Employment in Trier

Job Hunting in Trier

Provided you are not being sent to Trier by your existing employer, the best and fastest way to seek out jobs before your arrival is online, on websites such as Indeed, Monster, Xing or Linked. Perhaps your friends in your home country have connections or networking contacts you can get in touch with. It may also be worth your while to seek out other expats and learn about their employment journey — perhaps they taught English, for example. Visa allowing, be prepared to start out doing something that is perhaps not part of your chosen career path or that does not match your qualifications, but appreciate that you may get something new out of it, such as improving your German skills.

When you arrive in Trier itself, you may also find that it helps to sign up to the local job agency (run by the government). This offers a number of services — among other things, you may be able to seek advice on matters such as translating qualifications from your home country.

The template of a German resume may be different to that of your own country, too. It is best to send out your resume when it matches the local standards, in order to convince employers that you are a smart individual who is keen to integrate. In Germany, for example, it is common for applicants to include a photograph of themselves in the top corner of their resume, and one may even list volunteer work or honorary posts at the end. Again, this is something the local job agency may be able to advise on.

Work Permits for Trier

If you are not a European Union passport holder or hailing from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, or Norway, then you must apply for a German residence visa in order to work in Trier. You can do this in advance at the German embassy in your country. Citizens of certain countries, such as the United States and Canada, can apply after arriving in Germany without a visa by visiting the foreigners’ office in Trier. Once your residence visa has been issued, this also means you are able to work in Germany until the visa expires. If you wish to extend it, you must arrange this well in advance of the visa’s expiration date.

If you are a European Union citizen (or from one of the aforementioned countries), acquiring a tax number for employment is all there is to it. You can do this when registering your residence at the office. Just remember to check the box on the registration form saying you also require a tax number. Third-country nationals with a visa obviously also have to register their residence and get a tax number.

If you wish to take up freelance work or set up a business while living in Trier, you must apply for a freelance visa. This may or may not be approved according to certain requirements, such as whether there is a large demand for this type of work in Germany. It may be useful to consult a relocation specialist in order to find the type of visa that meets your needs.

Income Taxation in Trier

The tax rate in Germany ranges from 14% to 45% depending on your earnings. Your tax class depends, among other things, on your marital status. Your monthly income is then taxed by your employer according to German taxation and social security regulations — for example, some of it will go into your health insurance policy, and some into your retirement fund.

Depending on how much you earn and on how long you stay on the German pension system, you may be able to claim some of it back when you return to your home country. You should also check for the existence of so-called Social Security or Tax Agreements between Germany and your country of origin in order to make the most of your social security payments and to avoid double taxation.

For more information on these topics, please refer to our dedicated section on taxation and social security in Germany.