Work visa
Qualified skilled workers from third countries need a visa to work in Germany. Find out here what the requirements are for a work visa.
Skilled workers from third countries must generally apply for a visa at the German embassy in their country of origin before entering Germany. The presentation of a signed employment contract is an important requirement.
Work contract possible before visa approval
A non-EU applicant may (conditionally) sign the employment contract before obtaining a valid visa. You can state in the contract that it will only take effect once a valid visa has been issued.
Different types of work visa
The following types of work visa exist, depending on the applicant’s level of qualification:
- Visa for skilled workers holding a university degree (Section 18b of the Residence Act [AufenthG] (External link) )
- EU Blue Card (Section 18g of the Residence Act [AufenthG] (External link) )
- Visa for skilled workers with vocational training qualifications (Section 18a of the Residence Act [AufenthG] (External link) )
- Visa for employment in the case of practical professional knowledge (Section 19c (2) of the Residence Act [AufenthG] (External link) in conjunction with Section 6 of the Ordinance on the Employment of Foreigners [BeschV] (External link) )
There are also special regulations for certain groups of professionals, such as healthcare assistants and professional drivers, and for nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia (Western Balkans Regulation (External link) ).
In the “Visa” section of the Make it in Germany portal for skilled workers, you can find out what the requirements are for each type of visa and how the visa process works.
Taking up employment after entering Germany
Once a foreign skilled worker has arrived in Germany, they can take up the intended job with the visa issued for the purpose of taking up employment. During the validity of the entry visa, they must apply for a residence permit from the local foreigners authority in good time before the visa expires.
Visa must match intended purpose of stay
Entry visas are usually issued for a specific purpose. When your potential employee applies for a visa, they must state the correct purpose of their stay so that they can start work as soon as they are in Germany. Entering the country with a short-stay (Schengen) visa, e.g. for tourist purposes, does not entitle the holder to take up employment in Germany.
Here you find an overview of how to secure your livelihood according to the purpose of stay.
#howtomakeit - Extending a Work Visa
with Christian Steffens, Deputy Head of Welcome Center Essen
Are you from a non-EU country?
Did you enter Germany on a work visa valid for three months?
#howtomakeit explains how to extend your visa.
When do I need to extend my visa and apply for a further residence permit?
I would recommend doing this as soon as possible. With an entry visa, you have the entire duration of the visa to arrange an appointment, and it is advisable to do this straight after entering the country, in order to avoid any potential problems.
What documents do I need?
If a visa has already been applied for at the embassy abroad, colleagues at the foreigners authority should already have a paper file on record, including the existing qualification and an employment contract. If this is the case, only proof of health insurance is still required. It is nevertheless always advisable to bring the employment contract and the qualification relevant to the job again, just in case the colleagues do not yet have a file on record.
How long does it take for the residence permit to be issued?
The duration depends on the type of job. There are cases in which the employment agency must be involved, although this may also have already been arranged by an embassy abroad. If this has not happened, it should take around one month until the foreigners authority receives a decision and a new appointment can be arranged. If, ideally, everything is already on file there, a decision can be made directly during the appointment – so, immediately.
What rights and obligations come with extending the visa?
The main right this grants is the ability to take up employment. However, this residence title is tied to a specific employer, which means not every form of employment is permitted, only the one for which the residence title was granted. There is also an obligation to inform the foreigners authority of all relevant changes, for example if the employment relationship is terminated, or if working hours are reduced due to pregnancy in a way that affects earnings. In addition, you are always obliged to have health insurance for the entire period, as this is part of the means of subsistence that must always be proven.
Video: Extending work visas
Opportunity Card allows trial work and part-time employment
If your potential skilled worker is in possession of an opportunity card for the purpose of seeking employment, they are entitled to perform trial work for a maximum of two weeks per employer and / or part-time employment of up to 20 works per week. This will enable you to get to know the candidate better and assess their skills profile at work. If you then decide to employ the skilled worker full time, they will first need to apply for a residence permit for taking up employment from the local foreigners authority in Germany.
Information on the web
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