Germany Work Permit

Germany, the strongest economy in Europe, is the favorite of employees with the opportunities offered by working life. The country, which is a world brand with its technology, is a center of attraction for employees from all over the world, especially qualified employees. On the other hand, Germany has an economy that is experiencing labor shortages. Finally, thanks to the Skilled Labor Migration Law, which started to be implemented on March 1, 2020, citizens of non-EU countries were facilitated in obtaining German work visas, and it was facilitated for university graduates outside the Union and people who received qualified vocational training to obtain a German work visa.

Those who want to work in Germany but are not citizens of the European Union, one of the member states of the European Economic Area or Switzerland have to apply for a national visa for a German work visa. As a matter of fact, even if you enter Germany with a Schengen visa issued for touristic travels, there is no official German work visa.

The documents required for the national visa, which must be applied for by those who want to stay in Germany for 90 days or more, vary according to the nature of the application. If you are going to Germany for work, not education; The first requirement in your Germany work visa application is a job offer from an employer in Germany. You can enter Germany with the German work visa you have received and apply for a long-term residence permit with a work permit after having your address transferred to your new home.​

Germany work visa

People who want to go to Germany to get a job must obtain a work visa. Work visa is one of the National Visa types required for stays longer than 90 days. All travels that require a stay of more than 90 days for purposes such as higher education or language training, vocational training or family reunification are grouped under the title of Type D National Visa. Depending on the type, the national visa allows you to work, go to university or receive vocational training in Germany.

After entering Germany with a national visa, which is generally issued for 90 days, it is necessary to apply for a residence permit immediately. While the visa only allows you to enter the country, the residence permit allows you to stay and work in the country for a certain period of time. To obtain a residence permit, you need to notify the Registration Office of the Immigration Office of your residence in Germany after arriving in Germany and apply for a residence permit. For a residence permit, you must provide an address registration (Anmeldung) and a rental agreement.

What are the documents required for a Germany work visa?

For visa applications, you must first have a valid passport. Your passport must be more than 6 months old.

You must fill out and sign the visa application form, which you can obtain through the consulate, and attach a letter of intent explaining the purpose of your trip to Germany and 2 passport-sized photographs to your application.

You need to provide the necessary resources to make a living while you are living in Germany. Since you will be applying for a work visa, a detailed resume describing your professional background, a work report, diplomas and a job offer from your employer in Germany are among the documents that must be submitted. Finally, you must pay the visa fee of 75 Euros for the national visa.

How to get a German work visa?

To obtain a work permit in Germany, you need to show that you have professional competence. To demonstrate your qualification for a national visa application, you must prove that you have completed your university graduation and at least 2 years of qualified vocational training. However, the equivalence of your diplomas and certificates must be accepted by the relevant institution in Germany. This process may vary depending on the state you want to go to.

If you have a higher education diploma, you can apply for the Blue Card, which the German Government has implemented in recent years to facilitate the arrival of a qualified workforce in Germany. To apply for an EU Blue Card, which is similar to the US Green Card, you must have a job offer from the company you want to work for in Germany and the salary in this offer must not be lower than the minimum salary level you should receive.

The EU Blue Card, which is usually issued for 4 years, can be adjusted according to the length of the employment contract. It is possible to change your job that allows you to obtain a visa in your first two years in Germany, but this change must be approved by the Immigration Office where you are applying.

What are the advantages of the EU Blue Card?

The EU Blue Card can be issued for a maximum of 4 years when it is first issued and allows you to obtain an indefinite residence permit within 33 months if the necessary conditions are met. If you want to start a new life with your family in Germany, your spouse can work or start a business in Germany without a language certificate. EU Blue Card holders can also have the opportunity to work in another EU country after 18 months.

Germany work visa process

The first required document to work in Germany is a job offer from an employer in Germany. The offer you will receive must include information such as the company's imprint, the job description and job description, and the annual gross salary.

Jobs in Germany

To find a job in Germany, the income you will earn must meet the standards of the job you are applying for and at a level that will cover the expenses in the city you will live in. The salary of the position is generally stated in job postings.

Since your job must match your education and experience to obtain a work visa, filter for jobs that match your current experience when searching for jobs on platforms such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed. A resume alone may not be enough during your job application. Employers in Germany require detailed information about your previous work experience and, if possible, references, for which you can prepare a work report in advance and use it in all your applications. To strengthen your job application, consider including a motivation letter explaining why you want the job and are a good fit. If you pass the interviews for which you are invited after the first screening, you can start your national visa application process for work with the job offer you will receive.

Conditions to be met for a Germany work permit

To work in Germany, you must first prove that you have the necessary qualifications for the job you will do in Germany. It is not enough for your employer to accept you for a job and send you a job offer, you must also show your competence before public institutions. For this, your university degree and previous work experience must be recognizable in Germany and your qualifications must be compatible with the job you are offering.

If you have obtained a higher education diploma outside Germany,  you can check the recognition of your diploma on ANABIN. If you have a graduation certificate with equivalent status from a university evaluated with H+ in ANABIN, you can complete your application quickly. However, if this qualification is not available, there will be a separate application process for the recognition of your diploma.

If you want to apply for a Blue Card, you must have a job with a gross income of at least €58,400 for 2024. However, for qualified employees from sciences such as medicine, engineering and informatics, which have a large labor shortage in Germany, this amount is set at €45,552 gross per year. However, the EU Blue Card is not the only way to work in Germany, it is possible to obtain a work visa in Germany with amounts below these limits.

The last document required for a national visa application is travel health insurance, which covers the period between the date you enter Germany and the date you start working.