German Job Seekers Visa: All You Need to Know
Learn everything you need to know about the German Job Seekers Visa. Below, we answer key questions about the visa to give you a complete understanding of how to move to Germany as a job seeker.
What is the German Job Seekers Visa?
The German Job Seekers Visa is a visa that allows qualified professionals to move to Germany for 6 months to search for work.
Who can apply for the German Job Seekers Visa?
The German Job Seekers Visa is open to citizens from all countries and all age groups.
In order to be eligible, you must have:
A university-level degree that is recognised in Germany or considered equivalent to a German degree.
Sufficient savings to support yourself while searching for a job in Germany.
Travel/expat health insurance that covers the entire duration of the 6-month visa.
Where can I apply for the German Job Seekers Visa?
Citizens from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, or the United States can either:
Apply for the German Job Seekers Visa at a German embassy or consulate before arriving in Germany. For further details, see our guide on how to apply for the German Job Seekers Visa overseas.
OR
Enter Germany without a visa for 90 days. During this 90-day period, they can then apply for the German Job Seekers Visa at an immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany. For further details, see our guide on how to apply for the Job Seekers Visa in Germany.
Citizens from all other countries must apply for the German Job Seekers 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 the Job Seekers Visa at a German consulate or embassy.
What are the application requirements for the German Job Seekers Visa?
The application requirements for the German Job Seekers 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
✅ University degree certificate
✅ Proof that your university degree is recognised in Germany
✅ Proof of a secure livelihood
✅ Cover letter
✅ Proof of any additional preparations
✅ CV
✅ Visa application form
✅ Visa application fee
For a detailed breakdown of each of these application documents, see our guides:
When can I apply for the German Job Seekers Visa?
If you are applying for the Job Seekers 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 the Job Seekers 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 Job Seekers Visa after their arrival in Germany.
How do I apply for the German Job Seekers Visa?
The process for applying for the German Job Seekers 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
Book a German Job Seeker Visa appointment at your local German embassy or consulate.
Apply for the German Job Seeker Visa at your local German embassy or consulate.
Once approved, move to Germany to search for jobs.
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).
Book a German Job Seekers Visa appointment at your local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany.
Apply for the German Job Seekers 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 Job Seekers Visa?
There are no age restrictions on the German Job Seekers Visa. You can apply at any age.
What is the best health insurance for the German Job Seekers Visa?
In order to be approved for the German Job Seekers Visa, you need suitable health insurance. The insurance must cover:
The entire duration of the 6-month visa.
At least €30,000 in medical cover.
Repatriation to your home country.
To ensure you meet the health insurance requirements for the German Job Seekers Visa, our favourite option is Feather’s expat health insurance. This policy not only meets the requirements for the visa but is also competitively priced and can be quickly signed up for online.
For further info, see our guide to Feather Insurance.
How much money do I need for the German Job Seekers Visa?
In order to be approved for the German Job Seekers Visa, you must show that you have sufficient funds to live off for the duration of the visa.
To show that you have adequate means of subsistence for the visa, you generally have the following options (although this can vary depending on where you apply):
Bank Statement.
The easiest way to show that you have sufficient funds is via a recent bank statement that shows:
Your name
The account balance
The date of the balance (if possible, the bank statement should be no older than 5 days old at the time of your visa appointment)
The amount of savings that you are required to show varies depending on where you are applying for the German Job Seekers Visa. However, in general, you require at least €934 per month. For a 6-month visa, this amounts to €5604.
Blocked account (escrow account).
Instead of a regular bank account, the embassy, consulate or immigration office may require that your funds are in a blocked account. This blocked account should have the required amount deposited in it at the time of application.
Our top suggestion for a blocked account is Fintiba, which combines a simple sign-up process with lower fees than most of its competitors.
Declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung).
Alternatively, you may be able to provide a formal declaration from a friend or relative in Germany that they will act as a financial guarantor during your time in Germany. Here is some additional info on how to obtain a declaration of commitment.
Prior to applying, check what documents are accepted by your local German embassy, consulate or immigration office to demonstrate proof of a secure livelihood as these can vary considerably.
How much does the German Job Seekers Visa cost?
The fee for the visa varies depending on where you apply. However, in most cases, the visa fee is €75 (payable in local currency).
Can I work on a German Job Seekers Visa?
No. You are not permitted to work when living in Germany on a Job Seekers Visa. Once you have received a job offer in Germany and would like to start working, you must apply for a Work Visa or EU Blue Card at your local immigration office.
Can I study on a German Job Seekers Visa?
No. You are not permitted to undertake a formal study programme when living in Germany on a Job Seekers 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 searching for employment in Germany.
Can I apply for the German Job Seekers Visa after entering Germany?
Only citizens from certain countries are permitted to apply for the German Job Seekers 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 Job Seekers Visa. We have explained how to do this here.
Citizens from all other countries must apply for the German Job Seekers 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 Job Seekers Visa more than once?
No. The German Job Seekers Visa is only issued once.
If you find a job in Germany during your 6-month Job Seekers Visa, then you can switch on to a Work Visa or EU Blue Card.
What happens if I do not find a job while on a Job Seekers Visa?
If you find a job while living in Germany on a Job Seekers Visa, then you are permitted to apply for a Work Visa or EU Blue Card at your local immigration office in Germany. You do not need to return to your home country to apply for a new visa. We have created guides on how to apply for these visas at an immigration office in Germany:
How to apply for a Work Visa at an immigration office in Germany
How to apply for an EU Blue Card at an immigration office in Germany
If you do not find a job while on a Job Seekers Visa, you will be required to leave Germany prior to your visa expiring.
Do I need a university degree to apply for the German Job Seekers Visa?
Yes. You must have a university degree to apply for the German Job Seekers Visa.
Importantly, your university institution must be 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 Job Seekers Visa?
The German Job Seekers Visa is issued for a maximum of 6 months. It cannot be extended. At the end of your Job Seekers Visa, you have two options:
Leave Germany if you have not successfully obtained a job offer during your 6-month job search.
Apply for a Work Visa or EU Blue Card at your local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany if you have successfully obtained a job offer during your 6-month job search.
Is Germany issuing Job Seekers Visas in 2022?
Yes, the German authorities are issuing Job Seekers Visas in 2022. Depending on which country you are from, you can either apply:
At your local German embassy or consulate in your home country.
At your local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany.
Can I apply for the German Job Seekers Visa from India?
Yes. The German Missions in India are open and accepting Job Seekers Visa applications. For details, see here.
For further tips, check out our guide on how to move to Germany from India.
How long does it take to get a German Job Seekers Visa?
Visa processing times vary depending on where you are applying for the German Job Seekers Visa. However, on average, you can expect to be issued your visa within 2–6 weeks of submitting your application.
How do I convert my German Job Seekers into a Work Visa/EU Blue Card?
You can convert your German Job Seekers Visa into a Work Visa or EU Blue Card upon receiving a job offer from a German employer.
Upon receiving a job offer from a German employer, you can apply for a Work Visa or EU Blue Card at your local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany. We have put together step-by-step guides for this:
Where can I find the German Job Seekers 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 Job Seekers Visa?
You do not need any German language skills in order to apply for the German Job Seekers Visa.