{"id":170462,"date":"2018-09-16T13:07:30","date_gmt":"2018-09-16T11:07:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/berlinstartupjobs.com\/?page_id=170462"},"modified":"2022-04-26T10:31:45","modified_gmt":"2022-04-26T08:31:45","slug":"types-of-german-work-permits-and-how-to-get-one","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/berlinstartupjobs.com\/de\/guide-working-in-berlin\/types-of-german-work-permits-and-how-to-get-one\/","title":{"rendered":"Types of German Work Permits and How To Get One"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ask any non-EU national about their experiences of the Ausl\u00e4nderbeh\u00f6rde<\/em> or Foreigners\u2019 Office and you\u2019re likely to hear a litany of horror stories of Kafkaesque proportions. However, it\u2019s really not as bad as all that as long as you have your ducks in a row\u2026 and are prepared to queue for a very long time.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the skinny.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re from within the EU, Switzerland, or the EEA (European Economic Area), i.e. from Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland<\/h3>\n

Whether you\u2019re an employee, self-employed, or a business owner, if you\u2019re from an EU country, you just have to book a flight, find a job, and show up. You\u2019ll just need to carry a passport or valid ID in order to register your residence once you arrive in Berlin. Sweet deal.<\/p>\n

Now, please spare a thought for those who have to apply for visas in order to live and work in Berlin.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re from Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand or the USA<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re from any of the above countries, you can enter Germany without a visa. However, if you intend to stay you must immediately register at the\u00a0Ausl\u00e4nderbeh\u00f6rde<\/em><\/a> or Foreigners\u2019 Office to get a residence permit. Only people from this list of countries can enter Germany, take up residence and apply for a work permit before having been offered a job.<\/p>\n

All other non-EU nationals<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re from a country other than those included above, you must have a visa before you step on German soil. Make sure you apply for the correct visa as a short stay visa cannot be converted into a longer term visa after it has been awarded. In order to apply for any visa, you\u2019ll need to provide proof that a German company or institution has offered you a job, or a place on a study programme.<\/p>\n

Different types of work permits in Germany<\/h2>\n

Temporary Residence Permit<\/h3>\n

A temporary or limited residence permit allows you to stay in Germany for usually up to one year. However, you have the opportunity to extend this permit provided there has been no major change to your situation and that you continue to fulfill the requirements. This visa is the most common one that foreign nationals receive upon arriving in Germany and creates the basis on which you can submit future, more long-term visa applications. This kind of visa is granted on the basis of a specific purpose. So, for example, if you\u2019re granted a visa to complete your studies, you may not also work during that period, with some exceptions.<\/p>\n

There are three different types of temporary residence permits:<\/p>\n