Residence Permit for Employment
If you want to live and work in Germany, you need a residence permit with a work permit. This does not apply to nationals of member states of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. They enjoy unrestricted freedom of movement in Germany.
General information
The approval of the Federal Employment Agency is generally required before a residence permit for employment can be issued. Such a residence permit may only be issued if there is a specific job offer.
If you have a university degree that is recognized in Germany, you may be able to obtain the EU Blue Card, which offers a number of advantages. Find out more about the EU Blue Card in our article.
Please note that you may only take up employment after you have been issued a residence permit (visa or residence permit) with permission to work.
There are various ways of proving that you have sufficient qualifications for a residence permit for employment:
1. Work is based on a qualification
Requirements
Visa for the purpose to work
Exceptions
- Citizens of certain countries can apply for a residence permit after entering Germany. More on this in the article on visas.
- Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland enjoy unrestricted freedom of movement.
Recognized professional qualification or comparable university degree:
You must prove that you are in possession of a qualification recognized in Germany or that your qualification is comparable to a German university degree.
A license to practice is required for regulated professions.
A specific job offer from an employer in Germany:
It must be qualified employment. This means that a university degree or qualified vocational training in Germany is usually required to carry out this employment.
However, it is not essential that the work you will be doing matches your professional qualification. Marginal jobs do not meet the criteria for a residence permit for the purpose of employment.
2. work based on professional experience
Requirements
Visa for the purpose to work
Exceptions
- Citizens of certain countries can apply for a residence permit after entering Germany. More on this in the article on visas.
- Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland enjoy unrestricted freedom of movement.
Practical work experience:
You have at least two years of experience in the desired profession.
A university degree recognized in the country of training or a professional qualification with at least two years of training.
A qualification obtained abroad and issued by a German chamber of commerce ('Auslandshandelskammer') abroad can also fulfill the requirements.
Information for IT specialists
Proof of a vocational or university degree and German language skills are not required if you want to work here as an IT specialist.
A specific job offer from an employer in Germany:
It must be qualified employment. This means that a university degree or qualified vocational training in Germany is usually required to carry out this employment.
However, it is not essential that the work you will be doing matches your professional qualification. Marginal jobs do not meet the criteria for a residence permit for the purpose of employment.
Minimum salary:
A job offer must include a minimum salary of at least 40,770 euros (in 2024). If the employer is bound by a collective agreement, remuneration in accordance with the collective agreement is sufficient.
People over the age of 45
If you are over 45 years old and are traveling to Germany for the first time to take up employment here, special guidelines apply:
- Gross annual salary of at least 49,830 euros (in 2024)
- or an appropriate pension scheme.
