A Guide to Visa Types and Work Permits in Germany

Jump right in:

• Work permits and employment-based visas
• Skilled migration and the European blue card
• Self-employment visas for Germany
• Family reunion visas
• Temporary and permanent residence permits

Work permits and employment-based visas

Can you work in Germany without a visa?

If you’re an EU citizen, you can work in Germany without a work visa as if you were a German citizen. Non-EU citizens need a visa or residence permit to take up employment.

German work permit fees and processes

The cost for a German work permit (employment visa) is 75 EUR (approx. 90 USD). You’ll need to complete Germany’s work permit visa (or employment visa) application form, called Antrag auf Erlaubnis einer Beschäftigung, and get a residence permit or Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels. You can apply for a visa of your interest through the Consular Service Portal.

Business visas

You’ll need a business visa if you want to come to Germany for business purposes and you’re not from the EU or a country included in the visa waiver program. A German business visa allows you to visit and stay in Germany for up to 90 days in six months. You need a business visa if you want to come to Germany to perform business, sign contracts, and go to meetings and other related appointments.

Skilled migration and the European blue card

The migration of employees from EU countries to Germany may not be enough to compensate for the lack of qualified employees. This means that there is an opportunity for skilled third-country nationals to get a work permit or a skilled worker visa (aka “EU Blue Card”).

If you have an undergraduate or graduate degree, and you have secured a job before you move to Germany, with a salary of at least 50,700 EUR (approx. 60,000 USD) — or 45,934 EUR (approx. 54,000 USD)  if you work in MINT or health professions — you are eligible for an EU Blue Card, which costs 100 EUR (approx. 120 USD) for the first issue.

The Blue Card allows individuals to stay in Germany for a maximum of four years. After 21 to 33 months, you may obtain a settlement permit (permanent residence permit). If you can already speak B1-level German, you might be accepted after just 21 months. Your spouse and dependent children are also allowed to enter the country as soon as you get a Blue Card. Your spouse is entitled to a work permit as well.

Graduates and shortage occupations

The law also makes it easier for prospective employees with vocational, rather than academic, qualifications to come to Germany to work. While this skills shortage presents a challenge for Germany, it presents an opportunity to skilled workers wanting to relocate there. Talent is being sought in countries like India, Mexico, and Vietnam.

If you have an academic qualification and professional experience in a field with a current shortage of qualified staff (e.g., IT, engineering, healthcare), also known as a “shortage occupation”, the minimum salary requirement needed to legally work in Germany is lower than demanded for other graduates as mentioned above.

Opinion

Overall, people don't “live to work” here. There is a very healthy work-life balance, and people value hobbies and who you are OUTSIDE of your career. (US American expat in Munich)

Opinion

Self-employment visas for Germany

You only need a German business or self-employment visa if you are coming to Germany temporarily and specifically to start a business. If you’re from a non-EU country, you can get a self-employment visa or “temporary residence permit”. It’s valid for up to three years.

After this three-year period, you can apply for a permanent “settlement permit”. You’ll have a good chance of a successful application if you have carried out your planned activity and have sufficient financial means to support yourself and any dependents living with you.

German self-employment visa types and process

If you want to come to Germany for long-term self-employment, you need to apply for a residence permit as well as permission to start a business at your local foreigners’ office in Germany. You’ll need to talk to experts about residence permits, labor, business, and tax laws before starting a business or becoming a freelancer in Germany. Moreover, if you’re from an EEA country, the US, Australia, or Canada, you can live and work in Germany for 90 days before getting a residence permit as long as you have a valid passport.

Germany self-employment visa application form

To apply to be self-employed or a freelancer in Germany, start by filling out this German visa application form.

German self-employment visa process

To get a German freelance visa, you must follow these steps:

1. Get health insurance.
2. Complete the Financing Plan and Capital Budget forms.
3. Schedule an appointment with the Foreigners Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde). You can often make appointments online. If you need your visa immediately, it’s best to go to the office in person. You might have to wait more than an hour.

You also need the following documents:

• passport
• the form called Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels (application for issuance of a residence permit)
• financing plan
• revenue forecast
• CV
• proof of qualifications, e.g. certificates
• professional certificates, if relevant
• any permits required for your profession, such as a certificate in hairdressing
• proof of health insurance coverage
• proof of earnings
• proof of accommodation
• If you’re older than 45, you’ll need proof of a pension plan, unless you’re from the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, the US, and Türkiye.

Germany self-employment visa requirements and costs

If you’re not from an EU member state, your application will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The following criteria will be verified:

• the viability of your business idea
• your business plan and previous experience
• your available capital
• a potential economic or regional need for your business activity

A freelancer visa for Germany costs 75–100 EUR (approx. 90–115 USD), and another 100 EUR for a residence permit.

If you’re from the US, Canada, or Australia, you can arrive in Germany before you apply for a freelancer visa. Please bear in mind that the process can take around three to four months.

Opinion

The work market in Germany is narrow and does not give individuals the chance to grow and develop. Once you are in your box, you are there to stay. (South African expat in Nuremberg)

Opinion

Family reunion visas

For most non-EU nationals, try to apply for a family reunification visa as early as you can, because it’s common for there to be a backlog of applications to be processed.

If you want to join a partner or relative in Germany, you could choose to go through the spouse or family reunion visa process. You can get permanent residency by joining a spouse or parent living in Germany.

Family reunion visa regulations

If you want to join your spouse in Germany on a family visa, you must be at least 18 years old. As a couple, you must fulfill these permanent resident visa requirements:

• Your spouse in Germany has a residence permit allowing them to work.
• Your spouse in Germany has health insurance cover and sufficient finances to support the family.
• Your spouse in Germany has accommodation big enough to house the family.
• In some cases, your spouse must prove basic knowledge of the German language.
• You have some knowledge of the German language.
• Your accompanying children must be younger than 18 and unmarried.

If you have immigrated as a skilled professional or you’re an EU/EEA national, none of this applies.

If the partner already living in Germany fulfills one of the following criteria, their spouse will not need to know the German language to obtain a visa or residence permit:

• has an EU Blue Card
• is in Germany as a researcher or highly skilled person

There are also separate regulations for nationals of the following countries: Andorra, Australia, Canada, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, South Korea, and the US.

If you want to get married in Germany, you and your fiancé(e) may need the following documents:

• passport
• birth certificate, and birth certificates of any children you have together
• proof you have been in Germany for at least 21 days (e.g. a Meldebescheinigung)
• application from the Standesamt or civil registration office (after you apply there in person with your partner)

The following may also be required:

• a Certificate of Freedom to Marry, No Marriage Affidavit, or Certificate of No Impediment, which proves you are single
• marriage certificates from any previous marriages
• proof of financial means, e.g. bank statements or salary slips

Usually, the person already residing in Germany should provide proof that they can financially support their family members who are joining them. You can give a declaration of commitment or a Verpflichtungserklärung (VE) to prove you have sufficient funds to support them.

The German authorities will assess if they believe you and your family have the means to support yourselves in Germany based on the evidence you provide.

How to get a family reunification visa

If you want to join your spouse or family member in Germany, you’ll need a visa. You must:

• apply at the German embassy or German consulate in your country
• register with the local Einwohnermeldeamt once you move to Germany

Your spouse or family member in Germany must go to their local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) and:

• show their passport
• show your marriage certificate or proof of your civil or registered partnership
• ask whether any additional documents are required

The family visa costs 75 EUR (approx. 90 USD) for adults and 37.50 (approx. 45 USD) for children under 18.

Temporary and permanent residence permits

To qualify for a permanent German residence permit, you must have lived in the country for at least five years. Until then, you’ll need to apply for a temporary residence permit. Regardless of their country of origin, all foreign residents from non-EU member states must have a residence permit for stays longer than 90 days. Note that a short-term (90-day) visa for visitors can only be extended under special circumstances, such as if you fall seriously ill before your intended date of departure.

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea can obtain a permit after arriving in Germany.

For a typical expat moving to Germany, the following residence permits may be of interest:

• temporary residence permit
• EU Blue Card
• EC long-term residence permit
• permanent settlement permit

Application for German temporary residence permit

A temporary residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) is generally valid from 6 months to several years depending if you’re coming here for study, work, or family reasons. How often it must be renewed depends on your employment status, occupation, and nationality. Keep in mind that it must be renewed before it expires, and it’s best to start the process 6–8 weeks before the expiration date.

Application process for a temporary residence permit:

1. Get an appointment at the local foreigners’ office.
2. Register your address in Germany (within 14 days of entering the country) and get your health insurance. Proof of address and health insurance is required for your application.
3. Prepare the required documents (see list below). Documents required will depend on the reason you’re applying for.
4. Fill out the application form, which you can find at your local foreigners’ office.
5. Submit your application and attend your appointment.
6. Retrieve your residence permit, which shows your right of residence in the country.

The processing time is usually 5–6 weeks.

Document list:

• valid passport
• proof of a clear criminal record (not always required)
• proof of financial means for your stay in Germany

For a study residence permit, you need an admission letter or certificate of enrollment.

For a work residence permit, you’ll also need:

• work contract
• proof of self-employment (if applicable)

For a family residence permit, you need the following:

• proof of marriage or relationship (e.g., marriage certificate, shared custody agreement, rental agreement, etc.).
• proof of language skills (at least an A1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages — CEFR)

German temporary residence permit fees

• Adults: 100 EUR (approx. 115 USD)
• Minors: 50 EUR (approx. 60 USD)

Due to the EU-Türkiye Association Agreement, Turkish nationals pay reduced fees.

How to get permanent residency in Germany

Nationals of EU or EEA member states do not need a residence permit. For those who do, the permanent residence permit fee for Germany stands at 113–147 EUR (approx. 130-170 USD) To apply, submit your application online to a local foreigners’ office (Ausländerbehörde) in your area.

If you have graduated from a German university and hold a temporary residence permit for paid employment, you can submit your German permanent residency application form after two years.

Germany permanent residence permit requirements and documents

To confirm your residency in Germany as a foreign national, the following documents may be required:

• your registration card from the municipal authorities (Einwohnermeldeamt)
• a valid passport
• recent biometric passport photographs
• for employees and jobseekers: an employment contract
• for students: an official confirmation of student enrollment at a local university
• for pensioners: proof of retirement benefits
• evidence of financial support (e.g. a student grant, letter from your employer, salary slip, or a recent bank statement)
• proof of health insurance plan
• birth certificate
• marriage certificate

If you’re not sure which documents to bring with you, call or email your local foreigners’ office. Last but not least, check with your nearest embassy or consulate if you need to register there as well. This is completely independent of any registration with the German authorities and depends on your country of origin’s own regulations.

Residency in Germany

All residents, whether they are German citizens, EU nationals, or third-country nationals, have to report their residence to the local authorities (Einwohnermeldeamt).

In many cities, you can register at a special municipal office (KVR, Bürgerbüro, Stadtbüro, Bürgerservice, Meldestelle, etc). There you receive a registration card — a paper slip with your address and the date of your move. This is not a substitute for a residence permit. It’s merely an official document that shows where you are currently living.

What documents are needed for local registration in Germany?

You need the following documents to register where you live in Germany:

• a simple registration form (which you can get at the town hall or download from their official website)
• a valid passport
• a copy of your contract for renting a home in Germany (or a written statement from whoever is providing your accommodation)

A landlord might ask you for a residence permit before handing out a rental agreement, to ensure that you are legally allowed to reside in the country on a long-term basis. In this case, you can register with the temporary address of your first residence (e.g. a hotel, a serviced apartment, or a friend’s home). Once you have obtained the official residence permit, a change of address requires minimal effort.