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Skilled worker with academic education or vocational training
To find out whether you require a visa to enter Germany, see „Who needs a visa?“.
Purpose and target group
If you have completed qualified vocational training or a course of study outside Germany, you can obtain a residence permit under Section 18a of the Residence Act or Section 18b of the Residence Act (AufenthG) in order to take up qualified employment in Germany as a skilled worker.
How can I get a work visa ?
If you live outside the EU, you will generally require a visa for the purpose of gainful employment which will be issued by the competent German diplomatic mission. You can enter Germany on this visa. Prior to expiry of the visa, you must subsequently apply to the local immigration authority for the work visa.
Conditions
Requirements for the work visa for qualified professionals at a glance at make it in Germany
What documents must be submitted during the application process
A current biometric passport photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm with a light-coloured background) according to the photo sample table of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The photo should not be older than three months.
Personally signed passport with at least two completely empty pages and sufficient validity.
If you do not have your habitual residence in Switzerland or Liechtenstein, the German Embassy in Bern is not responsible for processing your application.
Consent to electronic notification. Please complete the form and enclose it with your application documents.
Employer’s declaration to be completed by your employer in Germany.
Work contract and job description.
Original German university degree or recognized foreign university degree and printouts from Anabin data base - the qualification and academic institution need to be listed as equivalent or comparable and the university need to be rated with H+
or
Statement of comparability for foreign higher education qualifications, issued by the central office for foreign education (ZAB)
and if requested
Permission to exercise a profession issued by the authority responsible for recognising qualifications or assurance of permission to exercise a profession (for example, for medical professions). More Information on recognition: www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de
Notification of recognition of foreign vocational training: written notification of the agency responsible for recognition of vocations in Germany or (in the case of regulated professions in which permission is required to exercise the profession, for example, in the care sector; complete list is available from the Federal Employment Agency or the European Commission)
and if requested
Permission to exercise a profession issued by the authority responsible for recognising qualifications or assurance of permission to exercise a profession (for example, for medical professions). More Information on recognition: www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de
Detailed curriculum vitae in German or English language.
The German Embassy Bern reserve the right to ask for additional documents at any time during the processing of your application.
Online application
The online application is possible through the Consular Services Portal. After you have uploaded your documents, your application will be checked for completeness. Communication regarding any additional information required will be conducted directly through the Consular Services Portal.
At your appointment, you will need to present all original documents, your biometric photos and pay the visa fee.
The Consular Service Portal will guide you step by step through the information and documents required for your specific purpose of stay. Your documents will be checked for completeness as part of the online procedure so that you are optimally prepared for your appointment at the foreign mission.
After successful preliminary review, you will receive a link to book an appointment. At the appointment, you will present any original documents that may be required, provide your biometric data (fingerprints and biometric photos), and pay the fee.
The application can only be submitted in person at your pre-booked appointment at the visa office of the embassy (Willadingweg 78, 3006 Bern). The visa office will accept your application with original documents and the fee and take your fingerprints. It is not possible to submit an application without an appointment.
Appointment booking
You will receive the link to book an appointment once all documents have been reviewed in the Consular Services Portal.
Processing time
In this visa category, most applications are typically processed within 3-5 weeks (calculated from the day you procided all documents).
In the visa process, the interest in entering the country must be carefully weighed against the security interests of the Federal Republic of Germany. For visa applications for study and research stays and similar employment, special attention must be paid to ensuring that the knowledge acquired in Germany cannot be misused for purposes that could impair or threaten the peaceful coexistence of nations and/or public order, security, or health in Germany. This may, in individual cases, lead to a longer processing time for the visa application. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to apply for the visa early.
During the application process
Please do not contact the mission abroad to check the status of your application during the normal processing period. Such inquiries are extremely time-consuming for the visa department and cannot be answered. We will contact you by email as soon as the decision has been made. In principle, all communication can only take place with the applicant themselves, a legal representative or an authorized person.
Decision about the application
You will be informed as soon as the embassy has decided on your application. Your passport is required for the visa to be issued.
Please check your visa label as soon as you have your passport with the visa in your hands. You should inform us immediately of any errors so that we can issue a new visa.