Average annual salary is between €64,000 and €81,000
Employees in Germany get 25 - 40 paid leaves per year
Flexible working hours 48 per week
Social security benefits with high work-life balance
Lifelong pension benefits
High employment rate at 77.30% in 2022
Migrate to Germany with a work visa
Germany is the fourth-largest economy in the world and also its 13th happiest. If you want to immigrate to Germany, you need a valid reason. There are many ways in which a foreign citizen can settle in Germany.
German immigration for employment: The most popular way of migrating to the country is to find a job in the country. Get a job in Germany that recruits foreign nationals and apply for a German work (employment) visa. After moving to the country, obtain a work residence permit.
German immigration for education: Germany offers free education with minimal tuition fees in schools as well as its universities. After completing studies, you can remain there to search of a job for a limited period of time. If you get a job, you are allowed to stay and apply for a work permit and for its residence.
German immigration for entrepreneurs: If you are an investor and have plans of investing in Germany, your opportunities to migrate are higher. Entrepreneurs and investors who invest at least €250,000 in the country can apply for a German Self Employment visa, a type of a work visa. If you are successful as an entrepreneur, you can get a residence permit after three years.
German immigration for family reunions: To be eligible for the family reunion immigration in Germany, spouses need to prove that they are married. Birth certificates of children should also be provided who want to join their parents. You can get a work permit and residence permit by meeting certain requirements.
German immigration residence permits: When you get any of the visas for German immigration, you will also obtain a residence permit. These residence permits for foreign nationals can be either permanent or temporary.
German immigration through Job-seeker visa: One of the best ways to enter Germany is with a job-seeker visa. It is one of the long-stay residence permits that allow you to search for employment within six months. After getting a job, you can apply for a work permit/residence permit.
*Check your eligibility for Germany through Y-Axis Germany Immigration points calculator
Types of Germany work visas
For employment purposes, the work visa in Germany is called a residence permit, whereas the terms change during their usage. Other than these, there are D visas and C visas which are used by certain foreign nationals.
D visa lets non-EU citizens to enter the country and apply for a German work visa. On the other hand, the C visa is called a tourist visa or a Schengen visa, which allows visitors to come to Germany for a short stay like a holiday, business trip, or to visit family members. It cannot be changed into a residence/work permit.
There are five main work visas available that non-EU nationals can apply for:
The EU Blue Card
The EU Blue Card is a residence permit, especially for highly skilled International workers who are searching for a suitable job in the country. Its validity depends on the duration of your work contract, includes an additional 3 months, and is limited to a period of four years.
Work visa for qualified professionals
This visa is granted to qualified professionals who have received higher education or qualified vocational training that too from outside the country and are willing to obtain employment in Germany. This work visa/residence permit will be issued for a maximum of four years. In case the work contract is for a short period, the residence permit is given for that duration.
Visa for self-employment
If you are want to work as a freelancer or start a business, then you can apply for a self-employment visa, though the criteria vary.
Visa for research
German country welcomes scientists and researchers as it values innovation. The research visa you apply for will depend on your nationality.
Alternate ways to take up employment in Germany
A student visa allows its holders to work part-time
Foreign students in Germany are permitted to work during their leisure time. Non-EU students can only work for up to 120 days.
Spouse or a relative of someone with a valid residence permit
Non-EU nationals, who possess residence permits, can get their partners, spouses and children to Germany. In most cases, the children or spouses have to apply for residence permits from their origin countries before joining the family in Germany. Meanwhile, the principal member who is living in Germany must possess a residence or a settlement permit.
Requirements for Germany work visa
To receive a residence permit in Germany, one has to complete higher education from an institution or a qualified vocational institution with Sections 18a & 18b in accordance with the German Residence Permit which allows them to get employment in Germany as qualified professionals.
Their qualifications have to be recognized in Germany or should be equivalent to German higher education.
If you are searching for a job in a regulated profession, then you need a permit for professional practice.
You need to possess a minimum of 16 years of education.
English language or German language proficiency is needed as per the type of visa
Must possess proof of funds for six months until you get a work permit.
If you have obtained a job offer before migrating to Germany, the employer needs to be -approved by Germany.
*Avail of Y-Axis job search services to obtain a right job
Top in-demand occupations in Germany
IT and Software jobs in Germany
To get a job in this sector, one must have completed a master’s degree and have minimum work experience. Germany offers cross-functional opportunities to switch domains.
You can opt for an IT job if you have an engineering degree. Currently, there is a high demand for qualified IT professionals in Germany. The average salary for IT employees is €49,966 per annum.
Engineering jobs in Germany
Engineering is an in-demand occupation in Germany. In this occupation, you can find unoccupied jobs in Germany.
Most of the engineering fields, like automotive engineering, computer science engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and telecommunications, provide better career prospects. The average salary per annum for engineering profiles is €67,150.
Accounting and Finance jobs in Germany
Accounting and Finance are in high demand in Germany. The different professions within this sector are Account Managers, Business Analysts, etc.
For accounting and finance professionals, the average salaries per year in Germany are between €39,195 and €49,000.
Human Resources Management jobs in Germany
Human resources management jobs in Germany are expected to grow by 18% over the next ten years. Most German employers offer jobs to skilled and professionally trained immigrants. The average salary that an HR professional can get per year in Germany is €85,800.
Hospitality jobs in Germany
Germany has plenty of hospitality jobs. The average salary a hospitality professional can get in Germany is €27,788. If professionals in this field know the German language, they have better chances of getting a job.
Sales & Marketing jobs in Germany
There are many sales and marketing jobs available in Germany. Sales professionals can earn an average salary of around €45,990 annually in the country. Even in marketing, Germany has plenty of jobs available. A marketing professional earns around €36,000 per year.
Healthcare jobs in Germany
Germany invests more GDP (11.2%) in its health sector than any other European Union country. The government funds around 77% of Germany’s health care system, with the rest privately funded.
Germany expects qualified and skilled professionals for its healthcare system. The average salary that a healthcare professional earns per year is €39,000.
STEM jobs in Germany
Though Germany has a large percentage of graduates, there is a shortage of skills within the country’s job market for STEM specialists or professionals.
For the German economy to prosper, many migrant workers with STEM qualifications are required.
As of now, it requires 338,000 STEM professionals. The average salary that a STEM professional can earn per year is €78,810.
Teaching jobs in Germany
Available in Germany is a lot of teaching jobs for foreign nationals. Though this field is competitive, many vacancies are available at various levels. There is also a high demand for English language teachers in Germany. One should, however, have a license to teach in Germany. The average salary that a teaching professional can earn is €30,000 per year in Germany.
Nursing jobs in Germany
Currently, Germany is facing an acute shortage of qualified nurses. If you are looking for a nursing job in Germany, you can apply right now.
The country also has relaxed rules for professional nurses to work in Germany. The average salary of a nursing professional in Germany per year is €39,519.
Steps to apply for a German Work Permit
When you want to apply for a work permit or visa to take up work in Germany, ensure to pursue the following steps.
Step 1: Check the requirements relevant to the work visa you have planned to apply for. You can opt for work visas for qualified professionals, IT specialists, and EU Blue Card.
Step 2: You need a job offer from an authorized German employer in the country. It has to be a genuine one.
Step 3: Your job offer must be relevant to your education. You don't need to have a university degree to obtain a German work visa; you can apply even if you have undergone vocational training.
Step 4: The employer must be German-based.
*Note: You can only work for a US company if it has a branch in Germany.Step 5: Check the eligibility of the job you are applying for.
Step 6: After you have finished checking, choose the right visa and submit a visa application.
Step 7: Gather all the required documents according to the instructions given.
Step 8: Attend the interview after taking an appointment.
Step 9: Pay the fees required for a German work visa.
Step 10: After attending the interview, wait for a response.
The pathway from Work Permit to German PR
To be eligible for a German PR, you should have lived in Germany for at least five years or three years in case you are married to a German citizen. Apart from these, you must have paid contributions to be eligible for at least 60 months of pension insurance.
You need to provide evidence of your job offer and proof of German language skills. You can obtain German Permanent Residence if you have provided these.
How can Y-Axis assist you?
Y-Axis, the world’s no.1 immigration company, provides impartial immigration services for all clients based on their interests and requirements. Y-Axis provides impeccable immigration services, including:
Expert guidance/counseling for Germany Immigration
German language coaching Job search assistance to find the right job in Germany
Free eligibility checks through Germany Immigration Points Calculator