State recognition in the country of training For some residence titles, your qualifications must be state-recognized in the country of origin. Learn what types of evidence are possible down below. For some residence titles, like the visa for a recognition partnership , the visa for professionally experienced workers or the opportunity card “points system” option , it is required to provide evidence that the foreign qualification is recognised by the state in the country in which it was obtai...

5 reasons Germany is an excellent location for your start-up plans. Here you can convince yourself of the country’s advantages. 1. Strong: a dynamic economy Significant spending power, the spirit of innovation, its location at the heart of a dense transport network in the centre of Europe and highly skilled workers – all of these are benefits offered by Germany as a business location. Science and research with a practical orientation and well-trained qualified professionals have generated an...

5 steps for starting a business Start your self-employment journey successfully: Here you can find the most important steps to make your individual start-up project a success. 1. Register your business Before you set up a business in Germany, you must complete a number of formalities. These also depend on whether you want to work on a self-employed (gewerblich) or freelance (freiberuflich) basis. Freelancers must register with the tax office ( Finanzamt) . If you want to register as a self-emplo...

Visa for self-employed business Do you wish to set up a commercial business in Germany? To do so, you will need a specific residence permit. Find out about the requirements down below. In Germany, there are two ways of setting up your own business: you can either work as a freelancer ( Freiberufler ) or set up a business as a self-employed entrepreneur ( Gewerbe ). Find out more about the best approach for you in the article on types of new businesses . If you would like to set up a business as...

Craftspeople The German crafts and trades stand for customer-friendliness, high-quality products and practical solutions – become an active part of this sector! What are skilled crafts and trades? Skilled crafts and trades are not only the heart and soul of small and medium-sized businesses, but also Germany's economic engine. Thanks to the proximity to their customers, they create high-quality products and bespoke solutions for problems using their wide range of services and goods. The skille...

Recognition procedure How does the recognition procedure work? During the recognition procedure, the competent authority checks whether your qualification is equivalent to the German reference occupation. How does the recognition procedure work in Germany? During the recognition procedure , the respective competent authority in Germany checks whether your foreign qualification is equivalent to a German one or whether there are substantial differences. The procedure is also known as “equivalenc...

Social security Do you have employment in Germany that is subject to social security contributions? Find out more about what that means here. General information 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...

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. 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 ofte...

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...