What are the requirements for a visa for professionally experienced workers?
- Qualification: You have a non-academic vocational qualification or an academic qualification that is recognised by the government of the country in which it was obtained. It is important that your non-academic vocational qualification required at least two years of vocational training. To support your visa application, you will need a positive result for this qualification, which you can apply for online at the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). If your qualification is an academic degree, you can also apply to the ZAB for confirmation of state recognition in the country in which it was obtained. Alternatively, you can refer to the positive evaluation of the qualification in the anabin database. l’Office central de l’éducation à l’étranger (ZAB). S’il s’agit d’un diplôme universitaire, vous pouvez également demander à l’Office central de l’éducation à l’étranger la confirmation de la reconnaissance par l’État dans lequel il a été obtenu. Vous pouvez également vous référer à l'évaluation positive du diplôme dans la base de données anabin.
- Professional experience: You can provide evidence of at least two years of qualified professional experience within the last five years. Your professional experience must qualify you adequately for the job you want to do in Germany. In other words, it must be related to the profession you wish to pursue in Germany.
- Job offer: You have a concrete job offer in a non-regulated profession in Germany. In contrast to regulated professions, non-regulated professions are those whose practice is not protected by law. Most vocational training occupations in Germany are non-regulated. To find out which professions are regulated, visit the Federal Employment Agency (BA) website. You can prove that you have a job offer by presenting an employment contract with an employer in Germany. In addition, your employer’s “Declaration of Employment” will usually be required as part of the visa process. l’Agence fédérale pour l’emploi (BA). Vous pouvez prouver l’offre d’emploi en présentant un contrat de travail conclu avec un employeur en Allemagne. Par ailleurs, la « Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis » (déclaration sur l’emploi) remplie par l’employeur doit généralement être remise dans le cadre de la procédure de visa.
- Job offer: You have a concrete job offer in a non-regulated profession in Germany. In contrast to regulated professions, non-regulated professions are those whose practice is not protected by law. Most vocational training occupations in Germany are non-regulated. To find out which professions are regulated, visit the Federal Employment Agency (BA) website. You can prove that you have a job offer by presenting an employment contract with an employer in Germany. In addition, your employer’s “Declaration of Employment” will usually be required as part of the visa process.
- Approval of employment: The Federal Employment Agency (BA) has approved your employment. In this context, the Federal Employment Agency will assess whether your conditions of employment (salary, working hours etc.) correspond to those of domestic employees. BA approval is usually obtained from the visa section during the visa process; no action is required on your part. For this, the Federal Employment Agency requires the form “Declaration of Employment”, which needs to be completed by your employer. Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis » (déclaration sur l’emploi). Votre employeur doit le remplir.
What opportunities does a visa for professionally experienced workers offer?
As long as you are in employment and can cover your living costs, you will usually be able to extend your residence permit. You may be granted a settlement permit after five years in Germany. In this context, the general provisions under Section 9 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) AufenthG apply.
Do you want to live in Germany with your family? This residence permit enables you to do so. To find out what you need to consider and what the requirements are, see the “Family life in Germany” section.