Master Degree Holder

HOW TO APPLY FOR A WORK VISA IN GERMANY ?

Glückwunsch ! You have decided to move to Germany for work purposes. As the world’s fourth-largest economy, Germany is extremely welcoming to qualified non-Germans. Since March 2020, the Skilled immigration Act has enforced new rules for the immigration of non-European skilled workers, offering more opportunities for qualified professionals to work in Germany.

Nonetheless, you will still need to apply for a work visa or permit in order to legally stay and work in your new place of residence. The application process depends on your situation and country of origin.
Let’s find out more

What are the main requirements to obtain a work visa in Germany ?

Your work visa will be issued depending on Germany’s economic and labour needs.
The decision will be based on:

your qualifications: if you have received higher education or qualified vocational training. Foreign university degrees or vocational qualifications must be officially recognised in Germany.
if you already have a binding job offer from a company in Germany. Your recognised qualifications need to match those required by the position you are going to take, entailing that you could be employed in related positions if the situation demanded it.
the viability of your business plan if you are self-employed.
your financial means
Your language skills will also be taken into account.

What type of German work permit or visa must you apply for?

For American, Australian, Canadian, Japanese, New Zealand or South Korean citizens, there are different possibilities depending on your situation:
- If you have already found a job in Germany and urgently need to start upon your arrival, you need to apply for a work visa for qualified employment before leaving your home country as you will only be allowed to start working in Germany once your work permit is issued.
- If you want to find a position once you are already in the country, you can enter Germany without a visa. You will then have 90 days to find a binding job offer matching your professional qualifications and apply for a residence permit for qualified employment.
- You can also apply for a visa for jobseekers before entering Germany. This visa grants you the right to stay in the country for 6 months in order to find a job.
For citizens of other countries, you will need your German work visa for qualified employment before travelling to Germany. A binding job offer and recognised foreign university degrees or vocational qualifications are necessary to hope to obtain one. You can also apply for a visa for jobseekers.

What documents are required with my German work visa application ?

As you are applying for a German national visa for work purposes, you will need to provide specific work related documents. You will hand them in during a previously booked appointment with your local German embassy, mission or consulate.

Hereinafter a list of the basic mandatory documents needed to obtain a German work visa, it is strongly recommended that you add 2 copies of each original document:

How much does a German work permit cost ?

The visa fees are 75€ which can be paid in cash, credit card or demand draft depending on where you are applying from. They are not refundable even if your application is denied.

How long does it take to obtain a German work visa ?

Once your application has been registered, the processing time to issue your German work visa can take from1 to 3 months. You should also take into account the delay to obtain an appointment to hand in your application and documents.