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Working in Germany: Permits and other Regulations

If you want to work in Germany as a foreigner, that is without German citizenship, there can be different regulations that vary depending on where you are from:

• Citizens of the "old" European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland:
  This regulation includes citizens from the old EU-states of Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Denmark, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Malta, Cyprus and the EEA-states of Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. These citizens can work in Germany without any constraints. They are favoured by the so-called unlimited freedom of movement for workers
• Citizens of the "new" EU-states, accession in 2004:
  Counting Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech, Hungary. Citizens from these countries, still, until 2011 at the latest, require a permit,so-called Arbeitsgenehmigung-EU, to be obtained at the responsible labour agency office in the local district of the employer. Having that, they enjoy unlimited freedom of movement for workers
• Citizens of "new" EU-countries, accession in 2007:
  Bulgaria and Romania. Citizens from these countries require a Arbeitsgenehmigung-EU from the labour agency until 2013
• Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Isreal, Japan and the Korean Republic:
  For working in Germay, these citizens require a registered stay status (Aufenhaltstitel), to be obtained after entering Germany at the communal foreigners authority ("Ausländerbehörde"). Only with an assigned Aufenthaltstitel, they are allowed to work
• Citizens from all other countries:
  Before entering Germany you have to apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate representing your country that is responsible for your place of residency. The embassy or consulate also can assign the stay-status ("Aufenhaltstitel" or "Aufenthaltserlaubnis") and obtains, for approval-requiring occupations, the work permission ("Arbeitsgenehmigung") from the labour agency. The standard procedure to get the permission can take several months. In how far the permission is finally granted depends on the applicant's qualification and the desired job. Legal basis is the regulation of admission of new-entering foreigners to exerting occupations (Verordnung über die Zulassung von neueinreisenden Ausländern zur Ausübung einer Beschäftigung)

The general principle that foreign job seekers face now is a boarding-stop, which makes it difficult for them to get into the German job market. The preferred workers are Germans or citizens with freedom of movement. Only when noone from the preferred countries is found, they will fall back on citizens from other states. Working permission is granted for maximum 3 years.

• To work in Germany, or study here, you must have a fixed abode and give notice of your being here to the local registration office, after you have entered the country and settled down
• Before you travel to Germany, if possible check what documents are required and already contact the responsible authorities
• Learn the German language and the cultural characteristics, e.g. concerning telephoning, manners, clothing etc.
• Talk to fellow countrymen who have been in Germany and have worked here
• Contact possible employers
• Calculate enough time for getting visum, stay status and working permission. Urge them by asking again and again
• As a student from a foreign country you are allowed to stay for 1 more year subsequent to your graduating, to find a suitable job
• If you have come to Germany before you turned 18 and have got a school leaving certificate, then you can work here without constraints
• Foreigners who have been working for 3 years or longer and have paid contributions into social security insurance, or who have been in Germany continuously and legally for 4 years or longer, are free to work in any job
• After 1 year of legal stay, foreigners and asylum-seekers can be admitted to working. Do have this sorted out with your labour agency office
• Familiarize yourself with tax regulations. Consider consulting a tax adviser
• In order to be paid an income, you are usually required to have a bank giro account. For getting the account at the bank, you must present them your registration certificate
• Bring your driving licence if you want to drive a car on the way to work or elsewhere. While EU-countries licences are constraintlessly valid in Germany, licences from other countries are mostly temporarily valid, some have to be transcribed. As an alternative, you can have a look at public transport
• Address yourself to the local tourist centre. A good place to get free info about your township and contact info of further supportive institutions that can help you
• Build up a circle of friends and aquaintances by attending pubs, restaurants, gyms, and other cultural institutions or events. Getting to know nice people with similar interests and hobbies is easy in associations and clubs. In Germany there is an association ("Verein") for nearly every kind of activity
• The day-care for children is normally provided in private or public kindergartens and schools. Get the addresses at municipal administration offices. Especially for kindergartens, capacities are rare and you can be forced to employ au-pair girls or private child care

• The Local - Germany's News in English
• Toytown Germany; Germany's English-speaking crowd
• trust7 - Information about Visa/Work Permits, Business Services, Forums

• Living and Working in Germany by Pamela Wilson
• Living & Working in germany: Settle in Quickly and Get the Most Out of Your Stay von Christine Hall und Nessa Loewenthal
• In the Know in Germany: The Indispensable Guide to Working and Living in Germany von Jennifer Phillips