Whether you are allowed to work in Germany or not depends on your nationality.
EU & EEA Citizens
If you are from the EU or an EEA country, you do not need a work visa or residence permit to live and work in Germany. Thanks to the Act on the General Freedom of Movement for EU Citizens, you have access to the German job market in the same way Germans do.
However, you are obligated to register your address with your local authorities if you stay longer than three months.
Related government guide: Freedom of Movement
Non-EU Citizens
All non-EU citizens require a work permit to take up employment in Germany. However, whether or not you need a work visa to enter Germany or whether you can apply for your work permit from within Germany depends on your nationality.
When moving to Germany from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, the UK, or the Republic of Korea, you may enter Germany as a tourist without a visa and then apply for your residence work permit from within Germany within 90 days of your stay in Germany.
Besides the nationalities mentioned above, everyone else requires a work visa to enter Germany to start employment. Therefore, you will need a job contract from a company based in Germany before you can plan your actual move. This also applies to applicants for the EU Blue Card.
Related government guide:
Visa regulations to enter Germany
FAQ About Working and Living in Germany
Applying for a work VISA (alone and funded by an employer)
Applying for your entry visa to Germany is the first bureaucratic hurdle you need to take.
We have outlined who needs a visa to enter Germany in the sections underneath ‘Eligibility to work in Germany’.
Nevertheless, please follow the guidelines and requirements given by your closest German embassy or consulate, as they will be the ones handling your application.
Ideally, you book an appointment with your closest German mission as soon as you have succeeded in getting a job contract in Germany. Unfortunately, you sometimes have to wait weeks to get an appointment. You can use this waiting time to get all the needed documents ready.
Generally speaking, these are the documents you should prepare for your application, regardless of your visa type:
- German Health Insurance
- Valid Passport
- 2-3 valid biometric photos
- Completed application form (visa type specific)
- Proof of financial means (e.g., work contract, bank statement, letter of sponsorship)
You will most likely require more documents depending on your nationality. Therefore, it is crucial that you follow the guidelines and requirements given by your responsible German embassy or consulate. Only visa applications that include all necessary documents (original and two copies each) will be processed.
❗️ Important Notice: If you require a personal interview, your passport will remain with the embassy during the duration of the processing time. So do not make any other travel plans for which you need your passport during that time.
Related government guide:
Visa regulations to enter Germany
Find a German Mission abroad
Visa Requirements Checklist (Examples from the German Mission in India)