Different Types Of Visas You Need To Work In Germany, And How To Get Them
Host Country
GERMANY
Target audience
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
Program Overview
Germany is easily Europe’s largest economy and therefore offers many career opportunities for fresh university graduates and young professionals seeking a better life. Besides the obvious economic attractions to Germany, there are also social benefits that come with living and working in Germany, including diverse culture and plural society.
In this article, Campuslifestyle.org takes you through the different types of work permits (visas) one needs to legally study and/or work in Germany. But first, let’s start with who needs and who doesn’t need a visa to work in Germany.
Who needs a visa to work in Germany?
You will need a German visa if:
– You want to live and work in Germany and you’re not a citizen or permanent resident of Germany, the European Union, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, or
– You reside in Germany but on a visa that prohibits you from working in Germany. For example, holders of the German freelance visa can work in German as freelancers, but cannot be employed as a proper employee.
You do not need a German visa if:
– You are a citizen or permanent resident of Germany, the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland
– You are in Germany on a student visa. The German student visa allows you to work, but only for up to 120 days or 240 half days per year.
Not that, unlike other European countries, you do not need to speak German to get a German work visa. Now, we take a quick round down of various visa options for opportunities in Germany.
ALSO READ: How To Apply For a Visa In Germany
Working Holiday Visa
This facility is available to citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
Such citizens must be aged 18 or older but not more than 30 years, and it allows up to one year of working in Germany. The Working Holiday visa is pretty fast to obtain if all your documentation is in good order. Find application requirements and guidelines here.
Youth Mobility Visa
This visa option is only available to Canadian youths aged 18 to 35 years old. You apply for the Youth Mobility Visa while still in Canada or so so while already in Germany.
Just like the Working Holiday visa, it allows up to a year of working in Germany, except that it is relatively easier to obtain.
Read here for more on the Youth Mobility Visa for Canadian citizens.
Freelance Visa
The name of this visa is self-explanatory. If you are a business person, freelancer, or self-employed and willing to live and work in Germany, this one is for you.
It has its own requirements and limitations, which you can find here.
ALSO READ: LEADING VISA SPONSORSHIP JOBS IN GERMANY 2023: APPLY NOW!
The EU Blue Card
This is what most professionals who hold a university degree will have to apply for before being allowed to work in Germany.
Put simply, the EU Blue Card is Europe’s equivalent to the US Green Card. The EU Blue Card is a work- and residence permit for non-EU/EEA nationals.
The Blue Card is only offered to applicants who have a university degree and have skills that are deemed beneficial to the German community
The Blue Card visa comes with plenty of benefits including that you can change employment without updating the visa; it is quicker to obtain and allows free movement within the EU territory. It also is a sure way to apply for permanent residency in Germany, should you need that along the line.
Note that because of its immense benefits, the Blue Card comes with rather stringent requirements. Still, it provides comprehensive socio-economic rights and a path toward permanent residence and EU citizenship.
Read here to know more about the EU Blue card visa.
Now that you know the various visa permits that allow you to work in Germany, your next step should be picking the best route with the least possible hassles.
A good start is to check with your local German mission. You may also access the many online resources and portals for further guidance, or consult immigration experts in your area.
– Find more of these helpful career tips on Campuslifestyle.org.
– Follow our Telegram channel to stay updated on our latest articles.
Also Read: UNAIDS General Service Vacancies are available For Bonn Germany & Ukraine. (Nov-Dec 2023 Update.)
Also Read: GERMANY FULLY FUNDED SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2023 FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS: APPLY NOW!
Join our Telegram | Follow us on Linkedin | Also, Follow us on Twitter. | Join Our Whatsapp Group
God bless and All the best !!
