Guide to the Germany Employment Visa Process 2023

If you’re an international individual seeking to work in Germany, this guide will walk you through the process of obtaining a residence permit for employment in the country for 2023.

Overview: Germany offers numerous work opportunities due to a shortage of skilled labour. In 2021 alone, 304,7736 foreign nationals obtained work visas. Two notable options for potential employees are the German Job Seeker Visa and the Germany Opportunity Card.

Essentials of the Germany Employment Visa 2023:

• Target Country: Germany
• Visa Category: Germany Gainful Employment Visa
• Type: National Visa (Long-duration stay)

Germany Gainful Employment Visa: This visa is designed for individuals who have secured a job offer in Germany. Once you have such an offer, you can proceed with the visa application.

German Long Stay Visa: Intending to work in Germany for over 90 days? You’d require the German Long Stay Visa.

Exemptions from the Visa Requirement:

1. Citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area, and the European Free Trade Association are free from any visa obligations to work in Germany.
2. Nationals from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the UK, and the USA don’t need a visa to enter. However, they should apply for a residence permit post-arrival.
3. All other global citizens need to secure a visa via the German consulate before landing in Germany.

Eligible Occupations: While most professions qualify for the Germany Employment Visa, nursing is an exception with its distinct visa. Predominantly, professionals like engineers, IT specialists, scientists, doctors, educators, lawyers, and accountants tend to apply.

Visa Cost: The standard application fee is EUR 75.

Processing Duration: Expect a few months of processing for visas that permit longer stays or employment.

Visa Validity: The Germany Long-Term Visa lasts a year and is renewable. The period of the residence permit is based on the employment contract. After 4 years, you may apply for permanent residence.

Requirements for the German Long Stay Visa:

• Possess a job offer from a German company.
• Have either a vocational training certificate or a university degree.
• Recognize and assess your qualifications, a process termed “equivalence assessment”.

Germany Employment Visa Process 2023: Steps to Follow

1. Secure a job offer.
2. Ensure you meet the income prerequisites.
3. Assess the equivalence of your foreign academic or vocational credentials.
4. Schedule an appointment with the German embassy and collate the necessary documents.
5. Submit the visa application and remit the fee.
6. Travel to Germany.
7. Apply for a residence permit post-arrival.

Application Procedure: Collect the application forms for the German Long Stay Visa either from the German Federal Office’s official site or your country’s German Embassy website.

Job Portals for German Opportunities:

• Work in Germany
• Job Listings
• Searching for Employment in Germany
• EURES Germany Job Board
• Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Germany 2023

You can also scout for roles directly on German companies’ official sites.

If You’re Without a Job Offer: In such cases, consider applying for the German Job Seeker Visa

Germany boasts a robust job market and there are several job portals tailored specifically for job seekers looking to work in the country. Here’s a list of some of the most popular job portals in Germany:

1. StepStone: One of the most widely used job boards in Germany, offering listings for diverse sectors.
2. Monster Deutschland: The German arm of the international job portal.
3. Indeed Deutschland: A popular global job search engine, with a dedicated section for Germany.
4. XING: Often considered the German counterpart to LinkedIn, it’s a networking site where professionals can also find job listings.
5. Jobbörse der Bundesagentur für Arbeit: The Federal Employment Agency’s official job portal, providing a large number of listings.
6. Glassdoor Deutschland: Known for company reviews, Glassdoor also offers job listings and has a version dedicated to Germany.
7. JobScout24: A popular job portal offering listings across a variety of sectors.
8. Kimeta: A German job search engine that collates postings from various websites.
9. Jobware: This portal is tailored for specialists and executives.
10. Stellenanzeigen.de: Features job ads from across Germany from various sectors.
11. Absolventa: Focused on internships, trainee positions, and direct entry jobs for students and recent graduates.
12. Praktikum.info: A platform primarily for internship listings.
13. Jobvector: Tailored for scientists, engineers, and health professionals.
14. Hotelcareer: Specialized for jobs in the hospitality sector.
15. Medi-Jobs: A niche site for medical jobs in Germany.
16. IT-Treff: For IT job listings.
17. Regio-Jobanzeiger: Useful for finding jobs in specific cities or regions in Germany.
18. Honeypot: A job platform specifically for tech professionals.
19. EURES: The European Job Mobility Portal, which offers job listings for those wanting to work across the EU, including Germany.
20. Kununu: Like Glassdoor, Kununu offers company reviews and job listings.

When seeking employment in Germany, it’s beneficial to use a combination of these job portals, depending on your sector and level of expertise. Additionally, for specific industries or roles, there might be niche job boards or specialized agencies that can be of great help.