The working visa for Germany is an immigration document that must be obtained by nationals of most third-party countries wishing to relocate here for this specific purpose. The German migration law provides for numerous types of visas, including employment. Foreigners applying for a visa issued for employment purposes should know that this document can be provided, as a general rule, only to those planning to stay here on a long-term basis (defined as any period of time longer than 90 days).
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The legislation regulating the types of visas that can be issued by the German authorities prescribes several types of documents issued to nationals of third-party countries wishing to work in this country. Our immigration lawyer in Germany can offer assistance on how to obtain any of the following working visas:
• visa for employment (a working visa in Germany) – issued when the foreigner has obtained a job offer from a local employer;
• visa for self-employed persons – issued for foreigners moving to Germany for the purpose of developing a small business;
• visas for jobseekers – addressed to those who intend to be employed in Germany, but who have not yet obtained a solid job offer;
• au pair working visa for Germany – issued for young persons interested in learning about the German culture;
• working holiday visa – a type of document that is available only for young persons working here for a definite period of time (the document is issued only for certain nationalities).
Foreigners considering relocation to Germany for employment purposes should know that they do not need to obtain a German working visa if they are citizens of the following: the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), Australia, Canada, the United States of America (USA), Switzerland, New Zealand, Israel, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
For employees who have been sent to Germany to work for a branch of the company they are employed by in their home country, a German ICT card serves as a temporary residence visa. It is valid for a maximum of 3 years of residence. This is another way of securing a German residence permit; however, it will be issued for a temporary stay.
Our lawyers can also provide support to people who decide to move to Germany from Canada permanently.
The prerequisites for moving to Germany for employment purposes as the citizen of a country outside the ones mentioned above require foreigners to apply for a residence permit, which can be issued for a short-term period of time – one can apply for it when requesting a working visa in Germany; those planning to relocate here for a long period of time can apply for a permanent residence permit as well.
Besides this basic condition, which can be explained by our immigration lawyer in Germany, foreigners must prepare the visa application form. The person must also have a solid employment offer and, in most cases, this is done through a signed employment contract with an employer based in Germany.
The procedure for obtaining a working visa in Germany starts by addressing a consulate or embassy in the country where the foreigner resides, which will also handle the processing of the application. The applicant should expect that the German authorities will be able to provide an answer in a period of one month and up to three months since the moment when the application being made.
The process of obtaining a working visa for Germany is regulated by specific rules of law, and those seeking employment here should also be aware that the regulations of the German Residence Act will apply. When applying for a residence permit through which foreigners will gain access to the employment market in this country, it must be noted that the approval of the Federal Employment Agency is necessary.
Germany is one of the best countries in Europe to work as a professional. From this point of view, non-EU/EEA citizens can apply for:
These visas are issued based on the following considerations:
Before choosing one of the visas presented before, you can ask for advice from our German immigration lawyers, who can offer information from a legal perspective.
One of the most sought working visas for Germany is the one for professionals. It addresses skilled people who can work in regulated professions and who have obtained a bachelor’s degree. Alternatively, applicants can move to Germany if they have at least 2 years of vocational training and a job offer from a local employer.
For candidates with academic studies:
Recognition of the qualifications is made with the Central Office for Foreign Education.
Our immigration lawyers in Germany can offer more information on the procedure and can assist with the gathering of the documents.
When it comes to experienced professionals, the same qualification requirements apply when filing for a German working visa. However, additional conditions must be met. Specifically:
There is also an exception to the university studies applicable to IT professionals with more than 2 years of experience.
You can rely on our local specialists for support in immigration to Germany based on a work visa.
According to the latest statistics, at the level of July 2025:
It must be noted that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reported that Germany is the most important labor market amongst countries with a similar economy, such as France, the Netherlands or Spain, with the highest rate of immigrants. We can also assist in citizenship matters.
Naturalization is the process of applying to become a citizen after a predetermined amount of time as a permanent resident in Germany. Not everyone can get naturalized because there are numerous limitations and qualifications. However, if you want to know how you stand with your application for German citizenship, you can get in touch with our lawyers.
For more details on how to receive a working visa in this country, we invite you to contact our immigration lawyer in Germany.