Germany Immigration Services
Working in Germany
The type of visa needed, or whether any kind of visa or permit is required, is determined by the foreign national’s country of origin, as well as the activities to be conducted while in Germany.
Citizens from the European Union (EU) and from Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland (EEA) don’t require a visa to work in Germany; however, other in-country formalities may be required Additionally, if the business trip is less than 90 days and the traveler’s activities would fall within permissible visitor activities, citizens from the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Israel can travel to Germany visa-free as a Business Visitor. Residents of all other countries require a visa for entry no matter how long their intended stay is.
Germany visas follow a priority principle, which lays out that visas and work permits will only be issued to foreign nationals if their intended role at a company cannot be filled by a German citizen, an EU citizen, or a foreign national who already holds a visa and is settled in Germany.
Employers and employees need to make sure they apply for the correct visa or work permit and provide the necessary documentation in their application and when entering Germany on a valid visa. There are a variety of different types of work permits and visas in Germany, but we’ve listed the most common ones below.
Types of Visas
- EU Blue Card
- Intra-Corporate Transfers
- Residence Permit for Employment Purposes
- Settlement Permit for Highly Skilled Specialists
- Business Visitors
Processes and requirements vary by the type of visa. To figure out which visa your business requires, click below to download our Germany fact sheet or click here to set up a consultation.