Work

New EU Member States

Transitional regulations govern the movement and employment of citizens from those new EU member states which have joined the European Union on May 1st 2004 (except Malta and Cyprus), namely the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, and Slovakia as well as from Bulgaria and Romania which have joined the European Union on January 1st 2007.

During a transitional period of up to seven years, certain provisions may be applied that restrict the free movement of workers from, to and between these member states. However, citizens of the member states which have been part of the European Economic Area or have enjoyed special freedoms due to bilateral agreements do not lose their previous status under the new framework.

In general, citizens of these new EU member states can enter Germany without a visa. In order to take up a gainful employment, they have to apply for a work permit (Arbeitsgenehmigung) at the local Employment Agency (Arbeitsagentur).