German Work Visa: All You Need to Know
Explore the key questions about the German Work Visa below. We detail the ins and outs of how to apply for the German Work Visa and successfully move to Germany as an employee.
What is the German Work Visa?
The German Work Visa allows you to work in regular employment in Germany. The visa can be applied for once you have received a formal job offer from an employer based in Germany. Explore our German Job Hunting Guide if you are yet to secure employment in Germany.
It is often called the Employment Visa or Residence Permit for Employment.
Who can apply for the German Work Visa?
The German Work Visa is open to citizens from all countries and all age groups.
In order to be eligible, you must have:
Received a job offer from an employer based in Germany. The employment conditions must be equivalent or better than those offered to local workers in similar positions – this will be assessed by the German Federal Employment Agency once you have applied for the visa.
Been issued an employment contract from your new employer.
Completed a university-level degree that is recognised in Germany or considered equivalent to a German degree. Alternatively, you may be eligible without a university qualification if you have considerable relevant work experience.
Where can I apply for the German Work Visa?
Citizens from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, or the United States can either:
Apply for the German Work Visa at a German embassy or consulate before arriving in Germany. For further details, see our guide on how to apply for the German Work Visa overseas.
OR
Enter Germany without a visa for 90 days. During this 90-day period, they can then apply for the German Work Visa at an immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany. For further details, see our guide on how to apply for a Work Visa in Germany.
Citizens from all other countries must apply for the German Work Visa before arriving in Germany. This must be done at a German consulate or embassy outside of Germany. For further details, see our guide on how to apply for a Work Visa at a German consulate or embassy.
What are the application requirements for the German Work Visa?
The application requirements for the German Work Visa vary depending on where you are applying. However, you will likely be required to submit most or all of the following:
✅ A passport
✅ A passport photo
✅ Health insurance confirmation
✅ Employment contract
✅ A job description form (Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis)
✅ Proof of address in Germany
✅ University degree certificate
✅ Proof that your university degree is recognised in Germany
✅ Invitation letter from your German employer
✅ Professional CV
✅ Visa application form
✅ Visa application fee
✅ A translation of your university certificate
✅ Rental contract
For a detailed breakdown of each of these application documents, see our guides:
When can I apply for the German Work Visa?
You can apply for the German Work Visa upon receiving a formal job offer from an employer based in Germany.
If you are applying for a Work Visa at a German embassy or consulate, you can generally apply within 90 days of your intended move date. If you try to apply earlier than this, you will likely be asked to reschedule your appointment for a date that is closer to your move date.
If you are applying for a Work Visa at an immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) after your arrival in Germany, then you must complete your application within your first 90 days in Germany. Note: only citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, or the United States can enter Germany without a visa and apply for the Work Visa after their arrival in Germany.
How do I apply for the German Work Visa?
The process for applying for the German Work Visa varies depending on whether you are applying at a German embassy/consulate or at an immigration office in Germany:
Applying at a German embassy/consulate
Receive a formal job offer and employment contract from an employer based in Germany.
Book a German Work Visa appointment at your local German embassy or consulate.
Apply for the German Work Visa at your local German embassy or consulate.
Upon receipt of your German Work Visa, move to Germany.
For a detailed overview of how to complete these steps, see here.
Applying at an immigration office in Germany
Move to Germany. Enter Germany without a visa and complete your Anmeldung (address registration).
Receive a formal job offer and employment contract from an employer based in Germany.
Book a German Work Visa appointment at your local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany.
Apply for the German Work Visa at your local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany.
For a detailed overview of how to complete these steps, see here.
What is the age limit for the German Work Visa?
There are no age restrictions on the German Work Visa. You can apply at any age.
What is the best health insurance for the German Work Visa?
To be approved for a German Work Visa, you must show that you have taken out a suitable German health insurance policy. To do this, you should take a health insurance confirmation letter to your appointment, or policy documents showing that you are enrolled.
To ensure you meet the health insurance requirements for the German Work Visa, our favourite option is TK Health Insurance. TK’s policy not only meets the requirements for the visa and is approved by German immigration authorities but is consistently rated the no.1 health insurance policy in Germany.
What are the salary requirements for the German Work Visa?
There is no set figure for this as this varies depending on the job title and location of the job position.
However, most importantly, the employment conditions must be equivalent to or better than those offered to local workers in similar positions – this will be assessed by the German Federal Employment Agency once you have applied for the visa.
To get an idea of what salary you may require for approval, here is a website that shows average salaries for different professions across Germany.
How much does the German Work Visa cost?
The fee for the visa varies depending on where you apply. However, in most cases, the visa fee is €75 – €100 (payable in local currency).
Can I work on a German Work Visa?
Yes. Once you have received your German Work Visa, you can start working in Germany for the employer that is listed on your visa.
Can I study on a German Work Visa?
No. You are not permitted to undertake a formal study programme when living in Germany on a German Work Visa. For this, you would instead require a Student Visa.
However, it is possible to undertake a language course at a German language school while living in Germany on a Work Visa.
Can I apply for a German Work Visa after entering Germany?
Only citizens from certain countries are permitted to apply for the German Work Visa at an immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) after their arrival in Germany. If you are from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, or the United States, you can enter Germany without a visa for 90 days. During this 90-day period, you can apply for a German Work Visa at an immigration office in Germany. We have explained how to do this here.
Citizens from all other countries must apply for the German Work Visa before arriving in Germany. This must be done at a German consulate or embassy outside of Germany. We have explained how to do this here.
Can I apply for the German Work Visa more than once?
Yes. Your initial German Work Visa is issued for the duration of your employment contract. If you have a permanent employment contract, then your German Work Visa will likely be issued for 3 – 4 years. Once this expires, you can then apply to renew your German Work Visa.
If you ever wish to switch employers when living in Germany, then you will need to apply for a new Work Visa.
Do I need a university degree to apply for the German Work Visa?
In general, yes, you must have a university degree to apply for the German Work Visa.
Importantly, your university institution must recognised in Germany and your degree must be considered comparable to an equivalent German qualification – to prove this, you have 2 options:
Find your qualification on the Anabin online database. Print the relevant screenshots showing that your qualification is recognised in Germany and bring these to your appointment. See our Anabin Guide for instructions on how to use the database.
Obtain a Statement of Comparability from ZAB (Central Office for Foreign Education).
How long can I live in Germany on a Work Visa?
Your initial German Work Visa is issued for the duration of your employment contract. If you have a permanent employment contract, then your German Work Visa will likely be issued for 3 – 4 years. Once this expires, you can then apply to renew your German Work Visa.
Is Germany issuing Work Visas in 2022?
Yes, the German authorities are issuing Work Visas in 2022. Depending on which country you are from, you can either apply:
How long does it take to get a German Work Visa?
Visa processing times vary depending on where you are applying for the German Work Visa. However, on average, you can expect to be issued your visa within 2–8 weeks of submitting your application.
Where can I find the German Work Visa application form?
In almost all cases, you can download the visa application form from the website of the German embassy, consulate or immigration office where you will be applying for the visa.
You can find your local German embassy or consulate website here.
You can find your local immigration office in Germany here.
The German embassy or consulate where you are applying may require that you complete the visa form online prior to your visa appointment – this can be completed through VIDEX.
Is there a German language requirement for the Work Visa?
You do not need any German language skills in order to apply for the German Work Visa.
Do UK citizens need a German Work Visa?
Yes. Since leaving the European Union in 2020, British citizens require a Work Visa to start working in Germany. UK citizens can either:
Apply for the German Work Visa at the German embassy in London or consulate in Edinburgh before arriving in Germany
OR
Enter Germany without a visa for 90 days. During this 90-day period, they can then apply for a German Work Visa at an immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany. For further details, see our guide on how to apply for a Work Visa in Germany.
How to get a German Work Visa from India?
The German Missions in India are open and accepting Work Visa applications. For further information on how to apply for the German Work Visa from India, see here.
Check out our guide on moving to Germany from India for a step-by-step overview of the relocation process.
How to get a German Work Visa from Pakistan?
The German Missions in Pakistan are open and accepting Work Visa applications. For further information on how to apply for the German Work Visa from Pakistan, see here.
How do you extend a German Work Visa?
You can extend your German Work Visa at your local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany. Here is a useful tool for finding your local immigration office in Germany.
Can I work in Germany with a tourist visa or Schengen visa?
No. You cannot work in Germany with a tourist visa or Schengen visa. In order to start working in Germany, you must apply for a Work Visa. Depending on which country you are from, you can either apply:
How long can I work in Germany without a visa?
If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen, then you are not permitted to work in Germany without a visa. Before you can start working in Germany, you must obtain a Work Visa either:
Is it hard to get a Work Visa in Germany?
Compared to other European countries, Germany has quite a relaxed immigration process. To obtain a Work Visa in Germany, you just need to have:
Received a job offer from an employer based in Germany. The employment conditions must be equivalent or better than those offered to local workers in similar positions – this will be assessed by the German Federal Employment Agency once you have applied for the visa. To help you find an employer based in Germany, see our German Job Hunting Guide.
Been issued an employment contract from your new employer.
Completed a university-level degree that is recognised in Germany or considered equivalent to a German degree. Alternatively, you may be eligible without a university qualification if you have considerable relevant work experience.
Can I apply for a German Work Visa without a job offer?
No, you must have a job offer from an employer based in Germany in order to apply for the German Work Visa. In order to apply for the visa, the employer must also have issued you with an employment contract.
To help you find a job in Germany, see our German Job Hunting Guide.