Germany

Many people are not aware of this, but Germany offers free education. This means that, unlike places like the U.S., which have enormous tuition fees, universities in Germany either have very low fees or do not charge anything at all. Because of this, Germany is a popular place to immigrate for education purposes.

To immigrate to Germany for completing a university degree, you must obtain a visa to study in Germany. The article outlines the requirements that you need to meet and the process of applying to get such a visa.

If you get your education visa for Germany and complete your degree, you can remain in Germany to search for a job for a limited period of time. If you can find a job during that time, you are allowed to stay in Germany. It is reported that up to 54% of students who complete a degree in Germany stay in the country and find a job.

If you are an investor with an interest in Germany, then you are in luck. Entrepreneurs and investors who create economic opportunities in Germany are allowed to immigrate there. There is, however, a certain threshold of investment that you need to make. As of the writing of this article, that amount is 250,000 Euros. In addition, you will need to get a Self-Employment Visa which falls under the category of German working Visa.

To get the visa you must prove the following:

• That you have the required funds to make the investment
• That your investment will benefit the German economy
• That your investment is demanded in the country

If you maintain your status as an entrepreneur in Germany, you will also be allowed unlimited extensions of your residence permit after three years, which means that you can enter and leave the country whenever you want.

There are instances when people move to Germany for various reasons but have to leave their family behind in their home countries. All spouses and children under 16 years old are allowed to apply for immigration to Germany to join their spouse or parents.

To be eligible for the family reunion immigration, spouses must prove that they are married and children have to provide birth certificates. For children under 16 years old, it is not necessary to have German language skills since they are assumed to be able to learn it quickly. However, for children over 16 years old, there must be sufficient proof of German language proficiency and the ability to adapt and integrate.

As for spouses, they will need to have at least an A1 German proficiency to qualify. If the spouse already in Germany was allowed to work, the same will apply to the other spouse who is joining. So, the visas for spouses are bound by the same conditions.

• 5. German Residence Permits – When you get one of the visas for immigration, you will also get a residence permit. The residence permits can be temporary and permanent. Temporary residence permits allow foreign nationals to stay in Germany for a specified period of time and then return to their home countries. Permanent residence permits mean that foreign nationals can stay in Germany as long as they want to, and can leave and return to the country whenever they want to. However, a permanent residence permit does not mean that you get a German citizen. That is another process entirely. In general, Germany has two temporary residence permits and one permanent.
  • Standard Residence Permit – This type of residence permit is used for all purposes of immigration noted above as well as for others, such as completing training courses, for former Germans who want to return to Germany, and those who go to Germany for political and humanitarian reasons. The standard residence permit is valid for some time and can be extended.
  • European Union (EU) Blue Card – The EU Blue Card is given to foreign national workers (who are not citizens of EU countries) who have high qualifications and want to work in Germany and apply those skills. High qualifications mean that the person has an undergraduate or graduate degree in any given field. To qualify for the EU Blue Card, you will need to have already found a job in Germany, and the minimum annual salary must be 50,800 Euros.The EU Blue Card grants its holders the right to stay in Germany for four years, with the possibility of changing their residence permit into a permanent settlement. To qualify for permanent settlement the person must show enough German proficiency, meet certain financial requirements, as well as must have worked in Germany for more than 33 months in their place of employment which requires the skills gained with the highest qualifications.
  • Settlement Permit or Permanent Residence Permit – The permanent residence permit in Germany is called the Settlement Permit. This is given to those who have had either a standard residence permit or an EU Blue Card for at least 5 years and meet certain language requirements.

Germany is a country of possibilities not only for Germans, but also for third-world country nationals as well. The land of invention and innovation is the fourth largest economy in the world and home to world known corporates and companies. As such, it offers the chance to many non-Germans to find a job and settle in the country.

The Germany Employment Visa is an opportunity for qualified foreigners to settle in Germany and work in their field. It gives to its holder the chance to enter and work in Germany for up to two years, with the possibility of extending the visa, and later applying for an EU Blue Card, or other types of residence permits.

Long-Stay Visa Types for Working in Germany
You may apply for a Germany Long-Stay Visa under the purpose of working in Germany, for the following:

• Employment – if you already have a job offer in Germany.
• Self-Employment – if you wish to establish a business in Germany or to work as a freelancer.
  • Working as a Freelancer
• Jobseeker – if you wish to look for a job while in Germany.
• Working as an Au Pair – for young adults wishing to learn more about the German culture and language.
• Working Holiday Visa – for the youngsters of several countries, that have signed a Working Holiday Visa agreements with Germany.

Citizens of the following countries can apply for their residence permit for work purposes after entering Germany without a visa.

• EEA/EU member states the United States of America
• Australia
• Canada
• Israel
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Switzerland
• the Republic of Korea

Citizens of the rest of third-world countries are required to obtain a visa for work purposes before traveling to Germany. Following in this article find the procedures you need to follow, including the documents you need to obtain, in order to get a Germany Employment Visa.

All foreign nationals can apply for a Germany Employment Visa if they fulfill the conditions to work in Germany.
According to the “Act on the Residence” that regulates the residence issue for foreigners in Germany,
the categories eligible to apply for a German Employment Visa are as follows:

• Highly qualified foreigners, in particular:
  • researchers with special technical knowledge
  • teaching personnel in prominent positions or scientific personnel in prominent positions
• Intra-corporate transferees, in particular:
  • managers
  • specialists

In addition, those eligible and encouraged to apply for a Germany work visa are third-world country nationals with a university degree or a non-academic vocational qualification that fulfills the conditions listed below:

• There is a shortage of skilled workers in the profession you want to practice in Germany.
• You have a concrete job offer.
• Your education must be recognized as equivalent to a German degree.

The step-by-step application process for a Germany Work visa goes as follows:

• 1. Get a job offer in Germany.
• 2. Check if you need a visa to Germany for long stays.
• 3. Find out where you need to submit your visa application.
• 4. Collect all of the required documents according to the instructions.
• 5. Make an appointment for a visa interview.
• 6. Pay the German Employment Work visa fee.
• 7. Attend the interview.
• 8. Wait for a response on your visa application.

In order to prove to the German embassy/consulate in your country of residence that you fulfill the conditions for an employment visa, you will need to submit several documents. These documents are the crucial part of your application for a German employment visa, alongside the visa interview.

Make sure you collect all of these documents according to their given instructions.

• Two fully completed application forms. Printed and signed at the end.
• Two passport photographs (see our page on photo requirements for more info as there are strict requirements).
• Valid national passport (more information on passport requirements).
• Proof of residence. Your driver’s license and/or utility bill in your name as proof of residence in the territory of the consulate where you plan to apply.
• Health insurance. Compulsory certificate from German employer, valid from date of employment. If not already included in the compulsory health insurance a separate travel insurance has to be presented for the time frame from arrival in Germany until the beginning of employment. If you are looking for great coverage for a good price, then your working health insurance awaits here!
• An employment contract / binding job offer with details of gross annual salary and a detailed description of the employment in Germany.
• Approval by the Federal Employment Agency (If applicable).
• Curriculum Vitae. Your updated CV, which indicates your academic qualifications and your job experience.
• Proof of Qualification. Diplomas, Certificates, mark sheets, etc., or anything similar that proves your qualifications.
• Personal cover letter explaining the exact purpose and duration of stay.
• Proof of a clean criminal record.
• Proof of paid visa fee. The visa fee for a German long-stay visa is €75.
• Declaration of Accuracy of Information.

You should apply for a German Employment visa at the representative body of Germany in your country of residence responsible for visa admission. This could be one of the following:

• The German embassy
• A German consulate
• A Visa Application Center
• The German embassy/consulate located in a neighboring country, in the absence of German representative bodies in your country of residence
• The embassy/consulate of another country, located in your country of residence, to which Germany has outsourced visa admission

The processing time for a Germany long-stay work visa may take from one to three months from the application day. The processing time depends also on the number of applications the embassy is receiving at the time, as well as your situation.

After you get your German Work Visa, you can freely travel to Germany. However, there are still some procedures that you should complete upon arrival in Germany in order to obtain a Germany residence permit.

You should go to the Foreigner’s Office in Germany, located nearest to your place of residence. Some of the offices require you to make an appointment prior to your interview, while others accept walk-in applications.

You will need to attend an interview during which you will also submit the required documents for a residence permit. These documents are                    :

• Your national valid passport.
• Application form for a Residence Permit.
• Two photos.
• Report of a clean criminal record.
• Proof of German Language.
• Health Insurance Confirmation.
• Proof of Job Offer.

The period of time you are allowed to hold your permit is determined by your employment contract. If your contract is for 2 years, your permit will also be valid for 2 years. However, you can extend it as many times as you need as long as you maintain your employment status.

You can check here How to get a German Residence Permit, in order to learn more in this regard.

If you want to work in Germany, but you still do not have a job, we can give you some tips in this regard. There are many vacant jobs in Germany for foreigners. You will not have it hard to find a suitable job for you, especially if you have professional qualifications.

The process of getting a job in Germany for foreigners goes as follows:

Look for a job online

Public German job sites. The International Placement Service (ZAV) of the German Employment Agency has information on world opportunities all across Germany. You can check for a job in their portals, email them, or call them for advice. Check their page for more.

Check German recruitment websites. There are many online sites offering jobs for both Germans and foreigners. You can check the job offers there, and see if any of them suit you

Sign up for a recruitment agency in Germany. You can find a list of these agencies in the German Yellow Pages. Note that they will charge you a fee for signing up with them.

Contact companies in Germany. It is totally okay to write to a German company and ask them if they are planning to take in any new employees, even if they do not have any vacancy announcement.

After you find the job that fits you, send a job application. Usually, most companies will ask you for the following documents:

• your CV
• copies of your educational certificates
• employer testimonials
• samples of your work

The fourth-largest economy in the world, Germany, is home to world-known corporates and companies, that have branches, partners and collaborators in other countries including third-world countries, who often have to travel to Germany for a business doing. These people, as well as every other person who wishes to enter Germany with the sole purpose of doing business, and are not from a country under the visa-waiver program, have to obtain a Germany Business Visa.

A Germany Business visa is a short-stay Schengen visa, which permits its holder to enter and remain in Germany up to 90 days within 6 months unless it is not specified differently in the visa sticker. It is issued to people who come to Germany to perform business making, attend meetings, sign contracts, etc.

Since a Germany Business Visa is a short-stay visa, your nationality is the main decisive factor whether you need to obtain this visa or not. Currently, there are 62 countries under the visa-waiver program, the citizens of which do not need to be in possession of this document in order to enter Germany and the Schengen Area in general.

That is why you should ask yourself: Do I need a short-stay Germany visa? – before taking any action regarding your trip to Germany. If you realize that you do need the visa, then you should start your Germany visa application process, which requires gathering a few specific documents, and attending an interview at the German Embassy / Consulate near your hometown, or visa application centre if available.

There is a number of requirements not only for German business visa but for all types of German visas, which you will have to meet one by one, in order to be able to obtain a visa that allows you to enter the country.

The list of required documents for Business visa to Germany are as following:

• Short-stay visa application form –fully completed with correct and honest information that complies with the information given in the other documents. The form should be printed twice and each copy must be signed at the end.
• Declaration of Accuracy of Information
• Two identical photographs – no older than three months, and according to the set standards that must be strictly met.
• Valid national passport – no older than 10 years, with a validity of three months beyond your planned stay in Germany and the whole Schengen Zone, at least one blank page in order to be able to affix visa sticker, and in accordance with the other passport requirements.
• One copy of your passport’s data page (A4 size copy)
• Travel visa insurance – a document that confirms you have obtained health insurance, which will cover costs of at least 30,000 Euros in case of an accident or illness and repatriation in case of death. The insurance must cover the whole Schengen territory and not only Germany.
•  Flight Itinerary – which includes flight reservation, rail tickets or other means of transport which you are planning to use to reach Germany. You can use the visa consultation services like this one or find one online.
• Proof of accommodation for your entire stay in the Schengen area – which could be a hotel booking (with details including the address, phone number and email of the hotel) or a letter of invitation by a host residing in Germany that confirms they are willing to take you in for the whole period of your stay in Germany and that they have enough room for you in their home.
• Proof of civil status: Marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, if applicable
• Proof of financial status:
  • If employed: Payslips of the past three months/employment contract
  • If self-employed: Certificate of Proprietorship or other proof of ownership (proof of land title, proof of income from agriculture (sales form) etc.
• Your company bank statements from the previous three months
• Business references
• Invitation letter from the business partner in Germany in English or German (For consultancy services: please provide a confirmation letter from the German client) mentioning the invitee details, the dates and purpose of the trip with a detailed schedule of the business meetings or training (day to day schedule)
• A detailed schedule of your business meetings (ONLY for stays over 30 days)
• Company covering letter with entire travel plan (itinerary) mentioning your position, duration of your service, the dates and purpose of the trip and if your expenses are being covered by the employer or not.
• Certificate of Incorporation of the company

The application process for a Germany business Schengen visa is pretty much the same as for every other German visa. The earliest you can apply for a visa is six months prior to your trip and the latest, three weeks prior to the trip.

You should apply at the German Embassy or Consulate in your home country.

There is a visa fee of 80 euros, which each applicant must pay in order for their visa application to be processed. The fee can be paid in the local currency according to the exchanges rates approved by the embassy.

Please note the visa fees will not be reimbursed in case of the visa being rejected and the price is subject to change at any time.

In general, your visa application process takes 10 to 15 days to be processed, that is why you are asked to apply three weeks prior to your trip the latest. There may be delays in the processing of your application if the embassy is receiving many applications at the time, or it may be delayed because of your specific situation.

The validity of a German Business Visa depends on the embassy that issued it. The embassy may issue you a business visa, which can be:

Single entry – that permits you to enter Germany only once and spend there the number of days stated in your visa, i.e., 10 days.

Multiple entries – which permits you to enter more than once in Germany in a given period i.e., 1 January till 1 May, with the sole condition that you do not overstay the number of permitted days i.e., 20 days. You may also get a multiple entry visa with a validity of one year or more. In these cases, you should take care to not violate the 90-days per 6 months rule, according to which whenever you wish to make a trip to Germany, you just have to look back and count whether you have stayed in the Schengen Area more than 90 days within the last 180 days.