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Studying and working in Germany
Blohm und Voss
© Liesa Johannssen/photothek.net
Blohm und Voss
Blohm und Voss
© Liesa Johannssen/photothek.net
Access to the German labour market
Foreign nationals other than European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals may reside in Germany for the purpose of taking up gainful employment if they have the required residence permit. To work in Germany they must in principle have a residence permit that explicitly authorizes them to do so. Australian, Israeli, Japanese, Canadian, South Korean, New Zealand and US citizens may obtain such a residence permit from the relevant foreigners authority also after their arrival in Germany. It is important to note, however, that they may not commence their intended employment until they have the permit. All other foreign nationals must apply for a work visa from their local German mission before coming to Germany.
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Ever since the 1973 ban on recruiting foreign workers, access to the German labour market for third-country nationals has been subject to strict regulation (Ordinance on the admission of foreigners for the purpose of taking up gainful employment). Access is in principle limited to certain occupational groups and normally requires the approval of the employment authorities.
For more information, please consult the website of the Federal Employment Agency:www.arbeitsagentur.de
Following the expiry of the relevant transitional arrangements, as of 1 May 2011 nationals of the following EU member states will enjoy full freedom of movement for workers: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Accordingly, only nationals of EU member states Romania and Bulgaria still require work permits in Germany.
They should apply for such “EU work permits” to their local German employment agency.
For more information, please consult the website of the Federal Employment Agency:www.arbeitsagentur.de “Working in Germany”
Finding work in Germany
The Federal Employment Agency’s Central Placement Office (ZAV) is responsible for advising and placing job-seekers from abroad. It cooperates with partners all over the world and is also a long-standing partner for a range of networks active in the EU labour market.
EURES
The European Employment Service (EURES) facilitates mobility on the European labour market by providing information, guidance and placement services for both job-seekers and employers. EURES is a cooperation network involving the European Commission and the Public Employment Services of the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) member states as well as Switzerland. EURES advisers working within national Public Employment Services offer information and advice about placement opportunities as well as living and working conditions in Germany. They have access to job vacancy information and work closely with their contacts in Germany.
Studying and working in Germany
If you have any inquiries about studying and working in Germany, please contact the Federal Employment Agency’s Central Placement Office (ZAV) helpline at +49 228 713 1313. The helpline team is available Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 18.00 and will gladly provide basic information or give you a name you can contact for further guidance. Please send your email inquiries to zav@arbeitsagentur.de.
General information about living and working in Germany, including matters such as recognition of qualifications, employment prospects and social insurance, is available at the Federal Employment Agency’s special website for job-seekers from abroad www.zav.de/arbeiten-in-deutschland and the EURES (European Employment Services) portal http://ec.europa.eu/eures.
Private employment agencies within and outside Europe
Since 2002 private employment and training agencies no longer require a licence to operate, but this does not mean they are entirely unregulated. In certain occupations and types of employment placements can be handled only by the Federal Employment Agency. Further information on private employment agencies is available at the Federal Employment Agency’s website.
Last updated 06.05.2011