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You are tired of searching for a job in a foreign country. You can no longer stand the employment websites or even recruiting agencies. Right now, you feel stuck in your home. But what about in-person interviews and face-to-face meetings with the employers? Traveling to a country, having fun, and finding a job. A German family visa allows you to stay in the country and look for a job. German employers suffer from a shortage of skilled workers. Germany will need three million skilled workers by 2030. You might be one of them.

This blog introduces if you can apply for a Germany job seeker visa or not, requirements, application process, FAQs, and more.

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Germany Job Seeker Visa

What is a Germany Job Seeker Visa?

Germany family visa or family reunification visa is a long-stay visa. It allows international workers to travel to the country and look for a job. The German government introduced it as a response to the shortage of skilled workers. It allows the face to face interview and meetings. Employers can meet and pick the workers better. Also, the workers have a chance to get familiar with Germany. They can practice language skills, as well. It’s a several bird one stone visa.

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Do You Need a Germany Job Seeker Visa?

Whether you need a Germany job seeker visa or not depends on your nationality. A few countries are free of a job seeker visa. It means they can enter Germany and search for a job without a visa:

  • The EU, EEA, and EFTA members
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • New Zealand
  • The United States of America

The nationals or residents of the above list do not need to apply for a Germany job seeker visa. Yet, they have to apply for a residence permit upon arrival to the country.

If your nationality does not come in the mentioned list, you have to apply for a job seeker visa.

Are you Eligible for Germany Job Seeker Visa?

You must comply with a few eligibility factors to be eligible for a Germany job seeker visa. They are as follows:

  • Having a Master’s Degree or Bachelor’s degree from a German educational center. A foreign equivalent degree is also acceptable.
  • Holding at least five years’ experience in your profession.
  • Having health insurance for the entire stay in Germany. It must be valid until you get a job in Germany. The purchased health insurance must cover your expenses for 30.000 EUR and repatriation.
  • Possessing enough funds to cover your expenses in Germany.

The mentioned items are a general standard set by German officials. They are subject to change. Also, the authorities might establish new or more items. Although German language proficiency is not a requirement, knowing basic German would be helpful. Knowing English is enough for a job seeker visa. Yet, knowing a bit German would raise your chance to find a job.

Germany Job Seeker Visa Application Process

The application process for Germany job seeker visa is as follows:

Being in need of a visa

Before you start applying for the Germany job seeker visa, figure out if you need one or not. The article explained that some countries are exempt from job seeker visa. It means their nationals can enter Germany with a passport and look for a job.

Eligibility

The article explained the eligibility criteria for a German job seeker visa above. If you do not comply with them, the officials will refuse your application. You could work to be eligible. Make sure you fulfill them before you do anything.

Application form

Complete the application form for a Germany job seeker visa. Once completed, print it twice, then date, and sign it.

Visa appointment

Find the closest German embassy or consulate. Schedule an appointment with them. The way to get an appointment depends on the embassy. You can reserve one by phone, through their website, or in person. Do not forget the date and time of the meeting. Being late, even for a few minutes, would be a shame.

Required documents

While you wait for the visa appointment, gather the requirements for the Germany job seeker visa. You could start collecting them even before setting the meeting. Remember that this stage could take a long time.

Interview

Once It’s time for the visa appointment, get there in person, and bring all the requirements. As mentioned earlier, try not to be late. Waiting for some time at the embassy will not be much of a problem. Being late could lead to canceling the appointment. Better to be safe than sorry. Submit all the gathered requirements to the officials.

Then, you have to pass an interview. The authorities will ask about your:

  • Background
  • Education
  • Family
  • Work experience
  • Children (if any)
  • The nature of your visit to Germany
  • Accommodation in Germany
  •  

Give the officials true answers. Trying to mislead them is not a good idea. If they suspect you are not honest, they might refuse your application.

Also, there is a cost for visa processing. Pay it to the officials.

Response

When you finish all the procedures with the embassy, it’s time to wait. Have patience until the authorities process your application. German job seeker visa processing time depends on various items. Yet, try to apply as soon as you can. The processing time will be longer if your documents are not complete or if the officials ask for more documents.

When the visa gets issued, the German embassy will send it to you. You might have to receive yourself from the embassy. It depends on the embassy you apply to. Also, the application could get denied. If so, the authorities will inform you why.

If you want to know how to immigrate to Germany as a nurse, read our article. 

Germany Job Seeker Visa Requirements

You have to submit a few supporting documents at the visa appointment. They are to prove you are honest with the provided information. The article has some details for each piece document. Read and follow each one of them. Incomplete requirements are a common mistake by applicants. You try to avoid it.

The requirements for a German job seeker visa are as follows:

Passport

It must have been issued in the latest ten years at the time of application. Also, it must be valid for at least one year from the date you will leave Germany.

Application form

Complete Germany job seeker visa online application form and print it twice.

Cover letter

It’s a letter to the German officials explaining:

  • The nature of your visit to Germany
  • How you are going to find a hob
  • The plans you have in case you can not find a job

Education certificate

Provide any certificate or diploma you have from non-German or German education centers.

Proof of work experience

CV/Resume

Providing a CV in German would be better. Some embassies accept the English translation as well.

Proof of accommodation

Proof of having enough funds

One of the following items will suffice:

  • Declaration of Commitment or formal obligation letter. A German national or resident accepts to provide your expenses while staying in Germany. The host must send a signed letter to you as proof.
  • Bank statements
  • Blocked bank account

You need at least €720 for each month of stay in Germany.

Personal documents

Health insurance

Photo

Do not forget to provide a German or English translation of the documents. A verified translator must certify the translations as well. Also, some embassies might ask for more documents. People with different occupations might have to provide more documents.

Keynote: Provide TWO COPIES of each original document.

You can immigrate to Germany as a software engineer, too. Read our article and learn how.

How Long is the Germany Job Seeker Valid for?

Germany job seeker visa is only valid for six months. You can not stay longer than that in the country. If you can not find a job at this time, you have to leave the country. Providing that you find a job, you must change your position. You have two options:

  1. Apply for an EU blue card, or
  2. Apply for a German work visa or residence permit.

Germany Job Seeker Cost 2020

The cost of a German job seeker visa is 75 EUR. Yet, it might be subject to change. The visa fee might also change in different countries. So be prepared to pay more. The German embassy might only accept cash, credit card, or both. Ask them how they receive the money.

If you want to know how to immigrate to Germany as a pharmacist, read our article. 

Can I Extend the German Job Seeker Visa?

The answer is NO. You have no right to extend the German job seeker visa. Providing that you can not find a job until six months, you have to return to your home country.

Can I Work with a Germany Job Seeker Visa?

No. When you receive the German job seeker visa, you can live in the country and look for a job. But you can not work in Germany. Its holders have permission to travel, visit companies or industries, take part in job interviews, and more. They can do anything to find a job. But job seekers can not work.

Is there an age limit for a German job seeker visa?

Yes. You have to be at least 18 to be eligible for the German job seeker visa. Younger applicants can not apply for it.

Germany job seeker visa rejection

Could your application for a German job seeker visa get rejected? Yes. There are different reasons for it. First, remember that you have to be eligible for a job seeker visa. See the section above to read more about it. If you do not comply with it, the officials will reject your application. Second, you could have provided the wrong information in your application. In this case, the officials have suspected you and the purpose of your visit. Something seriously wrong with your requirements is another reason.

Most applicants take the interview easily. You do not make this mistake. Try to be prepared for it as far as you can. Gather every piece of information. Use other applicants’ experience. You can also see the section below to get familiar with the questions. Being prepared is better than inappropriate stammering answers.

Interview Questions for Germany job seeker visa

The given answers to interview questions are important. Try to be precise, clear, and fluent. A few samples of the questions are as follows:

  • Introduce yourself
  • Talk about your family
  • Single or married
  • The place you live
  • Do you have any ties with your home country?
  • Education background
  • Your work experience
  • Talk a bit about your Resume
  • What companies have you worked for?
  • Why have you changed the other companies working for?
  • Know about past companies, profiles, salary, etc.
  • The reason you want to apply for a German job seeker visa?
  • Do you hold enough funds to cover your expenses in Germany?
  • Your accommodation in Germany while looking for a job.
  • German language fluency certificate
  • How do you plan to find a job in Germany?
  • Do you have any friends or relatives in Germany or the EU?
  • What German city are you going to stay in?
  • How likely is it for you to get a job in Germany?
  • Why do you think you can find a job in Germany?
  • What special feature do you have that you think German employers want you?
  • Will you leave Germany if you cannot find a job?
  • What would you do if you could not find a job in Germany?

The mentioned questions are a few samples. Another question might come to mind from the mentioned ones. Try to find a suitable, precise, and clear answer for them. The interview determines whether you will get a visa or not.

Germany Job Seeker Visa, the success rate

As Walt Whitman once said, “The future is no more uncertain than the present.” No one can give an exact answer to this question. Yet, Evidence and clues are promising. Germany suffers from a lack of workforce. It is well-known for its low unemployment rates compared to other EU or developed countries. German employers are always looking for skilled and semi-skilled workers. So, you will have a good opportunity to try your chance there. The employer you are looking for is also looking for someone like you.

Let’s sum up

This article introduced all you should know about German job seeker visas. It covered who needs a job seeker visa, requirements, the application process, FAQs, and many more.

Visit the left sidebar to learn more about other types of German visas.

You could also go to the Visa Library’s home page to gain more about other countries’ visas.

The Visa Library team asks you to share your knowledge or experience about visas in the comment section below. They are wonderful tips for visa applicants. Candidates can avoid unwanted mistakes and save their time and energy.

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4 Comments

  1. Roman says:

    I’m Israeli. How can I apply for a job seeker visa?

    • Support says:

      Hey there. Thanks for leaving a comment on our website. You are exempt from obtaining this type of visa. You can enter Germany for occupational purposes without obtaining a visa or other kinds of authorization.

  2. muhammad usman says:

    if i have valid insurance in any Eu country as student which is also 30,000 euro covering,may i need new one or i can submit that ?
    Do we need a residence address after the visa or do we need to provide with other documents at the time of submission of visa application?

    • Oliver says:

      If your visa allows you to travel to another Eu country and the insurance is valid, yes, but you are applying for a new visa so you need insurance for it.
      The second questions is unclear.