Financial support for families In Germany, it is possible for both parents to take parental leave after the birth of their child. You can find further information on the duration and possibilities for financial support here. Parental leave After the birth of a child, mothers and fathers have the right to take a break from work to care for their child and spend time with their family. During this time, the employer may only terminate the employment relationship in exceptional circumstances (e.g. insolvency, shutdown of the business). As an employee, you can request up to three years off work from your employer. During this time, you do not have to work. But if you choose not to work, you will not receive any pay. One way to compensate for this is to apply for parental allowance. You can take parental leave before your child’s third birthday. You can also take some parental leave between your child’s third and eighth birthdays. In other words: you can take parental leave when you and your child really need it. At the end of parental leave, parents have the right to work as much as they did before taking parental leave. If you wish to apply for parental leave, the Parental Allowance Offices can help you. You can find their addresses on the familienportal.de (External link) website. Who is entitled to parental leave? Employees who have a German employment contract – whether full-time, part-time, marginal employment, fixed-term or permanent contract, etc. – are entitled to parental

Other professions in demand Here you will find a list of other professions in demand in the fields of medicine and health, medical technology, hospitality and gastronomy, as well as education. On this page On this page Medical professions Professions in medical technology Hotel and gastronomy industry Professions in education In this video: How do I find a job in Germany? The next steps: From the application to starting work Germany offers attractive career opportunities for international skilled workers. There is a particularly high demand in health care , medical technology, hotel and gastronomy , and the educational sector . This overview shows you a selection of in-demand professional fields where qualified skilled workers can find a variety of opportunities. By clicking on the respective professions, you will find more detailed information on the respective career field in Germany. Medical professions Germany needs qualified medical personnel to make sure the health care system remains stable. As an international skilled worker in health care, you will find diverse opportunities in this sector. This section shows you which medical and therapeutic fields in Germany currently have a high demand for staff. Dental assistant Medical assistant Veterinary assistant Physiotherapist Occupational therapist Pharmacist , pharmacologist Medical technical professions in radiology: e.g. radiologic technologists Surgical technologist , anaesthesiologist assistant Paramedic , emergency

Language classes It is worthwhile learning the German language before entering Germany. Find German courses in your area. Key facts at a glance German is the most commonly spoken mother tongue in Europe Around 130 million people worldwide speak German as a first or second language German is an official language of Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Liechtenstein Initially, you will be able to get by in English in many parts of Germany. However, it is essential to learn German if you plan to stay in the country on a fairly long-term basis. You will quickly find that it is difficult to get by without German, especially at work, when dealing with the authorities, when shopping or in your private life. Learning German is therefore highly recommended. Ideally, you should start learning the language in your home country. You can start learning at the Goethe-Institut (External link) , for example, since the cultural institution of the Federal Republic of Germany is responsible for promoting the German language and culture. To this end, the Goethe-Institut offers German courses at 151 locations in Germany and abroad. To find a Goethe-Institut near you, go to our our overview of advisory and contact points . The Goethe-Institut’s German certificates are officially recognised for many different purposes. How to find quality language schools abroad The Goethe-Institut has compiled quality criteria for language schools abroad (External link) which you can use to identify

Immigration Immigration plays an important role in the German society. Learn more about the immigration flow in Germany. Germany’s population is growing due to immigration Germany is known for being a good place to live and work in and therefore is more attractive for immigrants than ever. Since 1950 there have only been a few years in which more people emigrated from than immigrated to Germany. German reunification in 1990 paved the way for high immigration figures, which peaked in 1992. The positive balance of the following years was due to a favourable economic situation and continuing stability on the labour market. The only downward trend was experienced during the global recession in 2008 and 2009. In both these years net migration was negative for the first time since 1984. Despite a slight decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, Germany remains an attractive country for immigrants: Germany has consistent records of high positive net immigration of foreign nationals, peaking in 2022. So many people are still choosing Germany as their new professional and personal home. Young immigrants in particular come to Germany, which could close the expected gap caused by the low birth rate. In 2023, more than 83.5 million people were living in Germany. Their average age was 44.6. Given the low birth rates, the younger people in Germany cannot, in purely mathematical terms, replace their parents' generation. But immigrants can close this gap, as they are frequently younger than the

Professions in demand Germany needs qualified skilled workers. Find out here which professions are particularly in demand in Germany. Green Jobs Start a sustainable career in Germany! You can become a part of the "green" economy, as new and diverse jobs in sustainable industries keep arising in Germany. Find out more about "Green Jobs" here. Nursing professionals Germany has a stable healthcare system, thanks to well-trained personnel in healthcare and nursing professions. That is the reason why different facilities are always looking for qualified professionals. Physicians The German healthcare system depends on qualified young workers: hospitals and other facilities are constantly on the lookout for doctors and other trained professionals in the medical field. Engineers Become part of Industry 4.0 in Germany: The use of digital technologies opens up a wide range of new perspectives. Many companies are urgently looking for qualified engineers. IT specialists The German IT sector is booming: every year, thousands of new jobs are offered in the IT industry. Find excellent jobs in start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises, large companies or in the manufacturing industry. Scientists Bioengineering, power and environmental engineering or pharmaceutics – when it comes to scientific disciplines, the demand is high. Qualified personnel trained in STEM subjects are urgently sought after in many fields. Craftspeople Skilled crafts and trades are the heart and soul of the German

Back to Germany Have you lived abroad and now want to return to Germany? Welcome back! Find out here what employment subject to social security contributions means and what support you may be entitled to if you become unemployed, provided you have worked in Germany before. On this page On this page Social security Health and disability care insurance Pension insurance Unemployment and unemployment benefits If you are a skilled professional returning to Germany after a longer stay abroad, your prospects of getting a foot back on the ladder are excellent. If you have been seconded to a post abroad, your company will probably refer you to a relocation agency that will give you all the information you need and take care of the most important work. However, if you are planning your return by yourself, there are a few points to consider. Our " Jobs " section has answers to many important questions around issues such as applying for a new job in Germany, social security and the German tax system. For information on family reunification , schools, kindergarten or flat hunting, please consult our " Living in Germany " section and our " Study & vocational training " section. You can obtain advice on open questions or placement support in the run-up to your return and an individual returnee information package from the Federal Employment Agency (BA) here (External link) . Social security If your job in Germany is subject to social security contributions, your employer is required to

Driving licence and mobility Did you obtain your driving licence outside Germany? Find out here whether and how you can use it in Germany, as well as how to get around safely by bus and train, bicycle, or e-scooter. On this page On this page Driving a car: Is my driving licence valid in Germany? What else should I be aware of when driving in Germany? How do I use car-sharing and lift-sharing platforms? Reach your destination by bus and train Getting around by bike and e-scooter Driving a car: Is my driving licence valid in Germany? If you hold a driving licence issued in your home country, different rules apply in Germany depending on the country where you originally obtained your driving licence. Driving licences issued in the EU, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland: Your driving licence is valid without restrictions. You do not need to have anything amended or exchanged. Driving licences issued in another country: You can use your driving licence to drive in Germany for six months (from the time you register your place of residence in Germany). An official German translation of your driving licence is also required for almost all countries of origin. After this six-month period, you will then need a German driving licence. Whether you will need to take another driving test in Germany to obtain a German driving licence depends on the country in which you obtained your driving licence. Your local Driving Licence Authority (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) or Driving Licence Office (

Do I need to know German? Your everday life in Germany will be easier once you learn German. Find out here why German language skills are important. On this page: On this page: German language skills for certain professions German for students and trainees German language skills as a visa requirement Language skills to receive the Opportunity Card German for spouses How is German language proficiency measured? Learning German is one of the most important steps you can take to prepare for life in Germany. It will help you settle in more quickly and make it easier for you to find new friends. For some purposes, such as work or study, it may even be necessary for you to demonstrate a certain level of German. Proof of a particular level of German is also often required when applying for a visa : German language skills for certain professions Healthcare professions: If you plan to work in the health sector in Germany, e.g. as a nurse or doctor , knowledge of the German language is essential. Level B1 or B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is required, depending on the federal state in which you wish to work. Regulated professions: You will need to obtain recognition in order to practise a regulated profession in Germany, such as teaching or law. These and many other regulated professions also require a knowledge of German. Further information on the recognition procedure and language certificates can be found on the " Anerkennung in Deutschland (

Child care Every child is entitled to childcare in order to receive individual support. Find out here what types of childcare exist. Early support for children in child daycare facilities is an important contribution to equal opportunities. Children can build relationships with their peers and benefit from age-appropriate educational programmes. Early childhood educators support and accompany them in this process. Through a variety of offers, activities and different pedagogical approaches, they promote the social, emotional, physical and intellectual development of the child in a comprehensive and individual way. Alongside the individual support for children provided by childcare services, they are often the most important factor in enabling parents to return to or enter the labour market. There are many factors that determine where and at what age your child receives childcare. We have listed the different childcare options here: Day nursery: a place for your children The word Kindertagesstätte (or Kita for short) is an umbrella term for different types of childcare. In a nursery (Kita), your children will be looked after and cared for by early childhood educators for all or part of the day. Since there is a wide variety of pedagogical approaches, the concepts often differ from one nursery to another. Children aged zero to three are often looked after in crèches (Kinderkrippe). There are also nurseries with groups of different ages. You can visit any nursery in person

Types of new businesses In Germany, there are two ways of setting up a business, either commercially or freelance. Here you can find out which business type suits your plans. Self-employed or freelance? In Germany, there are two ways of setting up a business . You are either self-employed or a freelancer. This depends on the occupation you are engaged in. Your status of being self-employed or a freelancer has an impact in regard to certain formalities as well as the legal structure of your business. Working on a self-employed basis If, for example, you would like to become self-employed with a craft or retail business, you must register your business – and you must do so in the location of your future headquarters. The Platform for Founders (External link) explains what you have to take into account. For some occupations, you must meet certain admission requirements . These are referred to as “occupations subject to prior authorisation” (erlaubnispflichtiges Gewerbe) . “Subject to authorisation” may mean i. a. that you will have to obtain certain types of approval, apply for a licence or provide proof of qualifications. This applies, for example, to craft businesses, financial service providers or care services, but also to a whole range of other occupations. You can find out on which sectors this applies to on the start-up portal (External link) . The BMWE-Behördenwegweiser (External link) also shows you where you can complete these formalities in your region. Working as a freelancer