How to apply for German work visa?

Germany has the richest economy in Europe and the fourth-largest economy globally. It offers numerous jobs to migrant workers in several sectors with attractive salaries. That is one of the reasons for Germany figuring among the chosen few countries for immigrants to work and settle in.

Additionally, Germany is facing a shortage of skilled workers in certain sectors. Moreover, in this rich West European nation, most people communicate in English, making it easier for foreigners to work and live there.

People from non-EU countries have many visa options to choose from before they intend to migrate to Germany.

Work visa

To be eligible to work in Germany, you need to apply for the country’s work and residence permit. You can obtain this only after you get a job offer from a German-based organization. You have to apply for a work and residence permit in this country at the German embassy/consulate in your home country.

Your application must include a job offer letter from a German company, a valid passport of the applicant, an employment permit annexure, documents of educational qualifications, work experience letters, and a letter of approval from the Federal Employment Agency.

In case you are planning to take your family members along with you to Germany, you need to fulfill the following conditions.

Your children must be aged below 18, you should show proof that you would earn enough in Germany to support you and your family members; you should be able to pay for housing yourself and your family members in Germany, and you must meet all requirements needed to obtain a German work permit.

Recognition of your qualifications from authorities in Germany: When you apply for a job in Germany, apart from submitting proof of your educational and professional qualifications, you also need your professional skills to be certified by German authorities, especially for standardized professionals such as nurses, doctors, and teachers. There is a German government portal where authorities will vet your professional qualifications.

German language proficiency: Although you do not require it, the ability to converse German language to an extent will help you earn more points for a work visa. Suppose you have required educational qualifications, sufficient work experience, and have basic German proficiency (B2 or C1 level). In that case, your chances of finding a job will be higher than those who do not have any proficiency in German.

If you are applying for a highly specialized job, like research and development, your application will be considered even if you do not have any knowledge of German.

*Check your eligibility for Germany through Y-Axis Germany Immigrant Points Calculator. 

EU Blue card

You are eligible for an EU blue card if you are a graduate or an undergraduate from an accredited university and are moving to Germany for a job. A specified annual gross salary is paid.

Individuals are eligible for the EU Blue Card if they completed graduation from a German university or are students with superior qualifications in mathematics, life sciences, IT, engineering, or medicine. You need to get a job that will pay on par with German employees.

Differences between a Work permit and EU Blue Card

There is no precise salary requirement to get hold of a work permit, but for the EU Blue Card, an applicant’s gross salary must be more than €55,200, which is one and half times more than the average salary of German citizens.

Educational qualifications: The educational qualifications for the EU Blue Card must be higher than a Bachelor’s degree. Graduates are eligible for a work permit.

Approval to switch jobs: with the EU Blue Card, you can change jobs after working at the specified company for two years. But with a work permit, you would have to be working with the same organization with whose name you got a work permit until it is valid.

Permanent residency application: With the EU Blue Card, you can apply for a PR visa after completing 21 to 33 months. Work permit holders can only apply for a German PR visa after completing five years there.

Duration: Initially, the work permit would only be issued for one year, while the EU Blue Card is valid for three years.

Self-employment visa

If you want to be a self-employed professional in Germany, you must initially apply for a residence permit and get permission to work on your own. This visa is given to individuals entering Germany temporarily and for conducting business.

This visa is only granted after German authorities are satisfied with your business idea, business plan, and previous experience in the field in which you are floating a business. It would help if you had the required capital to start your business, and it should have the potential to meet German economic or regional requirements. It should also contribute to the country’s economy.

Jobseeker visa

Germany introduced the Jobseeker visa to overcome the issue of skills shortage in several parts of the country. This visa will allow its applicants to arrive and reside in Germany for six months to search for a job.

Steps to apply for the Germany Job Seeker Visa

Step 1: Submit the list of necessary documents along with your application.

Step 2: Acquire an appointment from the German embassy one month before the date you want to apply for a visa.

Step 3: Fill out the complete application form online and submit it with the necessary documents.

Step 4: Give the visa interview at an embassy or a consulate at the appointed time.

Step 5: Pay the visa fees.

Step 6: A visa officer or the German home office will examine your visa application. You will get the result in one to months.

Jobseeker visa’s eligibility requirements

You need to have work experience of at least five years in an occupation related to your field of study, have proof that you have regularly completed 15 years of education, have proof that you have sufficient resources to pay for your stay of six months in Germany, and have proof that you have arranged for accommodation for the six months of stay in Germany.

Jobseeker visa’s advantages

With the Jobseeker visa, you are given a time of six months to get a job in Germany. If you get a job in this period, you can apply for a work permit. But if you are unable to get a job in the six months, you would no longer be allowed to stay there.

If you get a job in the six-month period, you can apply for a work permit visa in Germany. Convert your Jobseeker visa to a Work permit visa or travel to your home country and then apply for a work permit with the job offer letter.

*Need assistance for finding job in Germany? Avail Y-Axis job search services.

Work permit language requirements

You need not take the IELTS test to get a German work visa. But if you get a job that requires you to travel to other countries, you need to have a minimum level of English proficiency. Otherwise, basic German proficiency will help your chances of getting a job.

Features of the German Jobseeker Visa

You do not need to have an offer from a German-based company for this visa, and it is valid for six months.

In March 2020, new immigration laws were implemented in Germany, which modified the requirements for the jobseeker visa in a few ways.

Formal education not needed: Graduates with any skills will be able to work in Germany if they can converse German at the intermediate level.

Proficiency in the German language: The government concluded that foreign workers need to have minimum an intermediate-level proficiency in the German language.

This was necessitated because certain German employers are hiring people who can speak German because local businesses conduct their businesses in German, unlike huge MNCs who need English proficiency.

Work visa options

If you have a job offer in Germany, a graduate, or a post-graduate, you can start applying for the EU Blue Card before relocating to Germany. The easiest visa to obtain for Germany is the jobseeker visa.

If you want to work in Germany, get in touch with Y-Axis, the World’s Topmost Overseas Career Consultant.