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Germany is one of the most sought-after countries for foreigners to find employment as it offers plenty of opportunities for talented and skilled individuals. The job seeker visa in Germany is one of many immigration pathways which allows third-country nationals to enter the country and look for employment within a specific time frame. At the end of the time frame, if you’ve managed to find employment, you can simply apply for a work visa and a residence permit.
However, it is crucial to understand whether you meet the qualifications for a job seeker visa and the requirements for the application process.
What Is a Germany Job Seeker Visa?
A German job seeker visa is a work visa issued to anyone who wants to find work in Germany. If you are granted this visa, you are allowed to stay in the country for several months— usually six— and find employment and afterwards apply for a work permit and remain in Germany long-term.
Please note that if you already have found employment and have a valid contract, you do not need to apply for a job seeker visa; you can apply for a work visa directly.
Do I Need to Apply for a Germany Job Seeker Visa?
You need a job seeker visa if you are not a national of the following countries:
- EU/EEA and Switzerland.
- Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Israel, Japan, Canada, and the USA— if you are a citizen of these countries, you must obtain a residence permit before you can work in Germany.
What Are the Eligibility Criteria for a Germany Job Seeker Visa?
To qualify for the job seeker visa, you need to meet the following requirements:
- You are a third-country national who needs a visa to enter the country.
- You have a minimum of five years of experience in your related profession.
- You have enough financial resources to support your stay in Germany.
- You have proof of completed academic or vocational training.
- Your qualifications are recognised in Germany or are equivalent to a diploma received in the country.
To Highly Increase Your Chances of Getting Your Job Seeker Visa You Can Use a Blocked Account as Proof of Financial Resources.
What Are the Requirements for a Germany Job Seeker Visa?
You need to prepare several documents for your job seeker visa in Germany, including:
- Job seeker visa application form. You must submit a filled-out and signed application form for your job seeker visa.
- Valid passport+ a copy. Please make sure you provide a valid passport issued during the last ten years with two blank pages and a minimum of three months validity after leaving Germany (some embassies may ask for even a longer validity period depending on your nationality).
- Identity pictures. Provide passport-sized photographs according to the requirements of the visa photo guidelines according to the German embassy or consulate.
- Proof of accommodation. You must include proof of accommodation during your stay in Germany, such as hotel reservations, rental agreements, or an invitation letter in case you are staying with a friend or family member.
- Proof of financial means. You must also include proof that you have sufficient means to support yourself during your stay in Germany— you can do so by submitting one of the following:
- Proof of blocked account (Sperrkonto) in your name showing a minimum of €947 that can cover your expenses per month.
- A declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) written by your inviter stating that they will cover all of your expenses.
- Evidence of valid health insurance. You must also submit proof of valid travel health insurance meeting the insurance requirements with a minimum of €30,000 for medical coverage.
- Proof of academic qualifications. You must submit proof of academic and professional qualifications, including your university degree, transcripts, vocational training certificates, etc.
- Proof of degree recognition. Remember that for a job seeker visa, your degrees and other academic qualifications must be fully recognised in Germany. You can check with the Anabin database here if your degree is accepted or submit a declaration of comparability requested from the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen- ZAB). You can find full details regarding the recognition of degrees in Germany for a job seeker visa here.
- Your resume. Submit a copy of your detailed CV with your personal information, including your academic and professional qualifications.
- Cover letter. Provide a cover letter or motivational letter stating your reasons for applying for a job seeker visa in Germany and what you plan to do if your visa is granted.
How Do I Apply for a Job Seeker Visa for Germany?
To apply for a job seeker visa in Germany, you must follow the steps below:
- Find out if you meet the eligibility requirements.
- Locate your application office.
- Schedule an appointment.
- Prepare your documents.
- Pay the visa fee.
- Submit your application.
- Retrieve your visa.
- Enter the country.
Find Out if You Meet the Eligibility Requirements
Before applying for a job seeker visa, you must ensure you meet the visa’s eligibility criteria. Such as, if you graduated from university with a degree recognised in Germany, have taken the required steps to have your degree recognised, or have the required work experience.
Locate Your Application Office.
If you meet the eligibility criteria for a job seeker visa in Germany, you must find out where in your country you should submit your visa application. You’re most likely to submit your application at an embassy or consulate.
Schedule an Appointment
After you locate the appropriate embassy or consulate for your job seeker visa application, you have to schedule an appointment. Please note that you must make the appointment first, as you cannot visit the embassy or consulate without prior approval. Keep in mind that it may take several weeks before you can get an appointment for your visa submission, depending on the workload of the embassy or consulate.
Prepare Your Documents
While you wait for your appointment day, you must prepare several documents (you can find the complete list below). You have to make sure all documents are per the embassy’s requirements, and some may require translation into German and legalisation to be eligible for submission.
Pay the Visa Fee
You must also pay the visa fee and attach the payment slip to the rest of your application. Please note that your application won’t be considered without paying the visa fee.
Submit Your Application
Finally, on the day of your visa appointment; you can submit your application at the embassy or consulate. You may also be asked to sit down for an interview related to your application. The embassy or consulate staff will most likely ask you why you have applied for a job seeker visa, what you plan on working in Germany, how long you are planning to stay, etc.
Retrieve Your Visa
If your visa application is positive, you can retrieve your visa and enter Germany and stay for the duration of your visa. During that time, you’re required to actively look for employment if you want to continue your stay. If your visa is denied, you will receive a notification from the embassy or consulate with the reason for your denial and what you can do next.
Enter the Country With a Job Seeker visa
After you obtain your visa you can enter the country and start looking for a job so that by the end of your visa validity period you can apply for a German work visa. Please keep in mind that as soon as you enter the country you must register your temporary address in Germany at your local registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt)— you’re required to do this two weeks after entering the country.
Additionally, you must also obtain your temporary residence permit for a job seeker person which you can obtain from your local foreigners’ authority (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany. Please note that you’re also required to obtain valid health insurance after your arrival in Germany as travel insurance is for only emergencies.
Where Do I Apply?
You have to apply for a job seeker visa at your nearest German embassy, consulate, or another visa application centre in your country representing Germany. Please note that if Germany does not have an official representative in your country of residence, you may be required to submit your application to a neighbouring country.
How Long Does It Take to Process?
It usually takes four to six weeks to process your German job seeker visa application. But this processing time can be longer depending on the embassy and whether your application is complete.
How Much Does a German Job Seeker Visa Cost?
A job seeker visa in Germany costs €75. Most embassies will ask you to pay the visa fee in cash and convert it to your local currency if required.
For How Long Is a German Job Seeker Visa Valid?
Your German job seeker visa is a national D visa valid for six months. Please take note of your visa validity period and make sure you won’t stay for more than you’re allowed to; otherwise, you may face penalties.
Can I Take My Family With a Job Seeker Visa in Germany?
Generally, you’re not allowed to bring your family to Germany on a job seeker visa. However, if you find employment and receive a work visa, you can get your close family members, i.e., your partner and children.
Can I Extend the Visa?
You cannot extend a job seeker visa; once the visa expires, you must return to your home country. You can re-apply for the same visa after you’ve spent the same amount of time outside of Germany as when you were in the country seeking employment.
Please note that if you find employment, you can apply for a work visa and continue your stay.
How Can I Convert My Job Seeker Visa to Work Visa in Germany?
If you find employment in Germany while you’re there with your job seeker visa, you can apply for an EU Blue Card, another type of work visa or a residence permit for qualified professionals. You must apply for your work visa and residence permit at your region’s competent Foreigners’ Authority (Ausländerbehörde or Ausländeramt).
Do I Need to Know German?
You are not required to provide proof of language proficiency for your job seeker visa in Germany.
Still, you’re highly encouraged to develop your German language skills as it will give you a higher chance of finding employment.
However, if you have vocational qualifications, you may be required to provide proof of language proficiency level B2 (CEFR).
What Is the Success Rate of Finding a Job in Germany With a Job Seeker Visa?
There is no set success rate for finding employment under a job seeker visa in Germany— it depends on several factors such as your language skills, employment field, qualifications, work experience, etc.
To raise the chances of you finding a job under a job seeker visa, you’re highly encouraged to start looking for job opportunities and apply for different open positions before you receive your visa, this way you have a starting point when you arrive in Germany.
Can I Work in Germany With a Job Seeker Visa?
Generally, you are not allowed to work in Germany under a job seeker visa. But, in specific cases, you may be permitted to work for 10 hours a week on a trial basis for a position you applied for. You will need to discuss this with your future employer and the immigration office in your region.
Pros and Cons of German Job Seeker Visa
Here are some pros and cons of applying for a job seeker visa in Germany:
| Pros | Cons |
| You can enter the country to look for work. | You cannot extend the visa. |
| You can convert your visa to a work visa. | You must find employment in six months. |
| No language skills are required for the visa application. | Language skills are needed for better chances of finding a job. |
| Opportunity to work in one of the best world economies. |
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