Living in Germany: Visa and residence permits
With a visa or a residence permit, your life in Germany begins. Once this stage is accomplished, you can take care of everything else: finding an apartment, getting your professional qualifications recognized in Germany, and learning German.
But let’s start with the most important thing: your residence permit. If you’re not an EU citizen, you need a visa or a residence permit to live, work, and study in Germany.
Depending on your personal plans and needs, there are various ways to obtain a legal residency status: Do you want to participate in a Working Holiday program, do you have family in Germany, or do you work in a field where Germany urgently needs qualified professionals?
- You must apply for your visa or residence permit before you enter Germany!
We can only provide you with an initial overview and cannot guarantee that the information is complete or always up-to-date. We strongly recommend seeking advice from the relevant foreign mission in any case.
We support you with high-quality, certified translations into German for your visa application and all endeavors in Germany!
Let’s get started…
What types of visa and residence permits are there in Germany?
We hope that this provides you with an initial orientation.
Work visas for Germany: Skilled professionals
If you have already completed vocational training or studies comparable to a German degree, you can apply for a work visa.
The requirements for a work visa
- Your qualification must be recognized in Germany or comparable to a German university degree.
- You need a specific job offer from an employer in Germany. Your work does not necessarily have to be related to your education, but it must be a qualified activity. Assistant tasks are not sufficient for this purpose.
- If you are over 45 years old and working in Germany for the first time, you must earn at least €49,830 per year in your future job or provide evidence of adequate retirement provisions.
You need the determination of equivalence before coming to Germany. The responsible authority depends on the profession and the region where you intend to live. What you will need for the recognition of your vocational or academic training in any case is the certified german translation of your certificates.
Jobseeker visa for Germany
If you come from a country that is not exempt from visa requirements, you need a visa to enter Germany.
The jobseeker visa is valid for up to 6 months. However, you are not allowed to work with the jobseeker visa!
Criteria for the issue of a visa to seek employment in Germany
- A recognized vocational or academic degree equivalent to a German qualification.
- German language proficiency at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
- Proof of financial means to cover your living expenses for the entire duration of your stay. Proof can be provided through the presentation of a blocked account or a formal obligation letter.
The visa cannot be extended.
You can only reapply if you have stayed outside of Germany for at least as long as the duration of the visa.
If you find a suitable job, you can directly apply for a residence permit or a Blue Card EU in Germany.
EU Blue Card
The Blue Card EU is a residence and work permit for highly skilled professionals.
Blue Card EU: Requirements in Germany
- A recognized German or foreign university degree or a foreign university degree equivalent to a German university degree.
- A specific job offer or an employment contract for a highly qualified position where you earn at least €45,300 gross per year.
- For occupations in high demand, the lower salary threshold is currently €41,042. This applies, for example, to doctors, engineers, as well as natural scientists, mathematicians, and IT specialists. You can find all bottle neck professions in Germany here.
- The Federal Employment Agency is involved in the process to prevent abuse.
If you completed your studies no more than three years ago, regardless of your profession, you can also obtain the Blue Card EU if your job offer includes an annual gross salary of at least €41,041.80.
Blaue Karte EU: Wo beantragen?
The required documents for applying for the Blue Card vary depending on the location where you submit the application. Therefore, it’s essential to inquire in advance with the relevant authority. Additionally, it’s important to be aware of the fees associated with the issuance or renewal of the Blue Card.
- If you already hold a Blue Card EU issued by another EU member state and have been residing there for at least 18 months, the responsibility lies with the immigration authorities of your place of residence. You must apply for the card within one month of your arrival in Germany.
- If you already reside legally in Germany or can enter Germany without a visa, you must also apply for the Blue Card at the immigration authorities of your place of residence.
- If you neither reside in Germany nor in another EU member state, you must apply for the Blue Card at the diplomatic representation of Germany in your country of origin, i.e., at the embassy or consulate. If you meet the requirements, you will receive an entry visa for employment purposes, which you must then exchange in Germany for the Blue Card.
The Blue Card EU is a temporary residence permit, initially issued for a maximum of four years. If you have worked for at least 33 months and have knowledge of the German language, you can apply for the settlement permit, which is a permanent residence permit.
Working Holiday
Germany has bilateral agreements with Argentina, Australia, Chile, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Uruguay. This allows young people the opportunity to live and work in Germany for 12 months. The Travel and Work program is an excellent opportunity to explore the country, its people, and definitely a great chance for personal growth.
Canadians can travel to Germany and work or undertake an internship related to their studies through the Youth Mobility Program (YMP).
Requirements for obtaining a Working Holiday visa for Germany
If you want to apply for a Working Holiday visa to Germany, you must:
- Be a national of one of the mentioned countries
- Be between 18 and 30 years old
- Be able to prove that you have sufficient financial means to support yourself
You can obtain further information from the German embassy in your home country.
Here are the links to the information provided by the German embassies in the English speaking countries of Australia and New Zealand.
While you don’t necessarily need to speak German to obtain the visa, it is almost essential for job hunting. So, it’s better to start learning sooner rather than later!
Other residence permits for Germany
Additionally, there are visas that allow you to study in Germany or provide the opportunity for family reunification.
Your experiences with residence permits in Germany
Which visa did you come to Germany with? How long did it take? And was it worth the effort?
Tell us your story in the comments and share this post with your contacts!
