Germany Immigration and Visas

You can apply for German visas or permits if you already have an employment contract to show you have a job you can walk into.

You can also apply for a work visa as a qualified professional, provided Germany recognises your qualifications and considers them comparable to German standards.

You can even apply for a work permit if you want to look for a job in Germany. If you find a job, your job seeker permit is converted into a work permit.

In Germany, freelancers and business owners have their own type of work visa.

You need to apply for a tourist visa in person at the German embassy in your home country or country of residence.

A tourist visa is valid for up to three months.

Tourist visa applications are different for EU and non-EU countries. Non-EU or non-Schengen countries need a Schengen visa to enter Germany. Your German immigration specialist will tell you what application forms you need to submit.

People from non-Schengen countries must apply for a Schengen visa to travel in the Schengen Area, which contains 26 countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

There are three types of Schengen visas: Uniform Schengen Visas (USV), Limited territorial validity visas (LTV), and National visas.

A Schengen visa allows you to travel freely through all of the Schengen countries, not just Germany. It’s valid for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

Your consultant will help you apply for the correct Schengen visa so that you won’t be turned away at border control points in Germany or any other Schengen Area country.

You must apply in person at the German embassy or consulate in your home country or country of residence.

A business visa covers conferences, meetings, and academic research. They are valid for up to 90 days.

Germany requires company bank statements from the previous three months, an invitation letter from the business partner in Germany, a detailed schedule of your business meetings for stays over 30 days, as well as a confirmation letter from your health insurance stating coverage for emergency medical or hospitalisation with a minimum of 30,000 Euros.

Yes, Germany does allow foreign internships, provided you have an offer for an internship and the approval of the Federal Employment Agency (BA).

You must apply in person at the German embassy or consulate in your home country or country of residence.

Internship visas are valid for up to 12 months and will only be considered for an extension in exceptional cases.

Some internships do not require the agreement of the Federal Employment Agency. These include internships under EU-funded programmes (Leonardo, Socrates, Erasmus, etc.). Your consultant will tell you which requirements apply to your German visa.

You qualify for an EU Blue Card if you are highly skilled or an academic. Your university degree must be comparable to a degree in Germany. Furthermore, a qualified employment contract needs to be in place, with a minimum annual gross salary determined by the regulations.

For specialists in mathematics, IT, natural sciences, engineering, and human medicine, the required minimum salary can be lower, provided you earn the same amount as a comparable German worker. In this case, you need prior approval from the Federal Employment Agency.

As soon as you are in your area of responsibility in Germany, you can receive your EU BLUE CARD from the regional foreign department. You must apply for an entry visa to Germany to obtain your work permit. The EU Blue Card is valid for a maximum of four years when issued for the first time.

An EU Blue card holder is entitled to apply for permanent residence after 33 months, or 21 months, if you can prove German language skills at level B1 of the Common European Reference Framework for Languages.

Yes, your dependent family can apply for a residence permit if you have a valid residence permit as an employee or an EU Blue Card holder. You must prove that you have secured large enough accommodation for your family. You must also have sufficient financial means to support your family.

Children under 16 can accompany you to Germany on a residence permit. If children are over the age of 16, special rules apply. Your consultant will help you with the application process for this type of German permit.

Your family must apply at the embassy or consulate in their home country.

Note: Your spouse needs to be over the age of 18.

As soon as a residence permit is issued to your accompanying family, they are entitled immediately to take up any kind of employment in Germany.

We provide a full range of immigration services for Germany. Our network of trusted partners ensures we stay up-to-date on policy issues and the rules and regulations that govern immigration rules and regulations.

We have an initial consultation to decide which of the German visas is most suitable for your situation. We help you with the required documentation and compile the application pack on your behalf. This saves you time as you don’t have to fret about getting the required documents to finalise your application.

Together with our expert partners in Germany, we provide assistance from both South Africa and Germany.

Germany has two types of visas for assignees: ICT Intra Company Transfer and International Staff Exchange programme.

They apply to specialists, senior managers, and trainees. The host entity must belong to the same group of companies and must be financially linked.

Click here to read more about Qualified Professionals in Germany:
Germany Welcomes Qualified Professionals