{"id":248200,"date":"2019-08-05T11:58:31","date_gmt":"2019-08-05T09:58:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/berlinstartupjobs.com\/?page_id=248200"},"modified":"2022-04-26T09:45:48","modified_gmt":"2022-04-26T07:45:48","slug":"work-residence-permit-visa-germany","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/berlinstartupjobs.com\/de\/moving-to-berlin\/work-residence-permit-visa-germany\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting a Work and Residence Permit in Germany"},"content":{"rendered":"

So you want to live and work here in Berlin, fantastic! Come on down, bring your passport and get right on the job hunt. IF you are from the EU, the EEA (Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein) or Switzerland, that is. Let\u2019s call them Category One Countries<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t qualify for category one, but do come from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea (South Korea) or the USA, then hey, Category Two<\/strong> ain\u2019t so bad. You are permitted to enter Germany without a visa and then register at the Ausl\u00e4nderbeh\u00f6rde<\/em> (Foreigners\u2019 Office) in order to apply for a residence permit.<\/p>\n

If one of the above applies, it means you\u2019re from one of what we\u2019re going to call the Category Three Countries<\/strong>. Whilst your country may be amazing, unfortunately it is kind of a bummer when it comes to applying for a work and residence permit here because it means that your \u2018welcome to Germany\u2019 gift is, you guessed it, a big ribbon-wrapped pile of bureaucracy! It basically means that before you can even set foot in Germany you will need to apply for an initial entry visa at your local German embassy.<\/p>\n

It is important to know that to live in Germany, if you are from either a Category Two or Three country, you will need a residence permit, which will then be inextricably linked to your work permit and vice versa.<\/strong> These residence permits come in three forms; for employment, to study, or for family reasons. The type of permit you apply for will dictate your permission to work. For example, if you apply for a temporary residence permit to study then that will be the purpose of your stay and therefore your working permission will be extremely limited.<\/p>\n

All residence permits can be extended, given there is no major change to your circumstances and you still meet the conditions, which means that they form the basis for any future, long-term visa applications, so choose wisely.<\/p>\n

If you want to live and work here, then you obviously want to apply for a residence permit for the purpose of employment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Residence Permit for the Purpose of Employment in Germany<\/h2>\n

A residence permit specifically for the purpose of employment means the length of your residence permit is generally tied to your work contract. If you have a one year contract, your residence permit will be one year. If your contract is extended you can also apply to extend your visa. It is one of the most common residence permits for foreign nationals arriving, but that is not to say it\u2019s easy to get.<\/p>\n

In order to even apply you need to have an employment contract and proof of residence in the form of a lease. \u201cWait, what<\/em>?!\u201d we hear you moan. And yes, it seems crazy. This is when being from a Category Three country starts to suck. Nationals from Category Two countries can enter Germany without a visa and apply from within the country, allowing time on the ground to find both a job and a place to live. Nationals from Category Three countries, however, cannot.<\/p>\n

If you are from a Category Three country, you will need to apply for a visa to enter Germany first. This is separate from the residence permit. You apply for that initial entry visa at the German embassy in your own country, which is a process in itself. If successful the visa will be granted for a set period, most likely 90 days, during which time you must make an appointment at the Ausl\u00e4nderbeh\u00f6rde<\/em> and get everything you need prepared in order to apply for your residence permit.<\/p>\n

Applying For The German Residence Permit<\/h3>\n

The fact that this residence permit is specifically for the purpose of employment means that it must be approved by the Bundesagentur f\u00fcr Arbeit<\/em> (Federal Employment Agency) in addition to the Ausl\u00e4nderbeh\u00f6rde<\/em> (Foreigners Office). Your permit will only be issued once both offices have approved your application.<\/p>\n

If your profession requires a license in order to practice then you must be able to present that license or evidence that the license will be issued.<\/p>\n

A personal interview by appointment at the Ausl\u00e4nderbeh\u00f6rde<\/em> is also required as a key part of the application process, as well as having your main residence in the part of Germany in which you are applying.<\/p>\n

In order to complete the application process you need:<\/strong><\/p>\n