How to Move to Germany as a Job Seeker
Every year, thousands of newcomers arrive in Germany searching for work. And for good reason. The robust German job market offers extensive work opportunities for international workers, especially in the fields of IT and tech, business, marketing, customer service and beyond.
But how exactly do you move to Germany as a job seeker? Follow our checklist below…
Job Seekers Visa
Unless you are an EU/EEA citizen, you may need a Job Seekers Visa to search for employment in Germany. The visa allows you to move to Germany for 6 months to look for work.
To find out how to apply, see our guides:
Health Insurance
When living in Germany, it is a legal requirement that you have suitable health insurance. Adequate insurance is not only essential if you have a medical emergency or accident but it is also a key prerequisite for obtaining a Job Seekers Visa.
For job seekers in Germany, our favourite health insurance is Feather’s Expat Health Insurance. To find out why this policy is well suited, see our German Health Insurance Guide.
Accommodation
When job seeking in Germany, you will need a place to live. However, before securing a job, you may not wish/be able to commit to a long-term lease.
Thankfully, there are some great short-term furnished apartments available that are a great temporary solution for job seekers. To explore your options, see our German Apartment Hunting Guide.
Once you have found suitable accommodation in Germany, it is essential that you complete your address registration (Anmeldung). For further guidance, see our German Anmeldung Guide.
Banking
When job seeking in Germany, you will no doubt want easy access to your money while avoiding foreign transaction fees, slow money transfers and costly ATM fees.
The best way to achieve this is by opening a German bank account, which can be opened online in just a few minutes. In particular, we recommend opening an account with N26 or bunq, two market-leading online banks that are perfectly suited to newcomers to Germany.
For further tips, see our Banking in Germany Guide.
Personal Liability Insurance
While optional, everyone in Germany should have personal liability insurance, which covers you in the event of personal injury or property damage to a third party. Without this, even fairly innocuous accidents and mishaps can have grave financial consequences.
When it comes to personal liability insurance providers, our favourite policy is with Feather. For further information about the benefits of private liability insurance and why you should have it when living in Germany, see our Private Liability Insurance Guide.
Job Hunting
As a job seeker, your ultimate goal is of course to find a job in Germany. But where to look, what to expect and how to apply can be difficult…
Check out our German Job Hunting Guide and German Job Board Guide for comprehensive advice on exactly how to land a job in Germany.
Once you have landed a job in Germany, you can then apply for a Work Visa or EU Blue Card at your local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde).
Documents Required to Start a Job
Once you land a job in Germany as a job seeker, you will require a number of documents before you can start working in Germany. This includes your:
For full details on how to get hold of all these documents, see our Starting Work in Germany Guide.