Taking up employment with work experience – overview
As a worker from a third country outside the EU, you can obtain a residence permit to take up employment with work experience in Germany – provided you meet the relevant requirements.
You generally need a visa for entry, which you can apply for online using the Consular Services Portal or you can go to your local German mission. The visa will state the purpose of your entry, which authorises you to take up employment in Germany after you enter the country. Information regarding possible exemptions from the visa requirement can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.
The visa is usually issued for a period of up to 12 months. For a longer-term stay in Germany for the purpose of gainful employment, you can apply for a residence permit at the local foreigners authority while your visa is still valid.
Please note:
Some German missions abroad work together with service providers to check applications. These service providers help to ensure that applications are processed quickly and smoothly and may charge a service fee for this. You will find out during the application process whether the German mission or consulate responsible for you works with a service provider and what service fee is charged.
The online application for a visa to take up employment with work experience
Register on the Consular Services Portal and apply online for your visa.
Visa to take up employment with work experience
a foreign degree or at least two years of training that is recognised by the state in which it was obtained (not required for work experience in the IT sector),
proof of at least two years’ work experience related to your qualifications, which you acquired within the last five years and which qualifies you to work in the desired professional field, and
a binding offer of employment in Germany with a minimum annual gross salary of EUR 40,770.
Further information regarding applying for and obtaining a visa
When applying, you will need proof that your professional qualification is recognised by the state in which it was obtained. You can obtain this information from the Central Office for Foreign Education. If you have completed training at a Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK) that fulfils the requirements of the German Vocational Training Act, this certificate is sufficient. The Chamber of Commerce Abroad or the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BiBB) can provide you with information on whether your qualification fulfils these requirements.
Gainful employment with work experience is only possible in non-regulated professions. In contrast to regulated professions, these professions are not protected by law. Most training occupations in Germany are not regulated. You can find out which professions are regulated in Germany on the website of the Federal Employment Agency (BA).
If your employment relationship is subject to a collective agreement and you are employed under the terms and conditions of the collective agreement, the above minimum salary requirement does not apply. Your future employer can tell you if such a collective agreement applies to your employment.
Does your employment contract provide for a minimum annual gross salary of EUR 41,041.80 (as of 2024) and do you have proof of at least three years’ work experience in the IT sector acquired within the last seven years? If so, you may be eligible for a Blue Card (EU) visa.
Still have questions?
Frequently asked questions and answers with more information on how to use the Consular Services Portal and the online application process can be found in our FAQ section. Take a look and see if you can find the answer to your question.
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