Before starting an employment activity, you need a residence permit that allows you to engage in that employment*. You must apply for a visa at the German diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate) responsible for your place of residence before entering the country**. In most cases, the visa can only be issued if the Federal Employment Agency has given its approval. This approval is usually obtained by the diplomatic mission. If all conditions are met, you will receive a national visa with a specified validity. During this time, you must apply for a long-term residence permit at the immigration office in your new place of residence.

* This does not apply if you have the right to free movement under European law. Nationals from the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland have the right to free movement; they can enter Germany without a visa and do not need permission to take up employment. Accompanying family members from third countries usually require an entry visa through a simplified procedure and enjoy the same privileges as their family members who have the right to free movement after entering.

** If you are a citizen of Australia, the United Kingdom, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, or the United States of America, you can enter without a visa. You can apply for your domestic residence permit at the immigration office in your future German place of residence. If you wish to work immediately upon entry or begin your employment before obtaining your domestic residence permit, you must apply for a visa that permits that employment.

You can obtain a residence permit for employment as a skilled worker if:

Your foreign qualification has been recognized*;
You have already received a specific job offer. Please ask your future employer to complete the form “Declaration of Employment Relationship”;
You have received (or have been assured) the professional license to practice if you want to work in a so-called regulated profession** (e.g., in healthcare);
You meet the general immigration requirements, such as a valid passport, secure livelihood, etc.

You should only submit your visa application once you meet all the requirements and can provide complete documents. If your foreign qualification has not yet been recognized, your visa application cannot be processed.

If you completed your vocational training or higher education in Germany, recognition is not required. Various authorities are responsible for the recognition of foreign qualifications. You can find information at:

- www.make-it-in-germany.com
- www.Anerkennung-in-Deutschland.de
- Hotline “Working and Living in Germany”: +49 30 1815 - 1111
- Central Office for Foreign Education
* If you hold a higher education degree and wish to work in a non-regulated profession, it may be sufficient for your degree to be listed in the anabin database. More information can be found here: https://anabin.kmk.org/anabin.html

For skilled workers, the employment relationship in Germany must be subject to social insurance. Special provisions apply for secondments.

** Information on regulated professions can be found at www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de and here: https://web.arbeitsagentur.de/berufenet/ergebnisseite/reglementierte-berufe?berufecluster=reglementiert. The authorities that grant the professional license also decide on the recognition of your qualification.

You can apply for a residence permit for researchers if you have entered into an agreement with a public or private research institution for a research project. A special procedure for the recognition of your qualifications is not required. However, you must have obtained at least one higher education degree that grants access to doctoral programs. The residence permit for researchers does not necessarily require an employment contract; for example, scholarship holders can also apply for it. If you also meet the requirements for the EU Blue Card, you can choose between this and the residence permit for researchers.

You can find more information here.

Regardless of qualifications as a skilled worker, residence permits can be issued for occupations regulated by the Employment Regulation. This includes, for example, executives in companies, certain secondments, professional drivers, specialty cooks, artists, athletes, certain internships, and contract workers (see also: https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/de/visum-aufenthalt/arten/weitere).

Professionally experienced individuals with foreign vocational training or higher education degrees that are not formally recognized in Germany can also obtain a residence permit for employment; see: https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/de/visum-aufenthalt/arten/visum-berufserfahrene

In addition, nationals from certain countries* can be admitted for any employment. If you wish to work in a regulated profession, the professional license must be issued or assured in any case. In most cases, the Federal Employment Agency must approve. For secondments (intra-company transfers) of executives, specialists, and trainees, an ICT card can be issued.

* The following countries are included:
Andorra, Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, Republic of Korea, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, USA (§ 26 Abs. 1 Beschäftigungsverordnung), as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia (§ 26 Abs. 2 Beschäftigungsverordnung).

With the “Chancenkarte” (Opportunity Card) introduced on June 1, 2024, you can stay in Germany for up to 12 months to look for a job or to pursue recognition of foreign vocational qualifications. The Chancenkarte can be obtained in two ways: Third-country nationals who can demonstrate full equivalence of their foreign qualifications and are thus considered 'skilled workers' according to § 18 paragraph 3 of the Residence Act can apply for the Chancenkarte without further special requirements through our visa offices. In particular, no language skills need to be demonstrated. All others must provide proof of a foreign higher education degree, at least a two-year vocational qualification (both officially recognized in the country of training), or a professional qualification issued by a German Chamber of Commerce abroad. Additionally, either basic German (Level A1) or English language skills (Level B2) are required. This means that no German language skills are necessary as long as good English skills are proven.

If these requirements are met, you can earn points for criteria such as the recognition of qualifications in Germany, language skills, work experience, age, connection to Germany, and the potential of accompanying family or partners. To qualify for the Chancenkarte, you must achieve at least six points.

The Chancenkarte is issued for a maximum of 12 months, provided that your livelihood can be secured for this period. It offers opportunities for trial work or part-time employment of up to 20 hours per week during your stay in Germany.

For more information about the Chancenkarte and a self-check, visit 'Make it in Germany' (www.make-it-in-germany.com/de/visum-aufenthalt/arten/chancenkarte-jobsuche) as well as the websites of our diplomatic missions.

If you have completed your vocational training or higher education in Germany, recognition is not required. Various authorities are responsible for the recognition of foreign qualifications. Information can be found at:

- www.make-it-in-germany.com
- www.Anerkennung-in-Deutschland.de
- Hotline “Working and Living in Germany”: +49 30 1815 - 1111
- Central Office for Foreign Education

If you hold a higher education degree and wish to work in a non-regulated profession, it may be sufficient for your degree to be listed in the anabin database. More information can be found here: https://anabin.kmk.org/anabin.html

If your foreign vocational qualification is not fully recognized and deficiencies compared to the corresponding German qualification have been identified, you have the option to complete qualification measures in Germany that allow for full recognition of your training. The stay for such adjustment measures is possible for 24 months, extendable to a maximum of three years. A prerequisite is that you have German language skills, typically at least at Level A2. Employment is possible alongside the adjustment measure, albeit with restrictions.

Within a so-called recognition partnership, it is also possible to initiate the recognition procedure after entry, but to start employment at the beginning of your stay. A prerequisite is that you must first have a foreign vocational qualification that is officially recognized in the country where it was obtained. If it is a foreign vocational training, it must also have a minimum training duration of two years. By entering into the recognition partnership, the employee commits to promptly initiate the recognition procedure after entry, aiming to establish the equivalence of their qualification. At the same time, the employer commits to enabling any deficiencies identified in the recognition process to be addressed. The employee must also have German language skills at least at Level A2. A stay within a recognition partnership can last up to three years.

Through placement agreements that the Federal Employment Agency establishes with labor administrations in selected countries for specific occupational groups, it is possible to carry out the recognition procedure in Germany while simultaneously exercising the intended employment.

Yes, you can also enter Germany for a school-based or company-based vocational training program. It is also possible to attend a preparatory or vocational language course. For the start of a qualified training program, you must demonstrate German language skills at least at Level B1. This requirement does not apply if the necessary language skills are to be acquired through a preparatory language course or if they have been confirmed by the educational institution.

In addition to training, employment of up to twenty hours per week is permitted.

If you are not older than 35 years, you can also enter Germany to search for a training position; for this, you will need, among other things, German language skills at Level B1 and a school diploma from a German school abroad or a diploma that qualifies for university admission. Such a stay is possible for up to nine months.

If you have already found an employer, you can authorize them to apply for the expedited skilled worker procedure* at the immigration office in the location where you will be working. The immigration office will advise your employer and assist them in applying for the recognition of your foreign qualification. They will obtain approval from the Federal Employment Agency. The recognition authorities and the Federal Employment Agency must make decisions within specific deadlines. The fee for this procedure is 411 euros, plus additional fees for the recognition of the qualification. If all the conditions that can be checked domestically are met, the immigration office will issue a so-called preliminary approval, which your employer will send to you. Once you receive the preliminary approval, you can schedule an appointment at the foreign representation to apply for the visa, which must take place within three weeks. At this appointment, you must present the original preliminary approval along with other documents**. The foreign representation will typically decide on your visa application within three additional weeks. The visa fee is 75 euros.

* The expedited skilled worker procedure is available for:

- Skilled workers with vocational training
- Skilled workers with academic qualifications
- Highly qualified individuals
- Researchers/scientists
- Executives
- Vocational training
- Measures for the recognition of foreign vocational qualifications
- and certain other occupations (see https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/de/fachkraefteeinwanderung-mit-dem-beschleunigten-fachkraefteverfahren-wie-funktioniert-es)

** The list of documents that you must submit when applying can be found on the website of the respective foreign representation.

Information and advice are particularly available:

Through the federal government's information portal for skilled workers from abroad, Make it in Germany: www.make-it-in-germany.com
Through the federal government's information portal on recognition procedures for foreign vocational qualifications: www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de
At the recognition advice hotline “Working and Living in Germany” online or by phone at +49 30 1815 - 1111
At the Central Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA) (since March 1, 2020)
At various advisory services abroad (e.g., recognition advice within the framework of Pro Recognition at various chambers of commerce, an overview can be found at www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de).