Germany is considered the fifth best country for immigrants. This advantage is due to its good economy, education system and employment opportunities. People from all over the world want the opportunity to move to Germany. To immigrate to Germany, you need a valid reason. Foreigners can move to Germany in a variety of ways, including for the following reasons, which are explained in more detail below.
General requirements for immigrating to Germany, Although there are many ways to immigrate to Germany, and each has some specific requirements, there are still similarities between them. To be eligible to move to Germany, you must meet the following conditions:
- Demonstrate financial stability.
- Have health insurance.
- Have at least basic German language skills.
- Get a German visa.
- Prove financial stability
Each immigration purpose has financial thresholds that applicants need to meet, but regardless of intention, applicants must demonstrate that they can self-fund their stay in Germany. Even though you will be working in Germany, you must have initial funds to cover your expenses until you receive a salary.
Have health insurance
You cannot immigrate to Germany without proper health insurance. The recommended approach is to purchase German health insurance as you cannot be sure whether foreign health insurance is accepted by the German authorities. Learn more about health insurance for freelancers, employees and expats in Germany.
Have at least basic German language skills
In order to be able to live in Germany, you need to know German. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is divided into three levels of language proficiency: A, B and C. Language proficiency is divided into A1/A2 or basic language skills, B1/B2 or proficient language skills, and C1/C2 or advanced language skills. To immigrate to Germany you need to take an exam and pass the A1 or B1 exam. If you want to obtain permanent residency, you will need proficiency at the higher C1 or C2 level.
Exploring different type of visa for immigrating to Germany;
- Germany study visa
- job seeker visa
- Work (Employment) Visa
- Visiting Scientist Visa
- Training/Internship Visa
- Family Reunion Visa to reunite with relatives or partners
German employment immigration
Germany reports a shortage of skilled workers and highly qualified personnel. They are constantly looking for engineers, IT professionals, medical personnel, and other qualified professionals. To encourage such people to immigrate to Germany, foreign immigration authorities have relaxed strict requirements for coming to Germany to work.
Therefore, one of the most popular ways to immigrate to Germany is to find a job in the country. Here are the steps to move to Germany for work:
- Find a job in Germany, a country that accepts foreigners,
- Apply for a German work (employment) visa,
- Move to Germany and obtain a work residence permit.
Among other things, to obtain a residence permit to work in Germany, employers and employees must prove:
- There is a shortage of employees from Germany or the EU so they cannot fill the position,
- The employee will enjoy the same conditions as other German employees in terms of salary and working environment,
- The employee meets all education and work experience requirements for this position,
- The company employing the employees meets all requirements of the German authorities (registration documents and certifications).
As an employee in Germany, you have the opportunity to work as long as your residence permit allows it. If your employer wishes to continue a working relationship with you after your work permit is about to expire, you can apply for an extension or after a certain period; you can also apply for permanent residence.
German residence permit
When you obtain one of these immigrant visas, you will also receive a residence permit. Residence permits can be temporary and permanent. A temporary residence permit allows a foreigner to stay in Germany for a specified period and then return to their home country. A permanent residence permit means that a foreigner can stay in Germany for as long as he wants and can leave and return to Germany at any time. However, receiving a permanent residence permit does not mean you acquire German citizenship. That’s another process entirely. Generally speaking, Germany has two temporary residence permits and one permanent residence permit.
Standard residence permit
This type of residence permit is used for all the above-mentioned immigration purposes as well as for other purposes, such as former Germans who have completed a training course, who want to return to Germany, and people who travel to Germany for political and humanitarian reasons. A standard residence permit is valid for a certain period of time and can be extended.
European Union (EU) Blue Card
The German EU Blue Card is issued to foreign workers (citizens of non-EU countries) who are highly qualified and wish to work and apply these skills in Germany. Highly qualified means that the person has an undergraduate or graduate degree in any particular field. To qualify for the EU Blue Card, you need to already have a job in Germany, with a minimum annual salary of €56,800.
The EU Blue Card gives its holder the right to reside in Germany for four years, with the possibility of converting their residence permit into a permanent settlement. In order to qualify for permanent settlement, the person must demonstrate sufficient proficiency in the German language, meet certain financial requirements, and have been employed at a German workplace for more than 33 months, which requires skills acquired through the highest qualifications.
