Want to work in Germany? Our updated guide to work permits takes the pain out of the bureaucracy.

Citizens from the European Union and the European Economic Area have the good fortune to be able to seek work in Germany without a permit, but it is a far from simple process for everyone else. For many expats moving to Germany, arranging a work permit is what makes clear the difference in status between European citizens and those from non-EU nations.

German bureaucracy? It's a piece of cake with Expatica's Survival Guide to help

For an EU or EEA citizen, getting a work permit is a relatively easy procedure, in keeping with the process of creating a borderless Europe. You first have to arrange a residence permit (see How to get a residence permit in Germany for more details) and apply for an income tax card ('Lohnsteuerkarte') if you are going to be employed by a company on a contract.

For those planning to work freelance, all you need is a tax number which you can get from your local tax office ('Finanzamt').

But a non-EU citizen must clear more hurdles. Having gone through the same steps as EU and EEA citizens, he or she must then apply for a work permit ('Arbeitserlaubnis') at the labour office ('Arbeitsamt') in the area where his or her prospective employer is based. It is also possible to obtain work permits at some German diplomatic missions in other nations.

Exceptions to the rule

Spouses of EU citizens can be granted special work rights. Students are generally permitted to work up to 20 hours a week during semester and hold full-time jobs in the vacation. Members of a family who have moved to Germany because one partner has been transferred here are generally granted residence permits, but those seeking work are required to obtain permits. It might be best to let the authorities know you want one when you 're applying for the visa to come to Germany.

Budding expat entrepreneurs can obtain a residence permit which allows them to be self-employed or work freelance if the authorities consider that the proposed business will have a positive effect on the German economy or if the business meets a specific local need. A business is considered to be economically beneficial if there is an investment of EUR 1 million and the creation of ten jobs. Entrepreneurs whose business plans do not meet these conditions will have their residence permit applications evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

There are certain exceptions to this rule - for example, it is normally straightforward for Americans to get a residence permit which allows them to work freelance as English teachers.

See www.existenzgruender.de/migranten/englisch/ for more information on setting up a business as a foreigner.

A residence permit will normally be granted if you can demonstrate you are qualified for the occupation you want to take up and there is a reciprocity agreement with your home country. Senior company executives do not require work permits.

Prerequisites

There are several prerequisites for gaining a work permit in Germany. Apart from your residence permit, you must have a letter from your employer. Sometimes employers are required to prove to the employment office that they have first attempted to fill your position with an EU or EEA national.

Granting a work permit to a non-EU citizen must not place Germans, EU or EEA citizens at a disadvantage on the jobs market. This essentially means a permit will only be granted if no comparable EU or EEA employee is available.

Green cards

Considering the present grim state of the German labour market, a significant problem for anyone interested in working here at the moment is finding a job at all.

However, the government has been taking steps to free up regulations surrounding the labour market. This has included the introduction in August 2000 of US-style 'green cards 'aimed at filling the gaps in the labour force by drawing in IT and high-tech specialists. Under the green card scheme, foreigners and their families are permitted to come to Germany for a maximum of five years to work in the IT sector.

In a bid to stamp out the growing practice of avoiding tax and social insurance payments with 'grey economy' jobs, Berlin has created so-called 'EUR 400' part-time jobs. These involve all kinds of work, from cleaning to being an express courier or a gardener.

New immigration law

Berlin has moved to liberalise the granting of German citizenship. At the same time, the government has introduced a land immigration law, which includes enticements to highly skilled foreigners to come to Germany and measures to attract those wanting to establish businesses in Europe's biggest economy.

As part of efforts aimed at integrating foreigners living in Germany, the state is to pick up most of the tab on language courses. In addition the new law reforms the rules on granting asylum and makes possible fast-track expulsion of foreigners deemed a security threat.

Where to look for work

If you are seeking work in Germany, you should consult the Central Placement Office of the Federal Institute for Employment (ZAV).The ZAV is responsible for placing applicants from abroad with German firms, as well as placing German applicants with firms abroad.

All the major temporary-employment agencies are represented in Germany.

Depending on the job you are after, the best place to find work can often still be the classified sections of major newspapers and city magazines.

How to apply

Actually applying for a job is a complicated business in most circumstances, with most applicants expected to provide detailed written evidence and evaluations of their progress through the workplace as well as copies of university and school certificates — plus sometimes two passport photos.

In addition, because the German system places strong emphasis on training programmes, in many instances those applying for jobs will be expected to spell out in great detail the training they have undergone. Even those working in shops and department stores have to have gone through two years of 'Ausbildung' (training).

Unless you are applying for a job for which language skills are not important, it is probably best to make sure that at least your covering letter and CV are in German. Note that German CVs are quite different from English-language CVs and resumes, with experience given in chronological (rather than reverse chronological order) and much more personal information included, such as date and place of birth and marital status. If possible, get a German friend to check your CV before you send it out.

Job interviews conducted in Germany tend to follow a similar pattern to those in other nations, except that a representative of the so-called 'Betriebsrat' (the company or office works council) might sit in on the interview. The Betriebsrat is a very strong and established part of the German industrial relations system, and a representative present at your interview is aimed at protecting your rights.

Internet:

Zentralstelle für Arbeitsvermittlung der Bundesanstalt für Arbeit (ZAV)
53107 Bonn
Tel: 0228 713 0
Fax: 0228 713 1111
www.arbeitsamt.de

A version of this article appears in the new edition of Expatica's Expat Survival Guide.

5 April 2006

Copyright Expatica 2006

Subject: work permits in Germany, working in Germany, moving to Germany, jobs in Germany