As an Australian resident or citizen moving to Germany from Australia, one should comply with specific regulations based on the duration of stay and the purpose of the visit. The Germany immigration distinguishes between short-term stays, that have a duration of maximum 90 days in a total period of 180 days, and long-term stays, with a duration longer than 90 days.
Thus, the formalities for relocating to Germany from Australia will vary based upon these two factors; in-depth information on how to relocate to this country can be offered by our immigration lawyer in Germany, who can also assist in the formalities of applying for a residence permit, obtain a visa for a specific purpose or help in relocating family members.
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Do Australians need short-term stay visas in Germany?
No, in the case of those who move to Germany from Australia for a period of maximum 90 days, it must be noted that there aren’t any legal requirements, although, as a general rule, the citizens outside the European Union (EU) are required to apply for a short-term stay visa, known as the Schengen visa.
The visa exemption is granted to Australian citizens under an agreement signed by the two countries. However, Australian citizens do need to comply with few basic requirements, in the sense that they need to have a valid passport, that has a validity date three months longer than the date when the departure from Germany will take place, but also not to engage in any activity that will provide an income obtained on the German territory.
Moving to Germany from Australia on a long-term basis
In the case in which we refer to long-term relocation, which is defined as a stay with a duration of at least 90 days, then, the Australian citizens are required to apply for a visa. Foreigners should also consider that, when immigrating to Germany for a long-term period, they must apply for a residence permit.
This procedure will be completed after the arrival in the country by submitting personal identity papers and proof on the residential address in the German region where the person lives; you can find out in-depth information on the legal steps foreigners should take in this case from our immigration lawyer in Germany.
The visa application process starts by addressing the local embassy or consular mission of the Republic of Germany that is open in Australia. The application must be made in person and prior to this, the applicant must make an appointment with the German representatives working in Australia. It is worth knowing that the German migration law stipulates that only complete applications will be processed; if the person did not submit all the required papers, then he or she should make a new appointment.
In the case in which the person relocating to Germany from Australia relocates here on a long-term basis and travels with pets, please be aware that there are specific rules that pets have to comply with. Germany applies the EU laws regarding this issue and specific health regulations are imposed by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Australians who are interested in details about the conditions for residency can reach out to our experts.
Please get in touch with us if you want to apply for a residence permit in Germany. Depending on the cause for your move, we can provide a range of services. In either case, a residency permit is necessary for both short-term and long-term stays, so please get in touch with us at once.
How can Australians work in Germany?
Germany is one of EU’s top economy, which attracts workers from across the world, including talent and skilled workers. Foreigners moving to Germany from Australia can arrive in this country for employment purposes, but for this, they will need to obtain specific work permits.
Those who are highly-skilled specialists can opt for an EU Blue Card, which is a type of document that grants the right of residing and working in Germany. Because Germany has signed specific agreements with Australia, the citizens of Australia have the option of applying for a work visa after their arrival in Germany, an option which is open only for few other third country nationalities.
It can be said that relocating to Germany from Australia for employment purposes can be simpler for Australians, but they still have to prepare the same types of documents as needed by the local law. Since the launch of the EU Blue Card, Germany has been the country that issued the largest number of such permits. Below, you can find out information on the EU Blue Card and the number of Australians living in Germany:
• since 2012, when the EU Blue Card program was launched, Germany issued 85% of the total permits issued at an EU level;
• in 2018, the country issued 27,241 EU Blue Cards and the overall number, since the launch of the program, is of 104,000 permits;
• currently, approximately 13,500 Australians decided to immigrate to Germany from Australia;
• the share of men is slightly higher of the one of the women – there 7,375 men and 6,145 women;
• a large share of Australians lives in Berlin (1,965 men and 1,645 women).
Australians considering relocation to Germany are invited to contact our lawyer for professional assistance and advice on the documents that must be prepared for the immigration process. You can rely on the immigration services offered by our immigration lawyer in Germany, who can help you relocate to any region. If you have obtained German citizenship and need to know if you have the right to retain your former passport, the answer is yes. However, you need to consider the formalities you need to comply with in your country of origin. These aspects can also be discussed with our lawyers who can offer legal advice and support.
