Attractive routes have been created for IT specialists from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland (so-called “third countries”) to obtain a work visa in Germany. The type of visa you are eligible for depends on your qualifications and the job offer in Germany. EU Blue Card: if you have a formally recognised academic or tertiary-level qualification in IT and have a concrete job offer in Germany, you can obtain an EU Blue Card . In this case, it is important that your job in Germany pays a certain minimum [...] minimum salary. Even if you do not have such a qualification, you can still obtain an EU Blue Card if you have gained knowledge and skills from at least three years’ work experience in a similar profession within the last seven years. The EU Blue Card is a very popular residence title that offers you many advantages. Work visa for qualified professionals: a residence permit for qualified employment (under Section 18a or Section 18b of the Residence Act [AufenthG]) may apply to you if you have completed [...] completed training or a degree in IT that is recognised in Germany or is equivalent, but you do not meet the requirements for an EU Blue Card. Visa for professionally experienced workers : you can work as an IT specialist in Germany even if you do not have a formal non-academic vocational qualification or academic qualification, as long as you can prove that you have work experience in the IT sector. For more information about this type of visa, refer to the “ Visa for professionally experienced workers

the issuance of a permanent residence card. This card can be useful when dealing with the authorities. Additional information on the subject of “permanent residence for EU nationals” can be found here . German citizenship Are you currently residing in Germany and would now like to apply for German citizenship? This is an option if you are an EU citizen. Information on which conditions you need to meet for naturalisation is available here. Depending on what EU member state you are from, you may not [...] Information for EU citizens If you are a citizen of an EU Member State, you can enter Germany without a visa, thanks to the freedom of movement. Find out here what you need to have to consider nonetheless. Entry and residence Are you a citizen of an EU member state planning to seek employment, study or complete vocational training in Germany? Thanks to the freedom of movement , you can travel to Germany without a visa or a residence permit and stay here for a period of three months. The only documents [...] will need for entering the country are either a valid passport or an ID card. There are no restrictions regarding access to employment and self-employment in Germany for you or your family. The same applies if you are a citizen of Switzerland or the European Economic Area – i.e. Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland. Right to permanent residency As an EU citizen, you automatically receive the right to permanent residence in another EU country after an uninterrupted legal residence of at least 5 years in

your opportunity card will be extended for up to two years (opportunity card extension). Explainer video: How do I get the job search opportunity card in Germany? At a glance: Job search opportunity card from third countries From the preparatory stage to completing the application forms: this step-by-step guide shows you how to obtain a job search opportunity card. Download Print Explainer video: How do I find a job in Germany? Job listings Webinar on the job search opportunity card Getting a visa [...] opportunity card Are you interested in coming to Germany to look for a suitable job? Learn about the requirements for a job search opportunity card here. The opportunity card (Section 20a of the Residence Act [AufenthG]) improves your chances of making contact with German employers and finding qualified employment in Germany. To find out if you need to apply for an opportunity card visa to enter Germany, please refer to the Do I need a visa? section. What are the requirements for an opportunity card? Are [...] nationality, please see the “Who needs a visa?” section to find out about your options. Search country Go to test Self-Check: Opportunity card Simply answer the questions in the self-check: opportunity card to find out if you are eligible to apply for an opportunity card. Did you get a positive result in the self-check? Congratulations! You can now apply for an opportunity card at your diplomatic mission abroad . To find the contact address, please check out our overview of advisory and contact points . If

the professional must apply at the foreigners authority for a German EU Blue Card. Facilitated family reunification for EU Blue Card holders: EU Blue Card holders who have already lived in another EU Member State with their family are entitled to privileged family reunification . If these family members require a visa due to their nationality, they are entitled to enter and reside in Germany as family members of an EU Blue Card holder with the residence permit issued in the previous Member State [...] as the EU Blue Card , continue and were in some cases extended. In addition, the new opportunity card (Chancenkarte) enables third-country nationals to seek employment. The new law has several parts. The provisions were phased in since November 2023. Here is an overview of the amendments: The new EU Blue Card since November 2023 In implementing the requirements of Directive (EU) 2021/1883, the German legislator has restructured and widened the migration possibilities with an EU Blue Card : Lower [...] Holders of an EU Blue Card issued by another EU Member State are now entitled to short-term and long-term mobility in Germany. For a maximum stay of 90 days, Blue Card holders from other EU countries are able to come to Germany and stay here for the purpose of a business activity directly related to their employment. Neither a visa nor a work permit from the Federal Employment Agency (BA) is required for such short stays. After a minimum stay of twelve months with an EU Blue Card in another EU country

must apply for depends on the reason for your visit or stay. Get to know everything about the types of visa and which requirements have to be met. EU Blue Card Having numerous advantages, the EU Blue Card is one of the most popular resident titles for highly skilled workers. It is best to verify right away whether you are eligible for an EU Blue Card. Work visa for qualified professionals The work visa for skilled workers provides you with direct access to the German job market. Read more on what [...] for IT professionals In Germany, qualified and experienced skilled workers in IT are in high demand. Coming from abroad, there are a lot of options to receive a work visa – with or without a formal qualification certificate. Job search opportunity card Job seekers from abroad can enter Germany in order to look for a job. In some cases, a visa might be necessary. We will explain how it works. Visa for the recognition of foreign qualifications For many international skilled workers, the professional

contact details in our overview of advisory and contact points. Enter the corresponding country below. Discover your path to Germany. Find contact information and services provided by German institutions in United States of America Ask Me Anything – EU Blue Card

internet. Have you already found a suitable job? If you are from a third country and have an offer of a qualified job, you can apply for a residence permit for qualified employment or an EU Blue Card . Note that your job does not necessarily have to be related to your qualifications (with the exception of the EU Blue Card ). However, you will need a licence to practise if you want to work in a regulated profession. You will need to present the following supporting documents: Proof of successfully completed [...] either work at a university or receive a grant for their research. If you are from a third country and want to do a doctorate in Germany, you will need either a residence permit for study purposes , a residence title for research purposes or an EU Blue Card , depending on how much you work and earn during your doctorate. You can apply for a residence permit at your local foreigners authority. Before you apply, find out from them what documents you need to submit. Complete vocational training Do you [...] long as the expected salary is sufficient to cover your living costs. The foreigners authority is the sole decision-making body in this matter. Info box If you are from the EU, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland, you can live and work in Germany without any restrictions. You can find out more in the " Information for EU citizens " section. Become self-employed There are many reasons to become self-employed in Germany. If you are interested, you might want to contact a start-up advisory service

full capacity, your will generally require the recognition of your foreign qualification, regardless of your country of origin. For non-EU nationals, the full recognition is also a requirement for certain residence titles, such as the visa for qualified professionals or for most cases of the EU Blue Card . Moreover, no points must be scored for the opportunity card if the full recognition has been acquired. The recognition occurs in the framework of a so-called recognition procedure ; you will find [...] academic degree must be comparable with a German academic degree: this is valid for the work visa for qualified professionals , the EU Blue Card and the opportunity card: “skilled worker” option . The foreign academic degree must be state-recognized in the county where it was obtained: this is valid for the visa for professionally experienced workers and the opportunity card: “points system” option . For both types of proof, a printout of the positive result in the anabin database or a Statement of C [...] the opportunity card do not have to be scored, if you have the full recognition. Please find detailed information in the “ Recognition procedure " section. Non-regulated professions: academic degrees For academic degrees that do not lead to a regulated profession, such as biologist, physicist or linguist, there is no formal recognition procedure like in regulated professions or non-academic professional qualifications. Depending on what work visa comes into consideration, non-EU-country nationals

cases, a settlement permit can be issued under facilitated conditions. This is the case if you belong to one of the following groups of people: EU Blue Card holders People who have completed higher education or vocational training in Germany Highly skilled workers Self-employed persons Settlement permit for EU Blue Card holders If you are an EU Blue Card holder (Section 18g of the Residence Act [AufenthG]), you can request a settlement permit under the facilitated conditions set out in Section 18c [...] degree or a foreign university degree comparable to a German degree ( Section 18b of the Residence Act [AufenthG] in conjunction with Section 18 (3) No. 2 of the Residence Act [AufenthG] ) EU Blue Card holders ( Section 18g of the Residence Act [AufenthG ]) International researchers in accordance with Directive (EU) 2016/801 (Section 18d of the Residence Act [AufenthG]) What are the settlement permit requirements for skilled workers? You have held a residence title under Sections 18a, 18b, 18d or 18g

find more information on the work visa for qualified professionals and the EU Blue Card in the " Visa " section. Tip If finding a job position from abroad appears to be challenging, it is possible to enter Germany for up to one year after completing your studies in order to look for a job. You can find out which requirements need to be fulfilled to apply for a job search opportunity card in the " Job search opportunity card " section. Info box Would you like to work in research as an engineer and [...] and need a visa to work in Germany? Then you have two options. You can either apply for a visa for research or the EU Blue Card for this purpose. You should therefore check the requirements for each residence title and whether you fulfil them. Next steps ✔ Your career prospects: with our Quick-Check , you can find out about the opportunities available to you for working and living in Germany. ✔ The German employment market: find more information on job-hunting and get useful tips in our “ Looking for