Germany
Germany is a country of possibilities not only for Germans, but also for third-world country nationals as well. The land of invention and innovation is the fourth largest economy in the world and home to world known corporates and companies. As such, it offers the chance to many non-Germans to find a job and settle in the country.
The Germany Employment Visa is an opportunity for qualified foreigners to settle in Germany and work in their field. It gives to its holder the chance to enter and work in Germany for up to two years, with the possibility of extending the visa, and later applying for an EU Blue Card, or other types of residence permits.
Long-Stay Visa Types for Working in Germany
You may apply for a Germany Long-Stay Visa under the purpose of working in Germany, for the following:
- Employment – if you already have a job offer in Germany.
- Self-Employment – if you wish to establish a business in Germany or to work as a freelancer.
- Working as a Freelancer
- Jobseeker – if you wish to look for a job while in Germany.
- Working as an Au Pair – for young adults wishing to learn more about the German culture and language.
- Working Holiday Visa – for the youngsters of several countries, that have signed a Working Holiday Visa agreements with Germany.
Who Needs a Germany Employment Visa?
Citizens of the following countries can apply for their residence permit for work purposes after entering Germany without a visa.
- EEA/EU member states the United States of America
- Australia
- Canada
- Israel
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Switzerland
- the Republic of Korea
Citizens of the rest of third-world countries are required to obtain a visa for work purposes before traveling to Germany. Following in this article find the procedures you need to follow, including the documents you need to obtain, in order to get a Germany Employment Visa.
Categories Eligible to Apply for a Germany Employment Visa
All foreign nationals can apply for a Germany Employment Visa if they fulfill the conditions to work in Germany.
According to the “Act on the Residence” that regulates the residence issue for foreigners in Germany, the categories eligible to apply for a German Employment Visa are as follows:
- Highly qualified foreigners, in particular:
- researchers with special technical knowledge
- teaching personnel in prominent positions or scientific personnel in prominent positions
- Intra-corporate transferees, in particular:
- managers
- specialists
In addition, eligible and encouraged to apply for a Germany work visa are third-world country nationals with a university degree or a non-academic vocational qualification that fulfill the conditions listed below:
- There is a shortage of skilled workers in the profession you want to practice in Germany.
- You have a concrete job offer.
- Your education must be recognized as equivalent with a German degree.
How to Apply for a Germany Work Visa?
The step-by-step application process for a Germany Work visa goes as follows:
- Get a job offer in Germany.
- Check if you need a visa to Germany for long-stays.
- Find out where you need to submit your visa application.
- Collect all of the required documents according to the instructions.
- Make an appointment for a visa interview.
- Pay the German Employment Work visa fee.
- Attend the interview.
- Wait for a response on your visa application.
Required Documents for a Germany Employment Visa
In order to prove to the German embassy/consulate in your country of residence that you fulfill the conditions for an employment visa, you will need to submit several documents. These documents are the crucial part of your application for a German employment visa, alongside with the visa interview.
Make sure you collect all of these documents according to their given instructions.
- Two fully completed application forms. Printed and signed at the end.
- Two passport photographs (see our page on photo requirements for more info as there are strict requirements).
- Valid national passport (more information on passport requirements).
- Proof of residence. Your driver’s license and/or utility bill in your name as proof of residence in the territory of the consulate where you plan to apply.
- Health insurance. Compulsory certificate from German employer, valid from date of employment. If not already included in the compulsory health insurance a separate travel insurance has to be presented for the time frame from arrival in Germany until beginning of employment. If you are looking for great coverage for a good price, then your working health insurance awaits here!
- An employment contract / binding job offer with details of gross annual salary and a detailed description of the employment in Germany.
- Approval by the Federal Employment Agency (If applicable).
- Curriculum Vitae. Your updated CV, which indicates your academic qualifications and your job experience.
- Proof of Qualification. Diplomas, Certificates, Mark-sheets etc., or anything similar that proves your qualifications.
- Personal covering letter explaining the exact purpose and duration of stay.
- Proof of a clean criminal record.
- Proof of paid visa fee. The visa fee for a German long-stay visa is €75.
- Declaration of Accuracy of Information.
Where to Apply for a Germany Work Visa?
You should apply for a German Employment visa at the representative body of Germany in your country of residence responsible for visa admission. This could be one of the following
- The German embassy
- A German consulate
- A Visa Application Center
- The German embassy/consulate located in a neighboring country, in absence of German representative bodies in your country of residence
- The embassy/consulate of another country, located in your country of residence, to which Germany has outsourced visa admission
Processing Time for Germany Work Visa
The processing time for a Germany long-stay work visa may take from one to three months from the application day. The processing time depends also on the number of applications the embassy is receiving at the time, as well as your situation.
Arriving in Germany on a Work Visa
After you get your German Work Visa, you can freely travel to Germany. However, there are still some procedures that you should complete upon arrival in Germany in order to obtain a Germany residence permit.
You should go at the Foreigner’s Office in Germany, located nearest to your place of residence. Some of the offices require from you to make an appointment prior to your interview, while others accept walk-in applications.
You will need to attend an interview during which you will also submit the required documents for a residence permit. These documents are:
- Your national valid passport.
- Application form for a Residence Permit.
- Two photos.
- Report of clean criminal record.
- Proof of German Language.
- Health Insurance Confirmation.
- Proof of Job Offer.
The period of time you are allowed to hold your permit is determined by your employment contract. If your contract is for 2 years, your permit will also be valid for 2 years. However, you can extend it as many times as you need as long as you maintain your employment status.
You can check here How to get a German Residence Permit, in order to learn more in this regard.
Work Permits
| Work Permits | |
|---|---|
| Can Sponsor Work Permit |
Yes for both Blue Card/Resident Permits and Skilled Worker Visas/Resident Permits |
| Work Permit cost |
Euro 3500 |
| Work Permit processing time |
8-12 weeks depending on the type of work permit and nationality of the applicant |
| Work Permit process |
The process depends on the type of permit / visa and the nationality of the applicant. For a standard work permit or Arbeitserlaubnis the process is as follows: Non-EU citizens (except nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and USA) must apply in person for a German National Residence Permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) at the German Embassy (Deutsche Botschaft) / Consulate in their country of residence before they can enter Germany. To obtain an appointment can take up to 6 weeks. Once the application is lodged in the appointment it takes 6-12 weeks as the application is sent to the local Foreigners Authority (Ausländerbehörde) where the employee will reside in Germany. The Aufenthaltserlaubnis is normally issued in conjunction with an entry visa and valid for 3 months. This typically allows the employee to enter Germany and start work – this right will be explicitly stated on the Aufenthaltserlaubnis. The German local Foreigners Authority (Ausländerbehörde) and Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) must still confirm that the work concerned is suitable and that the employee will not disadvantage the employment of local German or EU employees. This may also involve the local Chamber of Industry and Commerce (Deutscher Industrie- unde Handelskammertag). After these checks are completed the work permit is granted. The following documents are required Passport copy |
| Can Work Permit be processed in country |
Yes but depends on the nationality. |
| Switch Business Visa to Work Permit? |
No. However for some nationalities, you can switch from an Entry Visa to Work Permit. |
| Can Spouse work on dependent visa? |
Yes. |
Types of visas in Germany
| Category | Description of Visa |
|---|---|
| Visits ('tourist' visas) |
Depending on the activity you will be doing in Germany a tourist visa is generally the easiest option, requiring no special preparation or documents aside from the usual passport. Please note you cannot perform work activities on a tourist visa. While US citizens generally won’t require a visa for trips up to three months long, it is recommended to check with the consulate or embassy before going. Time: None Cost: None |
| Schengen Visas |
Although US citizens generally don’t need visas for short-term (up to 3 month) stays, if a visa is required Schengen visas can be issued for short-term visiting or business purposes. Schengen visas allow free movement between ‘Schengen’ states: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. These visas are generally authorized for short periods of time, usually for a 3-month period once in six months. For a longer period of time, national-visas are required. Schengen visas cannot be extended or re-written for any other purpose. 1. Submitting the Application at a Local German Embassy 2. Generally, the original and 2 photocopies of the following documents will be required in English or German: ● Application form, Time: Up to 15 days Please contact us for a quote. |
| Work Permits and National Visas |
For trips that will take longer than three months, a national visa will be required. The process is mostly similar to the Schengen Visa process, however there is a significantly longer wait of up to several months. It will also require a residence permit and additional steps registering after arriving in Germany. Note: foreigners from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland and the United States are able to freely enter Germany as a non-visa “tourist” but can apply to acquire/change their residence permit even after entering Germany. Citizens of all other countries must apply for visas and residence permits before arriving in the country. For those based in the US, the German Missions in the United States offers more information on their website. How to Apply for a National Visa: 1. Submit Application at Local German Embassy ● Two completed application forms and three recent passport photographs Time: Up to several months Please contact us for a quote. 2. Apply for a Residence Permit ● The business plan *Note that for level of financial investment, immigrants planning to invest at least €250,000 in Germany are highly likely to obtain a residence permit almost automatically. The residence permit will be valid for a limited period of time, and will afterwards need to be renewed at the local immigration office in Germany. 3. Apply for Certificate of Health for Residence Permit (Gesundheitszeugnis für Aufenthaltserlaubnis) If already in Germany, these can be obtained from a German doctor or local health office (Gesundheitsamt). There are no clear guidelines on acquiring one before entering Germany, though it is expected that any doctor can provide suitable certification. A local German embassy would need to provide advice. Time: 1 day Please contact us for a quote. 4. Apply for Certificate of Good Conduct (Führungszeugnis) These can be applied for through assistance from your home country’s embassy or consulate. Time: Up to 2 weeks (estimated) Please contact us for a quote. No source of information could be found that indicates the timeframe for this certificate; anticipate several weeks as it must go through international post and processing within Germany and then be sent back. 5. Register at Local Residence Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt) Within a week of arriving in Germany you must register at your local residence registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt, also known as Bürgeramt), usually located in the town or city hall. They issue an Anmeldebestätigung which will be required in conjunction with a passport for identification. The following documents are needed: In addition, depending on your circumstances: Time: One to two weeks (while waiting you will receive a certificate stating you are awaiting a residence permit). Cost: None |
| Summary |
Visas in Germany can be complex to negotiate because of the number of steps involved and the required involvement from German sponsors. Following the process outlined in this guide should give you a good start, but if you would like more information about visas in Germany or need help getting sponsored please contact us. |
How AtoZ Serwis Plus Can Help
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