Germany has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world. It is in this country that the demand for qualified specialists is quite high. Find out more about how to obtain a work permit in Germany for Ukrainian refugees, what to do after finding a job or obtaining a work permit for Ukrainians from a German employer

Currently, more than 1.2 million Ukrainians live in Germany. Most of the people moved into the country after the full-scale invasion began. Ukrainian refugees receive temporary protection in Germany, but for legal employment they must also have a work permit.

What is the procedure for issuing a document? How to speed up the procedure of obtaining it? All useful information about obtaining a work permit for Ukrainians in Germany is in our material.

Work permit in Germany for Ukrainian refugees

Ukrainians who come to Germany after the start of a full-scale invasion receive temporary protection in Germany, which provides for various types of social assistance: a residence permit, financial support, assistance with finding housing, and the right to work. However, according to German law, a work permit is not automatically granted together with a residence permit. Ukrainians must issue this document separately.

● How to issue a work permit?

You can apply for a permit after receiving temporary protection status. To do this, you need to contact the Department of Registration of Foreign Citizens with your passport, residence permit or address of your temporary residence.

During the reception, you will go through the biometric registration procedure.

After processing the application, you will be given a residence permit with a special mark Erwerbstätigkeit erlaubt (Employment allowed).

With this document, you can look for a job and start working.

How to look for a job in Germany?

There are several ways to find a job in Germany:

1. Contact the Federal Employment Agency. You can find the nearest representative office in the "Department search" section. You can also contact the agency's hotline at +49 911-178 7915. The line is open from Monday to Thursday from 08:00 to 16:00, on Friday from 08:00 to 13:00.

2. Visit popular online job portals: Indeed.de, Stepstone.de, Xing.com, Monster.de and LinkedIn.com.

3. Attend a job fair: Job fairs are a great way to meet potential employers and learn about jobs in your industry. Many cities in Germany hold job fairs throughout the year, so keep an eye out for events in your area.

What to do after finding a job in Germany?

After you find a job, you must sign an employment contract with the employer.

At the next stage, he will submit an application for you to the Federal Labor Agency. There they will check your identity and whether you have a work permit in Germany.

If everything is fine, the agency will issue a permit for you to work in this company for this employer.

Work permit for Ukrainians who have an invitation from a German employer

The procedure for obtaining a work permit for Ukrainians planning to move to Germany to work at the invitation of a German employer is different.

● How to apply for a work visa in Germany?

- Collect the necessary documents for obtaining a work visa to Germany.

- Sign up for a visa interview at the German embassy or consulate in Ukraine.

- Pay the fee for a work visa to Germany.

- Attend an interview.

- Wait for the answer to the visa application form.

● List of documents for obtaining a work visa in Germany

- Two visa forms.

- Two passport size photos.

- Valid national passport.

- Confirmation of residence.

- Medical Insurance.

- Employment contract or job offer.

- A resume showing your academic qualifications and work experience.

- Confirmation of qualifications – diplomas, certificates, evaluations, etc.

- A cover letter explaining the purpose and length of stay.

- Certificate of no criminal record.

- Confirmation of visa fee payment.

- Declaration on truthfulness of information.

Read more about the types of long-term visas for work in Germany at the link.

The most popular vacancies in Germany

In Germany, there is a significant shortage of representatives of the following professions:

● Engineers.

● IT specialists (programmers, developers, software engineers, etc.).

● Healthcare workers (nurses, doctors, pharmacists, etc.).

● Scientists (biologists, chemists, physicists, etc.).

● Teachers (primary, secondary and higher education).

Importantly! Most companies in Germany prefer candidates who already have work experience in the country and speak German, so it is better to learn the language and learn more about the country's culture before moving.

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Legal advice - Igor Usyk, Head of Legal at Visit World

In Germany, professions are divided into two key groups: "regulated" and "unregulated".

In regulated professions, you can work only if you have confirmed your qualifications and have undergone a full procedure for confirming all competencies, such as a full confirmation of a higher education diploma with a reconciliation of all training modules.

This applies, for example, to medical professions, legal counseling, work in public schools, and engineering. Some artisans who run their own businesses are also subject to these restrictions.

To work in such professions, you need to have recognized foreign professional qualifications. The decision on recognition is usually made by a special government agency - the Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB).

You can check whether your profession is in the category of "regulated" and therefore requires detailed confirmation of competencies by searching on the portal - anerkennung-in-deutschland.de.

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Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents in Germany;

Legal advice for business in Germany;

Immigration lawyer services in Germany;

Travel and health insurance for foreigners in Germany;

Insurance for foreign students in Germany.

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Read here how to find a job for English-speaking foreigners in Germany.

Paragraph 24 for refugees: eligibility for a residence permit for asylum seekers in Germany - details here.

How to get a residence permit in Germany - step-by-step instructions.

Temporary protection status in Germany: benefits and legal advice - more details here.

Jobs in Germany: the most popular vacancies for expats - find here.

The Jobcenter for refugees in Germany: what help Ukrainians can get - read here.

How to properly resign from a job in Germany: stages of dismissal for foreigners.

Health insurance in Germany: types depending on the purpose of the trip.