permanent residence | 21 months + B1 German; 33 months standard |
| EU mobility | After 18 months with Blue Card: right to work in most EU countries |
Sectors and roles where Kenyan graduates are in demand
- Software development and IT — high demand in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg
- Engineering (civil, electrical, mechanical) — Germany's ongoing skills shortage
- Data science and AI — strong growth across German tech companies
- Renewable energy — Kenya's geothermal and solar expertise is transferable
- Healthcare — medical graduates from Kenya with German medical license recognition
- Supply chain and logistics — Germany's export economy creates constant demand
Explore the full guide for Kenya students in Germany
Back to the Complete Guide
