How to Get Germany Work Visa? Everything About Work Permit

According to a recent survey by Studying-in-Germany.org, approximately 69% of international students prefer to stay in Germany after graduation to seek employment. This highlights Germany’s popularity as a destination for job opportunities. If you are an international student planning to work in Germany after your studies, understanding how the German work permit system works is crucial. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the German work permit system, including the different types of work permits and the process of obtaining one in Germany.

What is GErmany Work Visa?

The Germany Work Visa, also known as the Employment Visa (Visum zur Erwerbstätigkeit) is offered to students/ professionals from Non- EU/ EEA countries or Swiss nationals with a job offer in Germany. There are different types of Work Visas in Germany, depending on which you can work indefinitely in Germany and maybe apply for a residency/ naturalization.

The Employment Visa for Germany does come under the D-visa category — it’s officially known as a National Visa (Type D). When you’re coming to Germany for work and plan to stay more than 90 days, you apply for a D-visa under the “Employment” purpose.

A D-Visa for employment also enables you to apply for a residence permit with the local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde).

How to Convert a Job Seeker Visa into Work Visa in Germany?

After completing your studies in Germany on a student visa, apply for the German job seeker visa. It is a Post Study Visa in Germany and gives you six months to search for employment. After finding a job, you can convert this visa into a German work visa or EU Blue Card visa. This change allows international students to live and work in Germany freely. If you’re wondering when should I apply for a Work Visa in Germany, the ideal time is right after securing a job offer during your job seeker visa period. This change allows international students to live and work in Germany freely.

German Work Visa Requirements

• You must be a non-EU citizen.
• You must have a valid job offer from a German company.
• You must have a valid university degree or vocational education from a recognized university. The degree must be either from Germany or an equivalent foreign degree.
• You must earn a salary that is enough to sustain yourself in Germany. Generally, a gross annual salary of around 30,000 to 58,400 Euros is acceptable.
• If you are in a regulated profession like healthcare, you must obtain your license to practice before applying for the visa
• You may need to prove German language proficiency skills, at least A1 or A2, depending on the job you will take.

Documents Required

The following documents will be required for your German Work Visa application. Submit all original documents unless you are asked to submit the copies.

• A duly printed and signed application form
• Proof of Visa fees
• Passport
• Job offer letter
• Academic qualifications proof
• Proof of Work Experience (if any/ req)
• Declaration of Employment Form
• CV
• Travel and health insurance
• License to practice (if required)
• Other documents mentioned in the checklist

Types of German Work Visa

The Germany Work Visa/ Employment visa is classified into different types based on the work and requirements. Read below for complete details:

Qualified Employment (Skilled Worker)

The Qualified Employment or Skilled Worker Visa in Germany is issued to individuals with a university degree or a vocational training, The eligibility requirements for Qualified Employment/ Skilled Worker visa are:

• Have a degree equivalent to the German Academic Qualification and recognized in the country..
• You must have a job relevant to your field of education training.
• For individuals above 45 years of age, your gross annual salary must be at least €53,130 with a proof that that you have adequate pension provision.

EU Blue Card

The EU Blue Card is issued to highly skilled individuals who have a job offer in Germany with a pay of at least €48,300/year. The eligibility requirements for getting an EU Blue Card in Germany are:

• You must hold a degree from a recognized German university, a foreign degree that is comparable to a German academic qualification, or a tertiary-level qualification.
• Your job must be relevant to your qualifications.
• Your employment period must be 6 months.
• For individuals in bottleneck profession, you can get an EU Blue Card with a gross salary of at least €43,759.80.

*You can check the list of bottleneck professions on the official website of Federal Government.

Professionally Experienced Worker

As the name suggests, the Professionally Experienced Worker Visa is offered to candidates with a foreign academic qualification. Here are the eligibility requirements for a Professionally Experienced Worker:

• You should have a vocation or academic qualification recognized by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).
• You should have at least 2 years of professional experience.
• You should be in a non- regulated profession with a gross salary of at least €43,470. For individuals over 45 years of age, the gross salary requirement is €53,130.
• Your employment must be approved by the Federal Employment Agency.

Au Pair Visa

The Au Pair Visa in Germany is intended for young individuals who want to live with a German host family to assist with childcare and light household duties, while also experiencing German culture and language. Hete are the eligibility requirements:

• You must be between 18 and 26 years old at the time of application.
• You must have a formal invitation or contract from a German host family.
• You should have basic knowledge of the German language
• You should not have already stayed in Germany on an Au Pair visa before.
• The host family must provide you with a monthly allowance of around €280, free board and lodging, and contribution to language course fees.

Self- Employment and Freelance

If you’re planning to start your own business or work independently in Germany, you can apply for a self-employment visa. Here are the eligibility requirements for the Self- Employment or Freelance Visa:

• Your startup should have a positive effect on the economy and there should be demand for your product/ service.
• You have sufficient funding options.
• For individuals over 45, you should provide a proof of sufficient retirement savings
• For freelancer, you should have necessary license for your job.

Researcher

The Researcher Visa is for individuals who want to work in Germany as a researcher. Here are the other requirements:

• You should have a contract with the research institute in Germany.
• Your research and living costs are covered by your hosting institute.

How to Apply for Work Visa in Germany?

Here is the step-by-step process for applying for a work permit in Germany:

• Fill application form: The first step is to fill out the application form. You can complete this process online through VIDEX or by downloading the application form as a PDF document. In both cases, after completing the form, you need to print it, sign it, and attach a passport-size biometric photo of yourself in the designated spot.
• Book an appointment: Book an appointment with the consulate for your work visa application. Remember, you need to first book an appointment and then visit the consulate. Furthermore, make sure to start the process well in advance because it may take a few weeks to get an appointment and a few months to hear a decision. You can easily find a nearby German Diplomatic Mission here.
• Collect the required documents: For German work visas and a German job seeker visa, gather all the documents mentioned above. However, The German embassy or consulate will usually provide you with an exact document checklist. Also do not staple or glue any documents together, unless specifically asked to.
• Submit the application: On the day of your appointment, you need to submit the required documents. Furthermore, submit your fingerprints, pay the application fee of 75 Euros, and answer the questions about your intention to move to Germany.
• Get approval from the Federal Employment Agency: For German work visas, the Federal Employment Agency must approve your job offer before you can receive the visa. They will review your salary, working hours, and benefits to ensure that the job offer complies with the German labor laws.
• Get the visa: Once your visa is approved, a visa sticker is affixed to your passport. Once you receive your passport, you can then live and work freely in Germany.

Germany Work Visa Processing Time

The processing time for a Germany work visa typically ranges from 4 to 12 weeks, depending on your home country, the specific visa category, and the workload of the German consulate or embassy. It’s advisable to apply well in advance of your intended start date. Make sure all required documents are complete to avoid delays in the process.

Important! First Things to do after you arrive in Germany

Register Your Address at the local registration office within 2 weeks.
Apply for a Residence Permit at the immigration office.
Get Health Insurance – usually handled by your employer.

How long is the German Work Visa Valid?

The German Work Visa is valid for one year. However, once you are in Germany, you will apply and receive a residence permit which would be for the duration of your work contract or a maximum of 4 years. Once you have completed 3 years of your stay/ work in Germany, you can apply for the Permanent Residence.

The New Skilled Immigrations Act: Updates

Starting from November, 2023, Germany rolled out the New Skilled Immigration Act (FEG) introducing major reform aims to make it easier for skilled professionals, especially those with vocational training or practical experience, to immigrate and work in Germany. Here are the updates: 

• Expansion of the EU Blue Card program
• Employment opportunities for professional drivers
• Residence permit rights for skilled workers, without strict link between job and qualification
• Individuals obtaining recognition for their foreign qualifications gain residence rights.
• Eased rules for hiring skilled workers, students, and trainees
• Introduction of the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) – a points-based system allowing jobseekers from non-EU countries to come to Germany and look for workShort-term employment through quota-based programs.

Checkout the Best cities in Germany for foreign nationals.

Conclusion

Germany offers a smooth transition from education to career. The country has very strong labor rights with competitive salaries. And the best part, Germany provides an easy and structured pathway to citizenship. There is a strong demand for workers too and hence as a student or professional, moving to Germany could be a great step towards a successful career.

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