Who Needs a Visa
Do I need a visa to work in Germany? And which visa regulations apply to me if I want to study or train in Germany? For many, these questions top the list of enquiries when considering looking for a job in Germany and planning the next stage in their career. The answer in a nutshell is: whether or not you need to apply for a visa, and which one, depends on which country you come from and what professional qualifications you have.
EU/EFTA nationals
As citizens of the EU with the right to Freedom of Movement, you have unrestricted access to the German labour market. You do not need a visa or a Residence Permit either to enter or work in Germany. The same applies if you come from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
Nationals of non-EU/non-EFTA states
Nationals of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand or the USA may enter Germany even without a visa and apply for a Residence Permit giving entitlement to work before taking up employment. Only nationals of these countries can apply to their local foreign nationals’ registration authority after having already entered Germany. If you want to take up employment shortly after entering Germany, you are recommended to apply for the right kind of visa before doing so. Nationals of all other third-party states must apply for a visa from their local German mission abroad before travelling to Germany.
Entry Visa Process
You apply for a visa at the German embassy in your country. Make sure that you apply for the visa that corresponds to the actual purpose of your stay. This is the only way to ensure trouble-free extension or conversion of your visa by the foreign nationals’ registration authority of your place of residence in Germany. For example, it is impossible to stay permanently on a visa that was issued only for a temporary stay.
The best thing to do is to inquire in plenty of time to the German Embassy in your country about which documents you need for your application.
Fees For Visas & Residence Permit
If you wish to apply for a visa or a temporary or permanent residence permit, you will usually have to pay a fee. The amount depends on the place, duration and purpose of your stay.
The fee for visa of any category is 75 euros. As a general rule, you can pay this to the German mission abroad in your local currency.The maximum fee for a first application for a residence permit and EU Blue Card is 140 euros. The fee for a settlement permit is 260 euros.
However, under certain circumstances you can get a reduction or even be exempted from the fee altogether. For example, the spouses and children of German nationals are exempt from visa fees. Also, if your stay in Germany is funded by a public scholarship, you do not have to pay any visa fees. You can find out more about this from the German mission abroad in your country (visa fees) or your local foreign nationals’ registration authority (fees for temporary or permanent residence permits). The Federal Foreign Office also provides a list of visa fees.
Download Visa Application in German – English
A residence permit entitles people from abroad to enter and reside in Germany. Residence permits may be granted in the form of a visa, residence permit, an EU Blue Card, a settlement permit, or a permanent EC residence permit.
The EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU) is a residence title for academics outside the EU who wish to work in an EU member state. To obtain an EU Blue Card, applicants are required to have a university degree and a work contract which meets the minimum gross salary requirement.