visa-employment for Germany
english > German Aliens Law in English
Visa / Permit for Labour Migration
Labour migration
The new German Immagration Act provides for highly qualified persons to be granted permanent residence from the outset.
Such persons may receive a settlement permit immediately. Family members who enter Germany with such persons or subsequently are entitled to take up gainful employment.
Promotion of the settlement of self-employed persons: as a rule self-employed persons receive a residence permit if they invest and create jobs.
Promotion of the settlement of self-employed persons: as a rule self-employed persons receive a residence permit if they invest and create jobs.
If these requirements are not met, each case is examined on its own merits to determine whether there is an overriding economic or specific regional interest, to assess its impact on the economy and to check its financial basis.
Students are entitled to remain in Germany for up to one year after successfully completing their studies for the purpose of seeking employment.
The general ban of recruitment of unqualified and low-qualified persons is retained, with a regulation allowing exceptions for individual occupational categories. In addition, approval may be granted if there is a public interest in an individual taking up employment.
A residence title may be issued only when a concrete job offer has been made.
Students are entitled to remain in Germany for up to one year after successfully completing their studies for the purpose of seeking employment.
The general ban of recruitment of unqualified and low-qualified persons is retained, with a regulation allowing exceptions for individual occupational categories. In addition, approval may be granted if there is a public interest in an individual taking up employment.
A residence title may be issued only when a concrete job offer has been made.
Visa for skilled workers holding a university degree
Visa for skilled workers holding a university degree
As a skilled worker with a university degree recognized in Germany, you will be issued with an EU Blue Card if the employment you want to take up matches your professional qualifications and you can present a contract of employment certifying a gross annual salary of at least 56,800 € in 2021 (for STEM occupations - scientists, mathematicians, engineers, doctors and IT specialists - at least 44,304 €).
The minimum salary requirement for the EU Blue Card is set once a year by the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
Necessary documents for the visa-application:
Proof of University qualification. If your university degree does not state the courses you studied, submit your transcript.
Proof of recognition of the qualification: anabin database of qualification and of the institution or (if the qualification is not assessed as “entspricht” (comparable) or “gleichwertig” (equivalent) and/or the institution is not classified as “H+”); Statement of Comparability by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) or (in the case of regulated professions in which permission is required to exercise the profession, for example, doctors, engineers; complete list is available from the Federal Employment Agency or the European Commission)
Permission to exercise a profession issued by the authority responsible for recognizing qualifications or assurance of permission to exercise a profession (for example, for medical professions: decision of the licensing authority in the federal territory, i.e. assurance of permission to exercise a profession and/or issuing of medical lisence)
Visa for skilled workers seeking employment
Visa for skilled workers seeking employment (Section 20 Residence Act)
The visa for seeking employment enables interested foreign skilled workers with vocational training or holding a university degree recognized in Germany to come to Germany for a maximum of six months to find a job that their qualification enables them to perform.
If you find an employer within half a year, you do not need to leave again but can apply for the necessary residence permit from the foreigners authority responsible for you in Germany.
During your stay to seek employment, you are not allowed to take up gainful employment with the exception of work on a trial basis for up to 10 hours per week.
Necessary documents for the visa-application:
Proof of recognition of foreign qualification: In the case of skilled workers with vocational training: Notification of recognition of foreign vocational training: Written notification of the agency in Germany responsible for recognition of vocational training.
In the case of skilled workers holding a university degree: anabin database on the qualification and on the institution or (if the qualification is not assessed as “entspricht” (comparable) or “gleichwertig” (equivalent) and/or the institution is not classified as “H+”)M Statement of Comparability by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) or (in the case of regulated professions in which permission is required to exercise the profession, for example, doctors, engineers; complete list is available from the Federal Employment Agency or the European Commission) Permission to exercise a profession issued by the authority responsible for recognizing qualifications or assurance of permission to exercise a profession (for example, for medical professions: decision of the licensing authority in the federal territory, i.e. assurance of permission to exercise a profession and/or issuing of medical license), see alo www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de
In the case of skilled workers with recognized vocational training: Proof of German language skills at B1 level in the form of a recognized language diploma
Proof of adequate financial means: To stay in Germany the applicant must have at their disposal at least 947 Euro per month (2021).
Proof of these means (blocked account to cover all costs) is to be provided in advance when the application is submitted. When submitting an application, financial means totalling at least 5,682 Euro.
In the case of financing in the form of a blocked account: Open the blocked account in good time before you apply for a visa. When applying for a visa, only the official confirmation of the opening of the account including information on the amount paid in and the amount available per month will be accepted. A confirmation, which does not include this information, is not sufficient.
Visa for skilled workers with vocational training qualification
Visa for skilled workers with vocational training qualification (Section 18a Residence Act)
As a skilled worker with vocational training qualification, you can be issued with a residence permit to engage in skilled employment that your qualification enables you to perform.
Please note that some university degrees from foreign universities are classified as vocational training qualifications in Germany.
- Declaration of employment signed by your employer
- From the age of 45: Proof of adequate provision for old age (only if salary does not amount to at least 55% of the annual contribution assessment ceiling for the general pension insurance scheme – 2021: 46,860 € gross/per annum).
- Notification of recognition of foreign vocational training: Written notification of the agency responsible for recognition of vocations in Germany or (in the case of regulated professions in which permission is required to exercise the profession, for example, in the care sector; complete list is available from the Federal Employment Agency or the European Commission)
- Permission to exercise a profession issued by the authority responsible for recognizing qualifications or assurance of permission to exercise a profession (original and two (2) copies) (for example, for medical professions)
- Proof of qualification, for example, diplomas, certificates, work log with translation and proof of completion
- Proof of housing in Germany
- Proof of adequate health insurance cover