Unbefristet — Permanent

Fixed-Term and Permanent Contracts

Fixed-term employment contracts, befristete Verträge, are common in Germany, especially for people starting a job, in research and in the public sector. German law allows an employer to offer a fixed-term contract without a specific reason for a limited period, generally up to two years in total, with a small number of extensions; beyond that, or for a longer term, a reason such as a project or a replacement is usually needed. The details are set out in the Part-Time and Fixed-Term Employment Act and change from time to time, so anyone in this situation should check the current rules. A permanent contract, unbefristet, is still the norm that many people aim for. It does not mean a job for life, but it brings strong protection against dismissal once the probation period is over, and it matters well beyond work: landlords, banks and immigration offices tend to ask about it. For someone from outside the EU, a stable job is one of the conditions for longer residence permits. The move from a fixed-term to a permanent contract is called Entfristung, and it is often a quiet moment: a new sheet of paper, a signature, and a decision that the employer has already taken. For Alex, it is the moment the question of staying becomes concrete.