Germany Work Visa: Types, Fees & Application Requirements

Currently, Germany is the 4th largest economy in the world. As a center of innovation and research, this country needs hundreds of thousands of skilled migrants every year. Not only does Germany make the quickest visa decisions, but also has a great job market for Engineering and IT professionals. Hence the demand for a Germany work visa is always there!

Germany has the lowest unemployment rate in Europe, i.e, 3.1%. Most of the largest employers like BMW, Volkswagen, etc offer an average annual salary of 85,000 EUR (76 lakhs INR). But to earn the same, you would need a Germany work visa. Students, job seekers, or workers can apply for various types of visas to stay and study in Germany.

Germany Student Visa vs Work Permit

A Germany student visa is a document that allows one to enter a foreign country. However, to work in a foreign country, a work permit is needed. Germany offers various types of work permits to foreign citizens who want to work in the country and some of these include EU Blue cards, General Work permits, freelance work permits, etc.

Germany Work Visa: Benefits

Obtaining a Germany Work Visa can prove to be beneficial to Indian citizens in various ways. Some of the benefits of Germany Work Visa are.

• It allows one to settle in Germany.
• It offers an opportunity for a person to work in their fields.
• It allows visa holders to work for 2 years in Germany and extend validity upon completion of 2 years.
• It also allows one to apply for permanent residency in Germany.

Types of Germany Work Visa

Germany offers various types of visas to allow job seekers from all over the world to work in Germany. Types of Germany work visas are listed below.

Germany Job Seeker Visa

Job seekers who want to find work in Germany must apply for a job seeker visa. This visa allows foreign nationals to stay in the country for 6 months, find jobs in Germany and apply for a work permit. Those who already have found employment in Germany need not apply for a job seeker visa. Those who find a job in Germany based on a job seeker visa are then allowed to apply for an EU Blue Card.

Germany Job Seeker Visa: Eligibility

The below-mentioned eligibility requirements must be fulfilled before applying for a job seeker visa in Germany.

• Foreign nationals who need a visa to enter Germany are eligible to apply for a job seeker visa.
• A minimum of 5 years of work experience is required to apply for the visa.
• One must have enough financial resources to support staying in Germany.
• Proof of completed academic or vocational training is required to apply.
• Qualifications must be recognized in Germany or equivalent to diploma qualification in the country.

Germany Job Seeker Visa: Requirements

• Completed and signed job seeker visa application form.
• A valid passport issued within the last decade, containing at least two blank pages, and with a validity of at least three months
• Passport-size photographs
• Proof of accommodation for 6 months, such as hotel reservations, rental agreements, or an invitation letter if staying with a friend or relative.
• Evidence of finances to live comfortably in Germany, demonstrated through one of the following means:
  • A blocked account (Sperrkonto) under your name, showing a minimum balance of €934 per month.
  • A written commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from your sponsor, undertaking to cover your expenses.
• Valid travel health insurance providing at least €30,000 in medical coverage.
• Verification of academic and professional qualifications
• CV detailing personal information, academic achievements, and professional experience.
• A cover letter articulating your motivations for seeking employment in Germany and outlining your plans upon receiving the visa.

Here’s a Germany travel & accommodation guide to give you a brief idea about the local transport and other amenities.

EU Blue Card

EU Blue Card is a residence and work permit offered to non-EU nationals. This permit allows foreign residents to stay in Germany for 4 years. Applicants must possess a university educational qualification and must work in skilled professions in Germany. EU Blue card holders can apply for permanent settlement after completing 33 months of residence in Germany.

EU Blue Card: Eligibility

Eligibility requirements to apply for an EU Blue card are mentioned below.

• The applicant’s salary must be 1.5 times the national average salary in Germany. The minimum salary that the applicant is required to earn is 43,800 EUR (39 lakhs INR).
• Candidates applying for shortage jobs in science, medicine, engineering, IT, architecture, etc. must earn a minimum salary of 39,682.80 EUR (35 lakhs INR) annually.
• Applicants must possess recognized educational and professional qualifications.
• Applicants must have an appropriate job offer from a German employer.

Temporary Resident Permit

The temporary resident permit allows eligible foreign nationals to live, work and study in Germany for more than 90 days. If you have this permit, you can stay in Germany only for one year. However, after completing their studies, students can extend this permit for 18 months.

Temporary Resident Permit: Eligibility

To be eligible for a temporary resident permit, applicants must fulfill the below criteria.

• Applicants must hold a letter of acceptance from any recognized university in Germany.
• Applicants must have enough funds to support their studies in Germany.

Germany Work Visa Requirements & Application Process

The first step to applying for a Germany work visa is to fill the application form and fix an appointment with the embassy. The documents that are required to be put in order are :

• Passport
• Copy of passport data page
• 3 passport pictures with biometric specifications
• Cover letter explaining your plan-how you plan to find a job, alternative options if you fail to secure a job.
• Educational transcripts
• Work experience
• LOR
• CV
• Proof of accommodation
• Financial proofs- bank statement
• Language proficiency details
• Health Insurance
• Proof of the citizenship of your home country-birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc

The applicant needs to prepare three sets of documents and must carry original copies at the time of appointment.

Germany Work Visa Processing Time

A Germany work visa application typically requires a processing period of 1 to 3 months. The duration may vary based on the volume of applications received by the embassy and individual circumstances.

Germany Work Visa: Where to Apply?

Applicants can visit a German representative body in their country. This representative body must be responsible for visa admissions. Applicants can visit any of the below-mentioned offices to apply for a Germany work visa:

• A Visa Application Center
• German Embassy
• A German Consulate

Germany Work Visa Cost

To initiate the processing of your Germany visa, it is necessary to make a payment before your scheduled visa interview appointment. Fee details for a Germany work visa are discussed below.

Germany Work Visa: Minimum Fund Requirement

Before moving to Germany, you are required to deposit €11,208 (10 lakhs INR) into a bank account registered in Germany. This amount will be locked, and upon your arrival, you are only permitted to withdraw €934 (84,015 INR) monthly for your everyday needs, hence the term "blocked account" (Sperrkonto)

Arriving in Germany

After obtaining a Germany Work Visa, visa holders can freely travel to Germany. Upon arriving in Germany, individuals still need to follow some procedures to get their German Residence permit. For this, they must visit the nearest foreigner’s office in Germany and make an interview appointment. After that, applicants need to attend the interview and at the same time, they need to carry the below-mentioned documents with them.

• Valid passport.
• Application form for a residence permit.
• Two photographs.
• Proof of clean criminal record.
• German language proof.
• Proof of health insurance.
• Proof of job offer.

The visa granting system is well defined and transparent. If you fulfill all the requirements and gather the desired points, you should easily be able to get the Germany Work Visa!