Work in Germany. Thinking of coming to Germany to work or open your own business? Here’s a guide to what you’ll need before making the move to come to Germany under a work visa:
All persons who wish to seek gainful employment in Germany are required to obtain a residence permit in the form of a visa. A work permit will be included in the visa issued for this purpose. You need to have a serious job offer and contract in order to apply for a work visa.
What are the required documents to acquire a work visa should you want to work and live in Germany?
- Valid passport – issued within the past 10 years, providing a minimum of 2 blank pages.
- Application form – duly and fully completed here.
- Declaration of accuracy of information here.
- Passport sized photos – no older than three months
- Copies of the passport’s data page.
- Proof of address, e.g. valid driver’s license, utility bill, lease
- Copy of your employment contract or letter of intent from your future employer in Germany, including details about salary and working hours as well as full address of
the employer OR
- For self-employment: Copy of all information regarding the company and financing (e.g. location offer, business plan, credit and financial information, business contacts in Germany)
- Detailed job description from your future employer
9. Proof of qualification or university degree, original and copy, AND if applicable: official translation into German or English.
Please note: German law requires the foreign university degree to be fully recognized in Germany for the following employment:
- Skilled work/qualified employment for graduates of foreign universities (§ 18 IV
German Residence Act) - Blue Card (§ 19a German Residence Act)
- Jobseeker (§ 18c German Residence Act)
If this applies to your case, proof that your foreign university degree is recognised in Germany must be submitted along with your visa application. Please follow the instructions on the ANABIN website in order to print out this confirmation.
If your degree certificate does not state your subject, additional documents such as transcripts are required.
10. Proof of housing in Germany incl. full address (e.g. rental agreement, hotel reservation or invitation letter in case of private accommodation with name, full address and passport copy of the inviting person)
11. Proof of travel health insurance for the first 90 days of your stay with a minimum coverage of 30.000 EUR.
Once all required documents have been submitted to the Embassy/Consulate General, the application and supporting documents will be forwarded to the appropriate German authorities at the applicant’s intended place of residence and employment during his/her stay in Germany.
The processing can take up to 12 weeks. As soon as the application has been approved by the German authorities, the Embassy/Consulate will issue a national visa for the first 6 months of the intended stay.
A final residence permit for a longer period/the whole duration of the stay will be issued upon arrival in Germany by the Aliens’ Authority.
Although the work visa is called a “national visa”, please note that it does also entitle its holder to enter other Schengen countries for a stay of up to 90 days for tourism purposes.
How much does a work visa to Germany cost?
The visa fee amounts to 75 EUR and is payable in USD in cash only. Conversion into USD is made based on the exchange rate at the time of application.
Source: German mission website