Work
The Paperwork: Residence and Work Permit for Non-EU Citizens
For non-EU-nationals a work permit is usually granted in connection with their visa. A foreigner who intends to take up a gainful employment in Germany must state so when applying for a visa at the consulate or consular representation of the German embassy in his or her home country. When applying for a visa, foreigners who intend to work in Germany must usually name their employer and their intended residence. Visa with a work permit can only be issued after they have been approved by the German labour administration.
Highly qualified foreigners and individuals who run their own businesses are except from this regulation. In these cases, visas and work permit will be issued without the approval of the German labor administration, when certain minimum standards have been met.
According to the Immigration Act, highly qualified foreigners are scientists with special technical knowledge active in teaching, scientists in prominent positions as well as specialists or executive personnel with extensive professional experience. Aside from the high qualification mentioned above, the exceptional work permit requires a minimum annual income of 64,800 ¤.
Self-employed individuals who run their own businesses include entrepreneurs as well as managing partners, executive directors, authorized signatories and majority shareholders of limited corporations (GmbH). The visa usually requires a minimum investment of 500,000 ¤ and the creation of at least 5 jobs.
Citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, South Korea and the United States of America can enter Germany without applying for visa in advance. They can do the paperwork with the foreigners authority in Germany themselves.
| Citizens of | Need for a visit of not more than 90 days | For longer stays or to take up gainful employment |
EU-member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland | Registration with appropriate local authorities ("Einwohnermeldeamt") | |
EU member states which have joined the European Union on May 1st, 2004, | Registration with appropriate local authorities ("Einwohnermeldeamt"), | |
| Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, South Korea and the United States of America | Residence permit and Work permit available from local aliens' registration office ("Ausländeramt") | |
| All other nations | Visa | Residence permit and work permit, both are issued in connection with the visa by the German embassy in the country of residence. |
Specific regulations may apply depending on the country of origin. The easiest way to find that out is to consult the local German embassy or consulate.
You will find more information about the visa requirements among our check lists. A list of German diplomatic representations abroad can be found at the website of the Federal Foreign Office.
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