Is German one-year work visa extendable?

Yes, a German one-year work visa can be extendable, but it depends on the type of visa and your employment status.

If your visa was granted based on a regular employment contract, it can usually be extended if:

• Your employment continues or is renewed,

• You meet the income and insurance requirements,

• You apply before the visa expires.

You must submit your extension application to the local Foreigners’ Office (Auslanderbehorde), ideally several weeks in advance. If you apply before the visa expires, you are usually allowed to stay in Germany while the application is being processed.

However, not all one-year visas are extendable. Some short-term or special-purpose visas like:

• Job Seeker Visas,

• Opportunity Cards (Chancenkarte) without a job,

• Seasonal or trainee visas are generally not extendable. In such cases, you would need to apply for a new type of visa (e.g., an employment visa) if you qualify.

In summary: If your one-year visa is tied to an ongoing job and you still meet the original conditions, you can usually extend it. Otherwise, a change of visa type may be required.