Immigration to Germany as a skilled worker

Are you going to move to Germany as a skilled worker? The strongest economy in Europe is always in need of skilled workers. You just need to know what to do, and this article brings you everything on how to immigrate to Germany as a skilled worker. 

Who is a skilled worker who can move to Germany?

Skilled workers come in two categories:

• People with professional training
• People with academic training

Whatever your degree is, it must be recognized and accepted by German authorities. If you have professional training, it is necessary to complete an officially recognized professional training program. German law requires it to be at least two years. 

If you have academic training, you must have achieved an academic degree from a university, college or education center. An MA or BA is an example of a degree you have earned. 

Skilled workers can take the job position in Germany if they can prove to be qualified, skilled workers. They must be able to perform the job and work in it well. 

According to the new changes in German law, IT specialists with “highly-developed practical professional knowledge” do not need recognition. They can come to Germany without recognition and practice their occupation. 

What are the requirements to become a qualified, skilled worker in Germany?

You must fulfill the below requirements to be a qualified, skilled worker in Germany: 

Recognized degree 

Your education abroad must be recognized in Germany. There are two types of education, as explained above, professional training and academic training. Whichever yours is, it must be recognized by the German government. In some majors like dentistry and medicine, you must receive a degree from the government and pass a test. 

If you have completed your education in Germany, you don’t need to get recognition for your degree. 

According to the changes to immigration law, you can submit your application before your degree gets recognized.

Also, in some cases, you can move to Germany and begin your work before your degree gets recognized. Your employer guises you on these matters. 

Job offer 

It’s mandatory to have a job offer from a German employer inside the country. It must lead to a written contract with details about the employment. In Germany, it gets called “Erklärung zum BeschäftigungsverhältnisIf the employer.” If the employer is not willing to sign a contract and asks for money, it might be a fraud plan. 

You can look for a job offer on websites that advertise such positions. Also, you can apply for a Germany tourist visa or jb seeker visa and enter the country to look for a job. 

Work permit

When German officials agree with the job offer, they will issue a work permit. You need it to apply for a work visa and enter the country. The work permit is permission to work in Germany, while the visa is authorization to enter the country. You must get the permit before the visa. 

Being able to leave your home country

Applicants must have a valid passport or travel documents that allow them to leave their home country. Also, it’s mandatory to submit a clean record certificate most of the time. It indicates that the employee has not been involved in criminal activities.  

Visa supporting documents 

When you apply for a work visa, you must submit some supporting documents for a work permit and work visa. You send the work permit requirements to the employer, and he/she submits them to the German authorities. Then, you must submit the work visa documents to the German embassy in your home country. 

Applicants must be able to submit all of the supporting documents for both the work permit and work visa. You can get familiar with the requirements from the right sidebar and work visa article. It is a must to submit whatever the German officials ask. 

Not all non-EU nationals need a visa to enter Germany. Some of them are exempt from an entrance visa;

• US 
• Canada 
• Israel 
• Japan 
• South Korea 
• Australia 

The above list are some of the samples of the countries that don’t need an entrance visa. They can move to Germany and stay for up to 90 days, but for longer stays, they need a residence permit or work permit. 

The work permit that employers apply for and receive permits them to stay for longer than 90 days. 

You can find out who needs and doesn’t need a Germany short-stay visa from the right sidebar. 

Financial independence 

It is mandatory to prove you can cover your expenses in Germany. It is either through the income from your employment or from your savings and previous income. If you are to bring your family to Germany, you must have enough to cover their expenses as well. 

Every German visa has financial requirements. Applicants must prove their financial independence. It is so with the skilled workers moving to Germany. 

Make it clear in your application how you will cover your expenses. 

How to move to Germany as a skilled worker?

You must follow these steps to immigrate to Germany as a skilled worker;

Get your degree recognized in Germany 

It is mandatory to get your degree recognized in Germany before moving to the country. If German officials don’t recognize your degree, you may not work in the country. 

There are different rules and conditions for people with various majors. The requirements for an IT expert are completely different of a doctor or surgeon. 

You must find out what are the requirements for your major. 

You can find out about different occupations moving to Germany from the Visa Library: 

• Move to Germany as a Doctor
• Move to Germany as a Pharmacist
• Move to Germany as a Nurse
• Move to Germany as a software engineer 

You must follow a slightly different procedure for each of the above occupations. But the general standard route is explained in this blog. 

Look for a job offer from a German employer 

It’s mandatory to get a job offer before moving to Germany. You must have an employer if you are determined to move to Germany as a skilled worker. 

The German employer must apply for a work permit to bring the non-EU skilled workers to the country. Only if the German officials agree and issue the work permit the skilled worker can move to the country. 

Apply for a work permit 

German employer applies for a work permit on behalf of the skilled worker. He/she must submit some supporting documents to German officials, and it is the skilled worker’s duty to send the documents to the employer.

The skilled worker must wait and submit further documents if the authorities require it. The processing takes time until they issue the work permit. 

Get a work visa 

When the work permit is issued, the skilled worker can apply for a work visa at the German embassy or consulate in his/her home country. You can get familiar with the work visa application from the article on the right sidebar. 

It explains the process well and provides you with a list of supporting documents. The application process is explained in detail and step by step.