German work visa application process: Applicants currently residing in their home country must first submit their work visa application to the German embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over their place of residence (or through the local TLScontact German Visa Application Center, if applicable). When submitting the application, you must also provide your German employment contract and other relevant employment documentation so that embassy or consulate staff can conduct a preliminary review to determine if you meet the requirements set by the German Federal Employment Agency.
After receiving your entry visa and arriving in Germany, you must submit a further written work visa application to the local Foreigners' Authority (Ausländerbehörde) in your place of residence before your entry visa expires. The Foreigners' Authority will forward the work visa application to the local Federal Employment Agency for approval. Once the agency's approval is obtained, it will be issued to the applicant along with the residence permit.
For applicants already residing in Germany, the written work visa application should be submitted directly to the local Foreigners' Authority in their place of residence, with the subsequent process remaining the same as described above.
Work Visa Requirements
In accordance with Section 18 of the German Residence Act, applicants must meet the following conditions to obtain a German work visa and the corresponding residence permit:
The applicant possesses a valid passport and fulfills visa obligations.
The applicant can secure their basic livelihood without the need for additional public assistance.
Note: As each region has minimum salary requirements for work visa applicants, personal basic livelihood here includes the following components, meaning the salary must be sufficient to cover these items or meet the following requirements:
1. Personal income must be higher than the minimum social welfare benefit;
2. Ability to cover rent and other expenses such as water, heating, and electricity during the stay in Germany;
3. Ability to pay for personal health insurance.
Regarding salary levels, in addition to the minimum requirements mentioned above, the salary must be commensurate with the applicant's educational level. Taking Frankfurt as an example, foreigners with a bachelor's degree or higher applying for a work visa are generally required to have a pre-tax salary of 2,500 to 2,700 Euros (specific minimum salary requirements vary slightly by industry; there is no statutory standard value, and the Federal Employment Agency has discretionary power).
There are no grounds for deportation against the applicant.
The applicant's stay in Germany does not threaten national security or the interests of Germany.
The applicant meets the facts and personal requirements for labor migration.
The applicant already has a job or a specific job offer in Germany.
The German Federal Employment Agency grants the applicant a work permit.
Note: In some German states or specific industries, the Federal Employment Agency will comprehensively consider the balance between public and private interests when granting a work permit, meaning it has the right to refuse a work permit to an applicant who formally meets the work visa requirements. However, in the following cases, the Federal Employment Agency should, in principle, grant the applicant the corresponding work permit:
1. There are no legal prohibitions against entering the German labor market;
2. The applicant's employment will not have an adverse effect on the German labor market;
3. The applicant is more suitable for the job position compared to other general German citizens, EU citizens, and European Economic Area citizens;
4. The applicant's employment terms are not less favorable than those of comparable German employees, meaning the applicant did not secure the job opportunity due to lower employment terms.