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Work visa for qualified professionals

You have found a job in Germany and need a visa? These are the requirements you have to meet.

If you have completed higher education institution or qualified vocational training outside Germany, you can receive a residence permit, in accordance with Sections 18a and 18b (1) on the Residence Act - AufenthG) that enables you to obtain employment in Germany as a qualified professional.

To find out whether you require a visa to enter Germany, see “Who Needs a Visa?

What are the requirements to receive a work visa?

  • Your qualifications must be either recognised in Germany or comparable to those from a German higher education institution. If you are seeking employment in a regulated profession, i.e. health professions, a professional practice permit is required. For more information regarding the recognition process, see Recognition.
  • Have you received an actual job offer from an employer in Germany? If so, it is important to ensure that your recognised qualifications enable you to perform the job for which you are being hired. This means that you are able to be employed in related professions.
  •  Are you over 45 years old and coming to Germany for the first time for employment purposes? If so, your gross annual salary for the position you intend on taking must be at least €48,180 (as of 2023), or you must provide proof of adequate old age pension provisions.

Tip

Do you have a recognised higher education degree? If so, check to see if you fulfil the criteria for an EU Blue Card. This residence title offers advantageous conditions to qualified professionals from abroad.

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Generally, the German Federal Employment Agency (BA) must first approve your request for employment. As part of this process, the Federal Employment Agency will assess whether your employment conditions (salary, working hours, etc.) are equivalent to those of domestic employees.

Do you fulfil these requirements? Find out about the entry visa process.

What opportunities does a work visa offer?

A visa or a residence permit for the purpose of obtaining qualified employment is issued for a maximum of four years. If a work contract has a shorter duration, a residence permit shall be issued for the duration of the contract.

If you have held a residence permit for employment purposes for at least 4 years, you may be entitled to obtain a settlement permit if certain requirements are fulfilled. This is essentially a permanent residence title. Learn more about this in the Living permanently in Germany section.

Would you like to live in Germany with your family? This residence permit allows you to do that. Everything you need to keep in mind, in addition to the applicable requirements, can be found in the Family Life in Germany section.

At a glance: Work visa for qualified professionals

From the preparations to the application forms: This step-by-step guide shows you how to obtain a work visa for qualified professionals.

Do you have any questions?

Let us advise you on your opportunities to work and live in Germany. Our experts will support you with questions regarding job search, visa, recognition and learning German. 

You can find out more about the various contact options by clicking on one of the icons in the bar below.

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