Immigration Services in Germany
Foreigners who want to immigrate to Germany can benefit from a wide range of legal services if they address to specialists in immigration law. Migration to Germany can refer to various matters, such as the procedures one must complete in order to study here, the requirements for employment, the visa application steps, and others.
As a member state of the European Union (EU), Germany applies different procedures to EU citizens who want to relocate here for various purposes, other than in the case of foreigners living outside the EU (EU citizens benefit from the free movement of persons and there aren’t many regulations applicable in this case, as they are entitled to almost the same rights as German citizens). Non-EU citizens have to comply with more stringent regulations and we highly advise them to address our immigration lawyer in Germany.
How can our immigration lawyers assist in moving to Germany?
Those seeking professional assistance on the immigration law and the immigration procedures applicable in Germany can rely on the wide category of services offered by our immigration lawyers. We can represent natural persons relocating here for personal purposes or those who want to invest in Germany. Some of the basic services foreigners can obtain are mentioned in the list below:
• immigration services for those who want to immigrate to Germany for employment purposes;
• services for persons who want to study in Germany or for those interested in family reunification programs;
• legal representation for foreign entrepreneurs who want to start a business in Germany;
• assisting in obtaining a residence permit in Germany, which grants a person the right to lawfully live in this country;
• offering step-to-step information on the visa application procedure, in the case of persons whose nationality requires the issuance of this document.
Foreign citizens who intend to immigrate to Germany should know that the legal basis through which immigration procedures are developed in this country is given by the Immigration Act and the regulations applied by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. The rules prescribed are mainly addressed to non-EU citizens, but it must be noted that EU citizens also have certain obligations when discussing German immigration.
For instance, in the case in which they plan to stay for a period longer than 90 days in Germany, they are legally required to apply for a residence permit. Our immigration lawyer in Germany can present the legal grounds under which this document can be obtained (it can also be issued if a foreigner has purchased a property here or if he or she made an investment in a local business).
How many foreigners live in Germany?
Germany is one of the main economies of the EU and one of the most developed countries at a global level. Due to its strong economy and certain social benefits, foreigners can obtain here, persons from across the world have constantly been interested in German migration. Over the years, the following trends were observed:
• in 1991, the share of foreigners who lived in Germany (calculated from the total population), accounted for 7,6%;
• at the level of 2018, the share of foreigners reached 12,2% of the total population living in Germany;
• in 2018, there were a total of 10,9 million foreigners living in this country, according to the data gathered by the Central Register of Foreign Nationals;
• compared to 2017, this marked an increase of 2,7%, corresponding to a total of 292.000 persons;
• most of the migrants relocating to Germany in 2018 were from European countries, accounting for 67% of all the migrants recorded in that year;
• Romanians account for the largest EU population (251,971 persons in 2018) and the second most important group of EU migrants is represented by Polish persons (143,646).
How can a foreigner obtain a business visa in Germany?
Considering that Germany represents one of the most developed economies in Europe and at a global level, it attracts numerous foreign investors as well, besides those who decide to immigrate to Germany for employment purposes. German immigration law also provides visas for those who want to invest in this country.
From the start, we mention that European investors do not need to apply for any particular document, the business visa being a document that is necessary for businessmen from third countries; our immigration lawyer in Germany can help you find out if you need a business visa if you decide to start a company here.
The business visa in Germany is issued as a Schengen visa, which allows its holder to stay in this country for a period of 90 days in a total period of six months. When applying for this document, the businessman should prepare an extensive set of documents, like the ones mentioned in the list below:
• the visa application form signed and completed by the applicant;
• a declaration attesting that the information submitted to the German authorities is accurate;
• two photographs that respect the format prescribed by the Germany immigration law;
• the applicant’s passport – the passport must not be older than 10 years;
• a travel health insurance with a value of at least EUR 30,000 and which includes provisions regarding matters such as illness, accidents, and the death of the applicant;
• information on the flight itinerary and the proof of accommodation in Germany.
Besides these documents, the investor must present papers that refer to the purpose for which the visa is issued. The Germany migration regulations applicable in this case requires applicants to provide business references, the company’s bank statements or, if self-employed, a certificate of proprietorship, an invitation letter from a business partner, where applicable, the schedule of the business meetings, the certificate of incorporation of the company owned by the applicant and other similar documents.
What are the rules for obtaining German citizenship?
As a foreign person moving to Germany, one has the possibility of acquiring German citizenship. This is called citizenship through naturalization, which designates the fact that the person does not have German descent, nor is he or she related to German citizens, but wants to become a citizen of this country.
In this case, several scenarios are available, but one of the main conditions is to be a German resident, which means that the applicant has been living in this country on a continuous basis. Persons who have been living in Germany for at least 8 years based on a permanent residence permit are entitled to German citizenship (additional criteria have to be met as well), but also persons who have been living here for at least 7 years and who have participated to an integration course.
The German migration law also requires applicants for German citizenship to be able to speak German (the B1 level is required). The applicant must be financially independent and support his/her family and have a clean criminal record. During the naturalization process, the person must pass a citizenship test and must also be willing to renounce his or her previous citizenship (or citizenship).
Refugees are also entitled to German citizenship, but they must go through the same process explained above. Foreigners who have married a German citizen are not automatically entitled to German citizenship (although this was possible up until 1970). They will need to follow the steps mentioned earlier, the difference being that they can apply for citizenship after three years of legal residence in Germany. At the moment the application is made, the applicant has to be married for at least two years. In case you want to immigrate to Germany and obtain German citizenship, our lawyers can assist you.
Can one maintain dual citizenship in Germany?
Foreigners moving to Germany on a permanent basis, who want to become German citizens, will generally have to renounce their other citizenship. This is prescribed by the German migration regulations, but foreigners must know that there are few exemptions from this rule. For example, a person can maintain dual citizenship if he or she is the child of a German citizen and of a foreign citizen.
This right is also given to those who started the process of immigrating to Germany as persons who have German descent and who are considered ‘re-settlers”; the right is given to other family members of such persons. In the case in which a person moving to Germany arrives from a country that does not allow the right to renounce the citizenship with which the person was born, then the German law will make an exemption from its regulations and the foreigner will be entitled to benefit from German citizenship as well.
How can our immigration lawyer in Germany help in obtaining a residence permit?
We will discuss here matters related to the issuance of the residence permit as this is one of the most common documents requested by foreigners interested in relocation to Germany. As said above, the residence permit grants the right to live here and the document must be obtained if the person will live here for a period longer than 90 days.
Residence permits can be issued in Germany for a short-term period (of up to one year), for employment purposes, for family reunification programs, or for study purposes. Only after staying in this country for a continuous period, one can apply for a permanent residence permit.
Depending on your particular situation, our lawyers can provide legal information on the documents you should prepare in order to immigrate to Germany, and the steps involved in this case. Please contact our immigration lawyer in Germany for assistance on the immigration services that are available for those relocating to this country.
