If you're planning to move to Germany soon, one of the first questions you're asking is likely, do I need a visa to work in Germany? The answer is probably yes, you do need a visa—but let's look at it in detail to figure out if you're a special case in which the answer is no.
Do I need a visa to work in Germany?
What's the difference between a visa and a work permit?
First of all, it's important to distinguish the difference between a visa and a work permit. Many people use them interchangeably, but there are important differences between the two.
A visa allows you to cross the border and enter the country. This is a permit to enter a country for a specific purpose: for study, work, recreation or medical treatment.
A residence title confirms the right of a foreigner to live within the country for an extended period of time (typically longer than 90 days), and is often used to prove their identity to enter the country.
To learn more about the differences between the two, read our post here!
For the purposes of this blog, we'll be answering the question, "Do I need a visa to work in Germany" through the lens of both "visa" as an entry document, as well as "Do I need a residence title to work in Germany?"
To get us started: the simplest question to determine if a visa OR residence title is needed to work in Germany:
Do you hold citizenship from an EU country?
If you are, you're in luck. A visa is not necessary for you to work in Germany—nor is a residence title needed to work in Germany.
You'll notice we asked if you hold EU citizenship, not if you live in the EU. That's because:
- If you are living in the EU but do not hold EU citizenship, you will need a visa and residence title to work in Germany. ✅
- If you hold EU citizenship but are not living in the EU, you do not need a visa or residence title to work in Germany. ❌
Do you hold citizenship from any country outside of the EU?
If so, you will definitely need a visa to work in Germany. ✅ AND you will need a residence title to work in Germany.
In fact, many of you will have to have a visa simply to enter Germany. Only certain citizens don't—those folks are:
Citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, USA, UK
If you hold citizenship from any of the above countries, you are allowed to enter Germany and stay for 90 days without a visa. However, you will need a residence title to WORK in Germany. This is super important.
Even if you are a citizenship of the above countries, you cannot work in Germany without a visa or residence title.
Citizens from any other country
You will need a visa to both enter AND work in Germany. ✅
You will need a residence title to work in Germany. ✅
But wait...
How can I work on a visa if I also need a residence title to work?
You can work on a visa (that entry document!) if you have a National D visa. A National D visa is granted at a German embassy abroad when you have an employment contract for Germany. This visa signals to the authorities that you are coming to work in Germany—and as such, once you have it, you are allowed to start working from the date specified on your visa.
However, this is not your residence title, and it will not allow you to work long-term. National D visas are typically valid for 90 days (though in some cases, they might be granted for 6 months) and need to be transferred to a residence title once you arrive in Germany.
Spouses of a working partner
Spouses who join their partners on either a concurrent spouse visa or a family reunification will also need visas in order to work.
If your spouse holds an EU Blue Card, the residence title you receive when you arrive in Germany will also allow you to work. ❌
If your spouse holds a regular work permit, you will need to find employment yourself in order to get permission to work in Germany. ✅
To sum it all up, unless you hold citizenship from another EU country, you will need a visa to work in Germany. And you will also need a residence title to work in Germany. If you're ready to start the visa application process, sign up for your free Worldify account! 🔵
