visit visa jobs in germany

What are you looking for?

Employment in germany.

Are you interested in taking up a job in Germany or maybe working as an Au-Pair? If your answer is yes, you will find detailed information on the required documents here.

Visa Needed?

All persons who wish to seek gainful employment in Germany are required to obtain a residence permit in the form of a visa. Where needed, a work permit will be included in the visa issued for this purpose.

Before submitting your visa application, please check here whether your foreign professional qualification needs to be recognized in Germany.

Where and how to apply?

Citizens of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the Republic of Korea, as well as EU citizens may apply for their residence permit for work purposes after entering Germany without a visa. However, in cases where an employment is intended to begin directly after arrival in Germany, a visa (which includes the work permit) has to be issued in advance, since it is not possible to start working in Germany before having the obligatory work permit.

Citizens of other countries are required to apply and obtain a visa for work purposes prior to entry at the German Embassy in Washington, the Consulate Generals in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York or San Francisco.

All German Missions require that you schedule an appointment in order to apply for a visa. Appointments have to be booked via our free online appointment system .

Click on the Consulate Finder below to find out where to submit your application and to learn about any specific application procedures. Due to local particularities handling and processing may vary slightly among the German missions involved.

Consulate Finder

Except for rare instances, you have to submit your application in person. Upon submission of all required documents the application will be forwarded to the Aliens' Authority (Ausländerbehörde) competent for your intended place of residence in Germany. Applications take about 1-3 months to be processed . After the application has been approved by the Aliens' Authority and –if applicable- by the Work Office (Arbeitsagentur), the Embassy or Consulate General will issue a residence permit in the form of a visa, which will include the authorization to work in Germany. The Aliens' Authority requires all residence permit holders to register upon their first arrival. A final residence permit will be granted in German after arrival.

What do I need to fill out?

• Application for D-Visa
• Residence Permit Application Form PDF / 485 KB
• Declaration of Accuracy of Information PDF / 51 KB
• Visa Photo Examples PDF / 550 KB
• Information on Data Protection

Required Documents (Original + 2 copies of each document)

• Working as an Aupair
• Internship PDF / 311 KB

Please Note : Although the information on this website has been prepared with utmost care, we can not accept any responsibility for inaccuracies contained herein.

Recognition in Germany of Foreign Professional Qualifications

The website “Recognition in Germany” provides up-to-date information on whether, how and where you can have your foreign professional qualification recognized and certified in Germany.

• Top of page

How to apply for a German work visa

Verified by Emily Archer on November 22, 2023

Emily is a relocation consultant. She runs Archer Relocation since 2015.

The German work visa is a residence permit to work in Germany.

With a work visa, you can…

• Live and work anywhere in Germany
• Bring your family to Germany 14
• Visit other Schengen countries without a visa 13
• Become a permanent resident after 4 years 10

This guide explains how to apply for a work visa in Berlin or in your country.

Who needs a work visa?

The work visa is a type of residence permit . You need a residence permit to live in Germany if you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the EU , EEA or Switzerland.

Who needs a residence permit ➞

Work visa requirements

To get a work visa, you need… 18

• A job offer You must find a job before you apply for the work visa. 15 It can be a short-term or part-time job. It can be a remote job. You must be an employee, not a freelancer.
• A fair salary There is no minimum salary, but you can’t be underpaid. 42 You must earn as much as Germans who have a similar job. 32  –  Compare your salary
• Qualifications for this job You must know how to do your job. For example, to get a car mechanic job, you must know how to fix cars. Your job can be unrelated to your education. 31
• Permission to do this job You must have all the permits and special qualifications needed for the job. 12 For example, doctors, engineers and lawyers need special qualifications. –  Find the requirements for your job

If you are not a citizen of Albania, Australia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, Israel, Japan, Kosovo, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, South Korea, the United Kingdom or the United States, you must have… 38

• Vocational training or a university degree You must be trained to do this job. Your education or training must be recognised by the Agentur für Arbeit . It must be equivalent to 2 years of training in Germany. If you have a university degree, try to get a Blue Card ; it’s better. Your job can be unrelated to your education. 31

If you are not a citizen of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, South Korea, the United Kingdom or the United States, you must have… 49

• An employer in Germany Your employer must have an office in Germany, even it it’s a remote job. 30

If you are over 45 years old, you must have… 43

• A net salary of at least 49,830 € per year
• or a pension plan that guarantees an income after retirement

You do not need to speak German to get a work visa. 27

Work visa alternatives

If you can’t get a work visa, there are other residence permits that let you work in Germany:

• ⭐ Blue Card For skilled workers with a university degree, or IT specialists without a degree. There is a minimum salary. The Blue Card is better than the work visa: you get it faster, and you can get permanent residence faster. –  How to apply
• Working Holiday Visa and Youth Mobility Visa For young people from certain countries. Work in Germany for 1 year. No salary requirement. No education needed.
• Job seeker visa For looking for work in Germany. It gives you 6 months to find a job . When you find a job, you can apply for a work visa or a Blue Card.
• Internship visa For university students. Do an internship in Germany for up to 6 months.
• Au pair visa Work as an au pair . Minimum income: 280 € per month. No education needed.
• Family reunion visa For spouses and children of German residents. You can work, study or freelance in Germany. 16 No income needed. No education needed.
• Permanent residence or EU citizenship You can already live and work in Germany. You don’t need a residence permit.

More residence permit options ➞

How to apply in Berlin

You can apply for a work visa after you move to Germany :

• Come to Germany
• Apply for a work visa at your local Ausländerbehörde . You must apply at the Ausländerbehörde where you live. You can’t apply in another city.

You can apply in Germany if…

• You are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom or the United States 9
• or you already have a German residence permit , and you want to change it or renew it
• or you have a job seeker visa 41
• or you have a National Visa . You just need to convert it to a work visa .

If you can’t apply in Germany, you must apply in your country .

Usually, you can’t work while you wait for your work visa. 35 You might wait a few months with no income. It’s cheaper and safer if you apply in your country , then come to Germany when you are allowed to work.

Need help? An immigration lawyer or a relocation consultant can take care of everything. It costs 500 to 2,000 €. 45 Your employer might pay for it, or hire someone to help you.

1. Come to Germany

Come to Germany and look for a job .

• If you are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom or the United States You can come to Germany without a visa. You can stay 90 days in Germany without a residence permit. You can look for a job, and apply for the work visa in Germany. 9 You can’t work before you get your work visa.
• If you have a German residence permit Your current residence permit stays valid until you get your work visa. If your residence permit expires after you sent your work visa application, you don’t need to leave Germany.
• If you have a job seeker visa You can come to Germany and look for a job. When you find a job, you can apply for the work visa. While you wait for your work visa, you can work 10 hours per week for your new employer. 11
• If you have a tourist visa You can’t apply for a work visa with a tourist visa. Your application will be rejected. You must apply in your country . 25

If these options don’t apply to you, you must apply for the work visa in your country . 19

2. Find a job

You must find a job before you apply for the work visa. 15 Your job offer must meet the work visa requirements .

How to find a job ➞

3. Prepare your work visa application

Before you apply for the work visa, you must…

• Your apartment must be big enough .
• Your apartment must be affordable. Your total cost of living must be less than your income.
• You must be allowed to register your address . You must get a tenancy confirmation from your landlord. If you can’t get this, you might not get a work visa. 1  –  How to find an apartment
• Get health insurance You need valid health insurance . Travel insurance is not accepted. Ask a health insurance broker to help you choose the correct health insurance. Their help is free. –  How to choose health insurance
• Prepare the required documents

If you are not a citizen of Albania, Australia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, Israel, Japan, Kosovo, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, South Korea, the United Kingdom or the United States, you must also…

• Get your education recognised Your professional training must be equivalent to 2 years of professional training in Germany. It must be recognised by the Agentur für Arbeit . The recognition process depends on your profession. 21 It takes weeks to a few months. 8 If you studied in Germany, your education is already recognised. –  How to get your education recognised

If you bring your family to Germany, you can apply for their family reunion visa at the same time. You must prepare these documents too.

While you wait for an Ausländerbehörde appointment, you should also…

• Register your address ( Anmeldung ) When you register your address, you get a tax ID and a registration certificate . The Ausländerbehörde might ask for your registration certificate. 53  –  Why the Anmeldung is important
• Open a bank account You need it to pay your rent, pay your work visa application fee, and get paid by your employer. You can choose a bank from any EU country.

4. Apply for the work visa

There are 2 ways to apply for a work visa in Berlin:

• Apply in person Get an Ausländerbehörde appointment , go to your appointment, give your documents, and wait for your residence permit. It’s almost impossible to get an appointment.
• or send your documents online Use the Ausländerbehörde contact form to send all the required documents , and wait for them to contact you. A few weeks later, they will give you an appointment. Usually, this is your only option.

How to get an Ausländerbehörde appointment ➞

When you book an Ausländerbehörde appointment , you must choose the type of residence permit:

• If you have a university degree, choose “Economic activity”, then “Residence permit for qualified skilled workers with an academic education (sect. 18b para. 1)”
• If you have another kind of professional training, choose “Economic activity”, then “Residence permit for qualified skilled workers with vocational training (sect. 18a)”

The Ausländerbehörde will process your application. If you send your documents online , it takes a few weeks to get invited for an appointment. After your Ausländerbehörde appointment, it takes 6 to 10 weeks to get your work visa. If you wait more than 3 months after you apply, you can sue the Ausländerbehörde for inaction . 20

In most cases, your current National Visa or a residence permit stays valid while you wait. If it expires , you don’t have to leave Germany.

If your residence permit expires soon ➞

6. Go to your work visa appointment

Later, the Ausländerbehörde will email you. They will invite you for an appointment.

When you go to your appointment, bring… 7

• The required documents Bring all your application documents, even if you already sent them online. 47 In your appointment invitation, the Ausländerbehörde might ask for more documents.
• Your appointment confirmation , printed You can’t enter the Ausländerbehörde without it. They check at the door. You must print it.
• Passport photo (35 × 45 mm) You do not need to cut the photos yourself; they have a tool for this. The photo should be less than 6 months old. 36  –  Where to get passport photos .
• Cash, Visa, Mastercard or Girocard You must pay the 100 € application fee. 44 You must sometimes pay later, when you pick up your work visa. This fee is tax-deductible , so keep the receipt.
• A translator (optional) Many Ausländerbehörde employees only speak German. If you don’t speak German, bring an interpreter or a German-speaking friend. 54 It’s not required, but it helps. I recommend Red Tape Translation . Relocation consultants and immigration lawyers can also translate for you.

The appointment takes 15 to 60 minutes. You spend most of that time waiting. During the appointment, they take your fingerprints for your work visa.

If they approve your freelance visa, they must print the plastic card. This takes a few weeks. You might get a temporary certificate while you wait. It allows you to start working, but it’s not a valid travel document. It does not allow you to re-enter Germany.

What happens at the Ausländerbehörde ➞

What happens after your appointment ➞

7. Get your work visa

6 to 10 weeks after your Ausländerbehörde appointment, 22 you get 2 letters:

• The eID activation code This letter arrives first. Save it for later. You need it to activate the eID function of your work visa.
• Your work visa Around 2 weeks later, you receive your work visa, or an invitation to collect it at the Ausländerbehörde . 28 If you did not pay the 100 € fee, you must pay it during your Ausländerbehörde visit. The fee is tax-deductible , so keep the receipt.

Your work visa is a plastic card. The expiration date is written on it. It’s usually valid for 3 years . 17 If you have a limited work contract, your work visa is valid for a shorter time. For example, if you have a 2 year work contract, your work visa is valid for 2 years + 3 months. 3

You also get a Zusatzblatt . It describes the conditions of your work visa. For example, it can say that you can freelance, or that you can only work for your current employer.

Check if the information on your work visa is correct. The Ausländerbehörde sometimes makes mistakes.

8. Start working in Germany

Starting a new job in Germany ➞

Your first month in Germany ➞

How to apply in your country

You can also apply for a work visa in your country, before you move to Germany . 26 This is cheaper and safer , because you can start working as soon as you arrive in Germany. 34

To apply in your country: 4

• Get your vocational training recognised.
• Get an appointment at the German embassy or consulate in your country .
• Go to your appointment and give your documents. The required documents are different in each country. Find the list on your embassy or consulate’s website.
• Receive a National Visa . It lets you to come to Germany and start working .
• After you arrive in Germany, convert your National Visa into a work visa.

1. Get your education recognised

To apply for the work visa, you must have a university or vocational training. Your education must be recognised in Germany. It must be equivalent to 2 years of training in Germany. 46

You must get your training recognised before you apply for your work visa. The process depends on your profession. 21 It takes a few weeks to a few months. 8 There might be an interview or a competence test, and you might need to pay for it. 24

How to get your education recognised ➞

If you are a citizen of Albania, Australia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, Israel, Japan, Kosovo, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, South Korea, the United Kingdom or the United States, you don’t need a degree or vocational training. Skip this step.

If you studied in Germany, your education is already recognised.

3. Get an appointment at the German embassy or consulate

Get an appointment at the German embassy or consulate in your country. It can take months to get an appointment. 33

Find your German embassy or consulate ➞

4. Prepare for your interview

Before your embassy or consulate appointment, you must…

• Find a place to live in Germany Some embassies and consulates ask for it. 48 It’s really hard to find an apartment before you arrive in Germany. Find a temporary place like a hotel room or a furnished apartment to get your National Visa. 51 After you arrive in Germany, find an apartment where you can register your address .
• Get health insurance You need valid health insurance . Ask a health insurance broker to help you choose health insurance. Their help is free.
• Prepare the required documents The required documents are very different in each country. Find your German embassy or consulate , and use their list of required documents.

If you bring your family to Germany, you can apply for their family reunion visa at the same time. Prepare these documents too.

5. Go to your National Visa appointment

Go to your appointment at the embassy or consulate, and give your documents. If you have all the required documents , it only takes a few minutes.

6. Receive your National Visa

In a few weeks (or a few months), you must go to the embassy or consulate again. They will give you a National Visa . This temporary visa lets you come to Germany and start working .

7. Come to Germany, start working

With your National Visa, you can travel to Germany and start working. 40

After you arrive in Germany, register your address , get a tax ID and open a bank account . These things will be useful later.

How to move to Berlin ➞

8. Convert your National Visa into a work visa

Your National Visa is valid for 3 to 12 months. 29 After your arrive in Germany, you must convert it into a work visa at the Ausländerbehörde .

In Berlin, you must convert your National Visa 8 weeks before it expires , not sooner. 39

To convert your National Visa into a work visa:

• Book an Ausländerbehörde appointment Start looking for an appointment 3 to 4 months before your National Visa expires. It’s really hard to find an appointment. If your National Visa expires soon , send your documents online , it’s faster.
• Go to your appointment During the appointment, they take your fingerprints for your work visa. It takes around 15 minutes.
• Wait for your work visa 6 to 10 weeks, you get a letter. It’s your work visa, or an invitation to collect your work visa at the Ausländerbehörde .
• Activate your eID (optional)

Your work visa is a plastic card. It’s valid for up to 3 years. You can renew it before it expires.

Required documents

These are the required documents in Berlin . 2 If you apply elsewhere, they require different documents. Check the website of the Ausländerbehörde , embassy or consulate where you apply. –  Find your embassy or consulate

• Passport If you send your documents online , include a colour scan of your passport. If you go to the Ausländerbehörde , bring your passport. You get it back during the appointment; they do not keep it.
• Passport photo (35 × 45 mm) The photo should be under 6 months old. 36 You do not need to cut the photos yourself; they have a tool for this. –  Where to get passport photos
• Job contract or job offer Bring the original, not a copy.
• Residence permit application form ( Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels ) Download the form here or on Berlin.de .
• Job description form ( Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis ) Your employer should fill this form and sign it. Download the form here or on Berlin.de .
• Health insurance card
• or proof of public health insurance Get a Mitgliedsbescheinigung nach 175 SGB V from your health insurer or your health insurance broker.
• or proof of private health insurance Bring your insurance contract, a Mitgliedsbescheinigung , and bank statements that show health insurance payments. Get these documents from your health insurer or your health insurance broker. 6
• Lease It must show the size of your apartment. Your apartment must be big enough . You must make enough money to pay your rent. It can be a temporary lease or a sublet.
• and tenancy confirmation ( Wohnungsgeberbestätigung ) Some temporary apartments and sublets don’t give you this document. You might not get a work visa without it. 1
• and registration certificate ( Anmeldebestätigung ) You must register your address to get this document. If you don’t have it, your lease and tenancy confirmation are sometimes enough. At least bring proof that you have a Bürgeramt appointment . 5
• Occupation practice permit ( Berufsausübungserlaubnis ) You must have all the permits and special qualifications needed for the job. 12 For example, doctors, engineers and lawyers need special qualifications. –  Find the requirements for your job
• Translations If your documents are not in German, bring translations. For certificates and official documents, bring certified translations . They sometimes accept untranslated documents, but don’t take the risk. Get translations from Red Tape Translation or Lingoking .

If you are not a citizen of Albania, Australia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, Israel, Japan, Kosovo, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, South Korea, the United Kingdom or the United States, you also need…

• Proof of vocational training A certificate or a degree that proves that you received professional training to do this job.
• Certificate of equivalence Proof that your professional training is recognised in Germany. If you got professional training in Germany, you don’t need this. 50

If you send your documents online , use PDF files or photos. Word documents and other formats are unreliable. 37

If you apply in person, print everything. Use A4 paper. Do not staple the pages together.

After you get your work visa

Bring your family to germany.

The family reunion visa lets you bring your family to Germany. If they have a family reunion visa, your family members can work, freelance or start a business in Germany.

You can apply for it at the same time as your work visa.

Activate your eID

You can use your work visa to log into online government services. For example, you can use it to apply for unemployment benefits . You must activate this feature at the Ausländerbehörde . Activate your eID before you need it.

How to activate your eID ➞

Renew your work visa

Your work visa is valid for up to 3 years. You must renew it around 8 weeks before it expires.

You can also apply for permanent residence after 4 years. 10

If you change jobs

When you change jobs, tell the Ausländerbehörde . You might need their permission to work for a different employer.

What happens to your work visa ➞

If you lose your job

If you lose your job , your work visa stays valid. Tell the Ausländerbehörde as soon as you can. In Berlin, they give you 6 months to find another job.

While you are unemployed, you can get unemployment benefits .

How to get unemployment benefits ➞

If you travel with a work visa

Your work visa lets you visit other Schengen area countries without a visa.

With a work visa, you can leave Germany for up to 6 months. 23 To travel longer, you need permission from the Ausländerbehörde .

Self-employment with a work visa

Your work visa might allow self-employment. Look on your residence permit , and on the Zusatzblatt . If it says Selbständige Tätigkeit gestattet or Erwerbstätigkeit erlaubt , you can be self-employed in addition to your job. You must keep your job, and it must be your main source of income. 52

Make a tax declaration

Your immigration expenses are tax-deductible , so keep all your receipts. At the end of your first year, make a tax declaration . You will pay less income tax .

Where to ask immigration questions ➞

The Ausländerbehörde can answer your questions, but they are very hard to contact. They can take months to answer. Sometimes they don’t answer at all.

How to contact the Ausländerbehörde ➞

Elliot Herman (October 2023), multiple relocation consultants (October 2023)  ⤴

Berlin.de , Business Immigration Service   ⤴

§18 Abs. 4 AufenthG , Berlin.de , Fiona Macdonald (August 2023)  ⤴

DARE Consulting (page 8)  ⤴

Kathleen Parker at Red Tape Translation (December 2023), Berlin.de   ⤴

Berlin.de   ⤴

DARE Consulting (page 9), BAMF   ⤴

§41 AufenthV , Berlin.de   ⤴

§18c Abs. 1 AufenthG , Berlin.de , Make it in Germany   ⤴

§20 AufenthG , Berlin.de , Make it in Germany   ⤴

§18 AufenthG   ⤴

europa.eu , ind.nl , HousingAnywhere   ⤴

§29 AufenthG   ⤴

§18 Abs. 2 AufenthG   ⤴

germany-visa.org   ⤴

§18 Abs. 4 AufenthG   ⤴

Multiple relocation consultants (October 2023)  ⤴

§75 VwGO   ⤴

§51 Abs. 1 AufenthG   ⤴

BAMF   ⤴

Auswärtiges Amt , §3 AufenthG , reddit.com/r/germany , facebook.com , einwanderer.net   ⤴

make-it-in-germany.com   ⤴

make-it-in-germany.com , DARE Consulting   ⤴

It depends on your case worker (October 2023)  ⤴

Ina Bozhilova at Noah Mobility (July 2023), Berlin.de   ⤴

New in November 2023. Make it in Germany , §18a AufenthG , §18b AufenthG , Red Tape Translation   ⤴

DARE Consulting (page 10), Agentur für Arbeit   ⤴

DARE Consulting (page 14)  ⤴

Berlin.de , Multiple relocation consultants (October 2023)  ⤴

It depends on the case worker. Multiple relocation consultants (November 2023)  ⤴

§26 BeschV , DARE Consulting (page 25), German embassy in Belgrade   ⤴

Berlin.de , Elliot Herman (October 2023), Anja Kunzke (October 2023)  ⤴

BAMF , Auswärtiges Amt   ⤴

Berlin.de , BAMF   ⤴

Multiple relocation consultants (November 2023)  ⤴

Elliot Herman, relocation consultant (December 2023)  ⤴

Emily at Archer Relocation (November 2023)  ⤴

§26 BeschV   ⤴

Berlin.de , §26 BeschV   ⤴

Multiple relocation consultants (November 2023), German embassy (US) , visaguide.world   ⤴

Red Tape Translation   ⤴

Kathleen Parker, relocation consultant (March 2024)  ⤴

Touring Artists   ⤴

• Work visa for qualified professionals

You have found a job in Germany and need a visa? These are the requirements you have to meet.

• Visa & residence
• Types of visa

If you have completed qualified vocational training or a course of study outside Germany, you can obtain a residence permit under Section 18a of the Residence Act (AufenthG)   or Section 18b of the Residence Act (AufenthG)   in order to take up qualified employment in Germany as a skilled worker. To find out if you need a visa to enter Germany, see the “ Do I need a visa ?” section.

What are the requirements for a work visa?

• Your qualification must be recognised in Germany or comparable to a German degree. If you want to work in a regulated profession, such as a healthcare profession, you will need a licence to practise . For more information on the recognition procedure, see the “ Recognition ” section.
• You have a specific job offer from an employer in Germany. It is important that the job you are offered is a qualified position. This means that you will usually need a degree or qualified vocational training to do the job. Auxiliary tasks will not be sufficient for this purpose.
• Your job does not have to be related to your professional qualifications. However, you will need a licence to practise if you want to work in a regulated profession.
• Are you over the age of 45 and coming to work in Germany for the first time? In this case, the job you intend to take in Germany must enable you to earn a gross annual salary of at least €49,830 (as of 2024) or you must be able to prove that you have adequate pension provision.

Do you have a recognised degree? If so, check to see whether you meet the criteria for obtaining an EU Blue Card . This type of residence title offers particularly attractive opportunities to qualified professionals.

Do you meet the above requirements? Then find out about the entry and visa proces.

As a rule, the Federal Employment Agency (BA) must first approve your employment. As part of this process, the Federal Employment Agency will assess whether your conditions of employment (salary, working hours, etc.) correspond to those of domestic employees.

What opportunities does a work visa offer?

Residence permits for qualified employment are issued for a maximum of four years. If your employment contract is for a shorter period, you will be issued with a residence permit for the duration of the contract, plus an additional three months. If you have held a residence permit for the purpose of employment for at least three years, you may, under certain circumstances, be eligible for a settlement permit . This is essentially a permanent residence title . For more information, see the “ Living permanently in Germany ” section. Do you want to live in Germany with your family? This residence permit enables you to do so. To find out what you need to consider and what the requirements are, please see the “ Family reunification ” section.

At a glance: Work visa for qualified professionals

From the preparations to the application forms: This step-by-step guide shows you how to obtain a work visa for qualified professionals.

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Expert video: Extending your work visa

Job listings

Getting a visa, or learning German? Contact points all over the world

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Information on the web

• German Federal Employment Agency (BA) Welcome to Germany! Important information about starting a job in Germany
• Federal Foreign Office (FFO) To find out which visa you need to come to Germany, use the Visa-Navigator

Do you have any questions?

Let us advise you on your opportunities to work and live in Germany. Our experts will support you with questions regarding job search, visa, recognition and learning German. 

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Residence permit

German: Aufenthaltserlaubnis

The Immigration Act provides for two titles which govern entry and residence in Germany: the settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) and the residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis). The residence permit is temporary and is granted for a specific reason, such as gainful employment, training or family reunification, or else for humanitarian, legal or political reasons. 

Theme: Visas

Licence to practise

German: Berufsausübungserlaubnis

The licence to practise includes the legal authority to exercise the profession and the permission to use the professional title. In  the case of third-country nationals wishing to work in regulated professions, a professional licence to practice must be obtained before a residence permit for the purpose of taking up employment can be issued.

Theme: Visas , Recognition

Residence title

German: Aufenthaltstitel

A residence title entitles people from abroad to enter and reside in Germany. Residence titels may be granted in the form of a visa, residence permit, an EU Blue Card, a settlement permit, or a permanent EU residence permit. 

Settlement permit

German: Niederlassungserlaubnis

The settlement permit has permanent validity and entitles holders to exercise gainful employment. People applying for a settlement permit have to satisfy specific requirements which are laid down in the Residence Act.

Theme: Working , Visas

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Everything about Job Seeker Visa in Germany

Adithya Srinivasan

Last updated on

November 5th, 2023

If you have a job offer, you can get a work visa for Germany (including a  blue card ). If you don't, you can make use of the Job Seeker Visa ( JSV ) to move to Germany and then find a job. In this guide, I will explain how to apply, who qualifies, how long the visa is valid for and how you can find  jobs in Germany .

What is the Job Seeker Visa?

It is a temporary work permit issued to highly qualified candidates who would like to work in Germany. This means that you can enter Germany without having a job and then apply for jobs. Reference in  German .

Why should I get a Job Seeker Visa?

It is easier to find a job in Germany when you're in Germany than when you are abroad. As you are already in Germany, you can start working earlier as soon as you convert your visa to a work permit.

What are the requirements for Job Seeker Visa?

Qualifications.

University degree which is recognised in Germany, or equivalent to a degree from a German university. Check Anabin for your  degree's recognition  and your  university recognition . Or vocational training, with atleast 2 years of training.

Work experience. It should be related to what you studied. 5 years seems to be standard, although I have seen people with 3 years get the visa successfully.

Travel insurance  or  health insurance . Must cover the entire Schengen area with minimum coverage of 30,000 €. Insurance must be valid from the day of entry for the entire stay

Proof of financial means. This shows how you will pay for your expenses in Germany. It can be your bank account or blocked bank account ( Sperrkonto ), formal obligation letter ( Verpflichtungserklärung ), etc.

Documents required

The list of required documents change based on where you are applying from. For Indians, here's the list.

Passport . - Must have been issued in the last 10 years - Must be valid for another 12 months after the scheduled return - Provide a A4 sized copy of your front & back pages

Passport sized pictures - 3 copies - Must conform to biometric specifications

Cover letter - Write why you want to come to Germany - How you plan to find a job - What you will do in case you cannot find a job - Can be in English

Proof of academic qualification and work experience - Screenshots from Anabin about recognition - Your university degree - Your work experience proof (Existing work contract, etc)

CV - Include your educational & professional history

Proof of accomodation - Where you will stay; whether it's a hotel, an apartment, with a friend or family. Read about  how I found an apartment . - If with a friend or family, the formal obligation letter ( Verpflichtungserklärung ) helps your case

Proof of financial means - the formal obligation letter or bank account

Proof of personal status - Ration card or Aadhar card - Marriage certificate if applicable - Birth certificate of you; also of your partner's & children if applicable - Should be in English

Demand draft / cash for  verification of documents

Proof of health insurance

How do I apply?

To apply for the job seeker visa for Germany from India, you must follow this.

Get all the required documents

Fill the application form - check out our guide for filling the  work visa form

Fill out and sign the declaration forms mentioned  here

Find an appointment - you can do this only via Embassy / Consulate or through VFS

Pay the visa fee (around 75€)

Frequently asked questions about Job Seeker Visa

Can i extend the visa.

The visa cannot be extended. If at the end of 6 months you cannot find a job, you must return to your country.

My degree / university is not in Anabin, what can I do?

You are required to apply to Anabin / ZAB to have your degree evaluated. See this  guide  on how to do this.

How much money do I need to show in a bank account?

For a  blocked bank account  ( Sperrkonto ), you need 861 Euros per month. For six months, that would be 5166 Euros.

How long is the Job Seeker Visa valid for?

It is valid for a period of 6 months. If you found a job within 6 months, you can apply for a conversion of a visa and stay in Germany. If not, you must leave the country.

Can I start working elsewhere on a German Job Seeker Visa?

Partially yes. You can work for up to 10 hours a week on a probational basis or a normal part time job. The normal part time job does not have to be related to your work experience.

Job Seeker Visa allows for 10 hours of trial work in Germany

Full time employment is not allowed. To start working, you must apply at the local foreigners office ( Ausländerbehörde ) for a work visa.

You are allowed to attend German language classes with this visa, as it can improve chances of you finding a job in Germany.

Can I come to Germany on a tourist visa and find a job?

That is not allowed for citizens of most countries. Citizens of  certain countries  may enter Germany on a  visitor visa  for up to 90 days and then find a job.

Others must apply for the correct type of visa to find work in Germany.

Do I have to speak German for a job seeker visa?

It can help if you do, but it is not required depending on your type of visa.

Not required for:

Skilled workers with qualifications

EU Blue Card

Self employment

Language learning / conducting research / related to an internship

A2 level required for:

Recognition of foreign qualifications

B1 level required for:

Employment for those with vocational training

Skilled workers in IT without formal degree / qualification

B2 level required for:

Finding a training place

Should I translate my documents to German?

Unless it's required by the Embassy / Consulate, you do not need to. Your CV / Resume can be in English too.

Can I do self employment on a job seeker visa?

No. It is not allowed.

Can I travel to other Schengen countries?

Yes. From  Diplo.de , it says:

Although the jobseeker 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.

Questions asking during your job seeker visa interview

This is a list of questions that can be asked during the interview, collected from facebook groups.

Why do you want to leave for Germany in search of a job?

Do you intend to become a permanent resident of Germany?

How do you support yourself during your stay in Germany?

Why did you choose this subject at the graduation level?

Are you going to work in the same domain?

Do you have any previous work experience?

Do you have plans to carry out any small scale business when you enter Germany with this visa?

After applying for the Job Seeker Visa

I got the visa, what's next.

Congratulations, welcome to Germany!

Start  learning German  as well, this will help you in the long term. You can do this while you're still in your home country.

Do the  registration

Find  English Speaking Jobs in Germany

Understand how  probation period  works in Germany

Find a  furnished / unfurnished apartment

Do I need to come to Germany immediately after getting the visa?

No. Once you have received the JSV, you can choose to come to Germany when you would like to - within the validity of your visa. Some people move to Germany and then try to find a job. Some stay in their countries, apply for jobs and once they get a job offer, they then move to Germany. This depends a lot on your current job situation (resignation & notice period), your financial level, comfort of living abroad on your savings, etc.

JSV will be valid from the date which is mentioned on the visa and not entry date. Your travel insurance will be activated from your entry date. So you can choose to get the travel insurance at a much later date, before you choose to travel.

I got rejected, why?

If your visa application was rejected, you should have received a letter that explains why. Common reasons for rejection are:

Lack of educational qualification for the visa

Lack of work experience

A false/counterfeit/forged travel document was presented

Justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not provided.

If you did not provide the required documents, or were not sufficient.

You have not provided proof of sufficient means of subsistence for the duration of the intended stay or for the return to the country of origin or residence, or for the transit to a third country into which you are certain to be admitted, or you are not in a position to acquire such means lawfully.

Insufficient funds on your bank account / lack of financial sponsorship

If the consulate / embassy did not believe you would come back to your country, if you did not find a job

The information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not reliable.

If your information did not match up and was contradictory

In case of a rejection, you will not get your visa fees back.  You will have 30 days to appeal (remonstrate), provide additional documentation and try to get your visa approved.

Founder, Arbeitnow

Adithya Srinivasan moved from India to Germany in 2018. He lives in Berlin and works as a Senior Software Engineer. He built the job board Arbeitnow , helps people find jobs and writes about his experiences in Germany.

Featured Posts

→ How I found an apartment in Berlin (tips & sample emails)

→ Sick leave in Germany works (and how to get sick notes)

→ Blue Card in Germany (and how to get appointments)

→ How to write a resignation letter in Germany?

→ Changing Jobs on Blue Card in Germany

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• 20457, Hamburg

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• The Ball Hawk

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Senior Support & Software Engineer, Saudi Arabia

• Canonical Ltd

Candidates must be based there or have the ability to relocate (we offer VISA sponsorship ).Combine your

Senior Consultant SAP Healthcare (m/w/d) - Berlin oder virtuell --- 99771BR

• Cerner Corporation
• berlin, , Germany

Work visa sponsorship is notavailable for this position.

SAP Advisor Manufacturing & Distribution MM PP PPPI SD

• Tenthpin AG

We can not provide sponsorship or transfer a Visa at this time. 

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• iO Associates

Materials and Processes Engineer Permanent role Onsite in Munich Visa Sponsorship Offered iO Associates

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Please note that these roles are not eligible for VISA sponsorship .

• Intecrowd Llc.

Please note that these roles are not eligible for VISA sponsorship .  

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Email me future jobs like these

Visa sponsorship in ....

Jobs in tech: 6 countries offering visas to skilled foreign graduates

Is working abroad the solution to your career advancement? If so, you might want to consider applying for jobs in tech overseas — and getting there is not as impossible as it may seem.   

There’s a reason why tech jobs are often pegged as careers of the future: digitisation is taking over no matter which industry you’re in.

Whether in healthcare, finance, or even the arts, the use of new technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data is becoming more ubiquitous. The current global workforce, however, can hardly keep up with the pace of its development. 

A sweeping country-by-country report from American consulting firm Korn Ferry found that more than 85 million jobs would go unfilled globally due to talent shortages in filling the labour market. Jobs in tech, media, and communications will have a deficit of over four million workers by 2030, resulting in a nearly US$5 billion revenue loss. 

As multiple countries outline strategies to overcome talent gaps in the workforce, some of these plans include introducing new visa routes for skilled international graduates. 

If you’ve got the expertise, qualifications and work experience, here are four countries eager to welcome and fast-track your arrival on their shores: 

How to land jobs in tech overseas as a foreign graduate 

Canada .

The Great White North sits high on our list as a hiring hotspot for jobs in tech. The Global Talent Stream visa was introduced as part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Programme to address short-term domestic labour scarcity in tech and is divided into Categories A and B. Successful hires can earn over 80,000 Canadian dollars annually in the former category, while Category B is a route reserved for employment within the Global Talent Occupations List . 

The bulk of the application process is undertaken by your potential employer, who must obtain approval from the government to proceed with an overseas hire after demonstrating an actual need for foreign workers to fill in the vacancies.

Once it’s approved, you can use the confirmation letter copy to apply for a work permit work through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and get your permit within two weeks. 

One of Europe’s most prominent centres in innovation, Germany is now offering a work visa for IT experts who have at least three years of experience in the field over the last seven years. Here’s what you need to qualify for the visa: 

• You have an IT job offer in Germany.
• You can prove that you possess at least three years of experience in the sector over the last seven years, and it adequately qualifies you for your intended position. 
• You can prove your relevant theoretical knowledge required for the job in question through training courses and exams.
• Your potential job in Germany comes with a gross annual salary of at least 50,760 euros (as of 2022).
• You must have obtained at least a level of B1 in the German language according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). In individual cases, you won’t need to prove your proficiency skills if the language spoken at work is not German.

For more information about entering the German labour market, click here . 

Portugal 

Portugal is fast becoming a popular destination for startup companies to set up shop in Europe. As such, the government has made it easier to recruit foreign talents through the Tech Visa programme, which is open to non-European Union citizens aged 18 years and above who are qualified in their respective fields. 

Applicants must also satisfy the following requirements:

• Not be a permanent resident of the Schengen area.
• Not having a criminal record.
• Have no pending tax obligations.
• Have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. 
• Possess at least five years of experience in specialised technical functions.
• Proficient in English, Portuguese, Spanish or French. 

You can find a list of Tech Visa-verified companies to apply for jobs in tech here . Once the company issues you a term of responsibility, you can bring that among other documents required to file for your residency permit. 

Portugal introduced the Tech Visa route for non-EU citizens as a way for companies to simplify the hiring process of highly qualified foreign professionals into the local workforce. Source: Patricia De Melo Moreira/AFP

The Global Talent Visa scheme allows you to work in the UK if you are deemed a leader or potential leader in academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology. The application process begins with getting an endorsement on GOV.UK as a tech expert with “exceptional promise” or “exceptional talent,” which will be assessed by Tech Nation, the official endorsing body for experts in digital technology designated by the Home Office. 

Once that’s cleared, you can proceed with applying for the visa , and you don’t need a job offer for it to be granted. You can work for up to five years with the visa and renew it as many times as you like, with the possibility of settling permanently in the UK afterwards.

New Zealand

A recent industry study showed that tech employers in New Zealand have a high demand for software developers, followed by data analysts and cybersecurity experts. Expertise in cloud-native environments such as Azure and AWS is sought-after too.

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), which replaced the Skilled Migrant Category visa, allows skilled workers to work for a specific New Zealand employer accredited by Immigration New Zealand .

To apply, you need to have a job offer and meet certain skill, experience, and health requirements.

With favourable policies and a key location within the Southeast Asia markets, Singapore is a great place to land jobs in tech. Source: AFP

Eighty of the world’s top 100 technology firms have a presence in Singapore, making it a prime location to find yourself a job in tech.

The Tech.Pass visa allows established tech entrepreneurs, leaders, or technical experts from around the world to come to Singapore to perform frontier and disruptive innovations.

To be eligible for the pass, applicants must satisfy any two of the following conditions:

• Have a last drawn fixed monthly salary (in the last year) of at least $22,500 Singaporean dollars (approximately US$16,600 at the time of writing) or its equivalent in a foreign currency. The fixed monthly salary should come from one employer. Candidates or business owners with other sources of income may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Have at least five cumulative years of experience in a leading role (such as making major contributions to the design, development, and/or deployment of a tech product) in a tech company with a valuation/market cap of at least US$500 million or at least US$30 million funding raised.
• Have at least five cumulative years of experience in a leading role in the development of a tech product that has at least 100,000 monthly active users or at least US$100 million annual revenue.

Disclaimer: This article was updated on April 18, 2024.

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