Your future in Germany starts here!

The easiest way to find current job offers in Germany is online: in the “Make it in Germany” job listings, on other known job portals on the Internet, or on social career platforms. In regard to all job offers in the „Make it in Germany” job listings, the employers agreed to receiving applications from foreign skilled workers.

Please find more tips on the topic of job search on the “Looking for a job” subpage.

If you come from an EU or EEA country or Switzerland, you can work in Germany without restriction and do not need a residence permit. Nationals of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the USA can enter Germany without a visa, but must apply for a suitable residence permit from the relevant foreigners authority in Germany before taking up employment. 

All other nationals also require a corresponding residence permit in order to live and work in Germany. Before entering Germany, you must apply for the appropriate visa (long-term stay – D visa) at the German mission in your country of residence. Upon arrival in Germany, you must apply for a corresponding residence permit at the competent foreigners authority.

Further information can be found in the “How do I apply for a visa?” section.

Whether your qualification needs to be recognised depends on the profession you wish to pursue and the country you come from. 

For example, you will always need recognition if you want to work in a regulated profession in Germany.

Regardless of your profession, recognition may also be necessary if you wish to enter Germany with a specific visa (e.g., the visa for qualified professionals). 

Find out about the exact regulations in the “Who needs recognition?” section.

You can study at a German university if you meet certain requirements. You need an offer from a university (study place), a recognised school-leaving certificate that qualifies you for a study programme in Germany, and you usually must provide proof of your language skills. If you are from a third country, you will also need a visa. To obtain a visa, you must also prove that you have sufficient financial resources. 

Further information is available in the Quick-Check and in the “Requirements for studying” section.

In order to complete vocational training in Germany, persons from a third country require a visa or residence permit to complete vocational training. To obtain a visa, you need confirmation of a vocational training place and German language skills (usually at level B1). You must also prove that you have sufficient funds to live in Germany. For school-based training, you must also have your school-leaving certificate recognised; for a dual study programme, you need a university entrance qualification. 

As a citizen of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, you do not need a residence permit to undertake vocational training in Germany. However, it is important that you have German language skills at least at level B1, as lessons and exams at vocational schools are held in German. 

You can find more information in the “Requirements for vocational training” section.