Germany is the ideal place to be, more so if you are a skilled worker looking for a well-paying job in an environment that promises a good standard of living.
Now, whether or not a skilled foreign worker will require a work permit or Germany work visa will depend on their country of origin.
While some can simply go and start working in Deutschland, others have a standard process to follow before they can do that.
To work in Germany, you will usually require a visa [for work], as well as a permit [work/residence permit].
Not all who intend working in Germany will need a visa.
German work visa not required
For those from the EU/EEA, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
No permit needed either.
- Only to register residence [if planning on a stay in Germany beyond 3 months], using passport or valid ID, on arriving in Germany.
For those from the US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel.
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Have to apply, at the Foreigners' Office, for a German residence permit “for work purposes” on arrival.
Now, irrespective of whether or not you require a visa for working in Germany, you will nevertheless need a German work and residence permit in order to be allowed to live and work in the country legally.
Work and residence permits do not have to be applied to separately. An individual can apply for both through a single application to be submitted at the Ausländerbehörde [German Immigration Authority].
4 different kinds of work permits are available that let a foreign worker work in Germany.
The specific kind of German work permit to be applied for will be as per the individual qualifications and the type of employment of the individual concerned.
The EU Blue Card, probably the best known among all the German work permits, is for those in a skilled profession that also meet the minimum required salary threshold.
The Highly Skilled Worker Permit, on the other hand, is for highly skilled workers with a high income.
A General Work Permit is required for a job in Germany that does not require any extraordinary skills as long as the individual is qualified for the same. This type of work permit for Germany is for filling up jobs in Germany that have not been filled by an EU national.
Germany also has in place a Work Permit for Freelancers that can be applied for by a self-employed individual or a freelancer, provided, however, that they can prove that they have prospective clients.
Basic Step-Wise Process for Applying for the German Work and Residence Permit
Generally, a visa will be needed for entering the country.
After entering Germany, the single permit for work and residence is to be applied for at the Ausländerbehörde.
STEP 1: Apply for either a German Work Visa or a Job Seeker Visa at the German Embassy.
STEP 2: Registering living address at the local Bürgeramt [Citizens’ Registration Office].
STEP 3: Getting health insurance.
STEP 4: Making an appointment at the Ausländerbehörde.
STEP 5: Gathering the required documentation.
STEP 6: Submitting the work and residence permit application at the Ausländerbehörde.
So, which visa do you apply for in order to come to Germany for work overseas?
The visa to be applied for is to be determined based on whether or not you have a job offer in Germany.
Those already with a job offer in Germany can apply for the German work visa.
However, those intending to go to Germany for looking for a job from within the country will be required to apply for a Job Seeker Visa instead. An individual that is successful in securing a job in Germany while on a JSV can then apply for their work and residence permit. There will be no requirement for heading back to their home country for the same.
Germany allows those in the country on a work and residence permit to bring their immediate family to Germany. A Family Reunification Visa for Germany considers “immediate family” to be the spouse or registered partner, minor children [including adopted children], and other family members – adult children, siblings, or elderly parents – that might be dependent on the individual.
