Work in Germany for foreigner: how to find job in Germany for English speakers
It is possible to find an English-speaking job in Germany. However, the chances of finding such a job depend on a number of factors. Find out more about what jobs foreigners can do in Germany, what kind of work is offered for English-speaking employees, and whether foreigners need a visa to work in Germany
Do you want to work in Germany? The country's labor market offers foreigners career prospects and a high standard of living. It is quite possible to find a job and become a resident of Germany. There are many vacancies in the state, including for English-speaking employees.
We talk about how to move to Germany for work, available employment options and work culture in the country in our material.
How can foreigners work in Germany?
Most foreigners who move to Germany work in the country in one of the following positions: IT specialist, IT consultant/analyst, scientist/data analyst, software developer, doctor, engineer, electrical engineer, civil engineer, scientist, mathematician, nurse and senior caretaker, electrician or electrician, salesperson.
Jobs in Germany for english speakers
Although knowledge of the German language is a great advantage for a job in Germany, foreigners can also try to find a job that only requires knowledge of English. The most common job in Germany for us citizens is an English teacher. Also available to English-speaking workers are childcare, hospitality, customer service, software development, management, design and digital marketing.
When looking for a job in Germany as an English-speaking specialist, we advise you to focus on the following cities:
● Berlin - the vast majority of English-speaking vacancies are available in the fields of tourism and hotel and restaurant business.
● Munich - vacancies for English-speaking workers are open in the fields of automobile manufacturing, electronics and IT.
● Frankfurt – banking, logistics, IT and content creation.
● Hamburg - sports sector, work in aviation and on cruise ships.
● Dusseldorf – media, fashion, telecommunications and technology.
How can a foreigner find a job in Germany?
Germany offers a variety of employment options, so you will have no problem finding a job. The most popular way is to search on Internet portals, also quite often foreigners turn to recruitment agencies or search through personal contacts.
The most popular sites for finding a job in Germany by foreigners:
● Make it in Germany is the portal of the German federal agency, here you can find out whether you can move to Germany as a qualified specialist.
● JobMESH is a site that offers more than 10,000 English-language job ads.
● Berfunet – an Internet portal where vacancies appear every day.
● EURES is a European labor mobility portal, here you can search for a job in any EU country, choosing a specialty, location, etc.
● Tolanguage jobs is a website where English speakers can find jobs in Germany.
● Germany StartUp Jobs – a job portal that offers jobs in Berlin, mostly related to the technical field.
Remote jobs Germany
There is no official digital nomad visa in Germany. However, you can apply for a freelancer (Freiberufler) visa, which allows you to live in the country and work remotely for German clients.
The procedure for obtaining a freelancer visa in Germany:
1. Find potential customers - You must prove that there are at least two German customers who want to work with you after receiving the visa. To do this, clients must write "Letters of Intent" in which they confirm their agreement to cooperate.
2. Apply for a German non-resident visa at the German embassy in your country.
3. Open an account in a German bank for financial transactions.
4. Will issue medical insurance for freelancers.
5. Register your residential address with the Bürgeramt.
6. Register your freelance activity with the tax office (Finanzamt).
7. Obtain a residence permit for a freelancer from the Immigration Service (Ausländerbehörde).
German work visa (Germany job seeker visa)
If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, you do not need a visa to work in Germany. You can enter Germany and work here without special permits. You only need a valid ID to enter the country. You also do not need a residence permit to stay here for a long time.
Ukrainians have the right to work in Germany on the basis of temporary protection status or by obtaining one of the work visas in Germany. The consultation of highly qualified lawyers will help resolve all questions regarding employment in Germany.
Citizens of the USA, Canada and other foreigners need to obtain a visa to work in Germany. Here are the types of visas that allow you to work in Germany as a foreigner:
● German work visa
To apply for a German work visa, you must have a job offer from a German employer. Categories of foreigners who have the right to apply for a German work visa:
- Researchers who have special technical knowledge.
- Teachers or scientific workers in valid positions.
- Internal corporate managers or specialists.
The German work visa is valid for 12 months. However, the visa can be extended depending on the length of your employment contract.
● EU Blue Card in Germany
As a foreigner, you are eligible to apply for an EU Blue Card if:
- You have a German diploma or a scientific degree recognized by Germany.
- You have a job offer/contract from a German employer.
- You have at least five years of work experience in a certain field.
- You meet a minimum salary threshold of at least 1.5 times the national average salary (€56,400 per year).
The blue card is valid for the duration of the employment contract plus three months.
● Visa for a job seeker in Germany
A German jobseeker's visa is a long-term residence permit that allows you to stay in Germany for six months to look for work. This visa does not allow you to start working immediately. If you find a job within the specified period, you will receive a German work visa and be able to live and work in Germany.
Germany working culture
It is important that you understand its laws and workplace culture before starting work in Germany. This way, you will avoid making mistakes that could be considered rude or inappropriate.
Germany is known for its high work ethic and efficient, organized approach to business. If you plan to work in Germany, keep these key rules in mind:
● Punctuality – Punctuality is taken very seriously in Germany. Employees must arrive at work on time and adhere to the work schedule. Being late for an appointment is also considered disrespectful, so it's important to plan your time carefully and leave early to get to your destination on time.
● Formal work environment – German work culture tends to be more formal than in many other countries. Business attire is more conservative, with suits and ties for men and dresses or pantsuits for women. Communication is usually direct and to the point, it is important to be respectful and professional in communication with colleagues and superiors.
● Focus on efficiency and productivity – Germany is known for its high level of productivity and this is reflected in the country's work culture. Employees must be persistent, often paying special attention to optimizing processes and finding ways to work more efficiently. Tasks are completed in a structured and organized manner, with clear goals and expectations.
● Emphasis on work-life balance – Despite the importance of efficiency and productivity, Germany also places great emphasis on work-life balance. Many companies offer flexible work hours and other benefits to help employees achieve a healthy work-life balance. There are also strict laws to protect workers' rights, including limits on the number of working hours per week and mandatory holidays.
Legal advice - Igor Usyk, Head of Legal at Visit World
According to Art. 18 of the Act on the Residence of Foreigners, you need to prove your qualifications for employment in Germany.
Therefore, before submitting documents to the German Consulate, it is important to carefully consider what documents you can provide to confirm your qualifications in accordance with the position specified in the contract.
1. Check your educational document in the ANABIN database. If your educational institution is not listed in this database, you may need to request the recognition of your diploma by the ZAB (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen).
2. Make sure that your profession does not require a separate permit, such as medicine or engineering. If necessary, provide the embassy with the appropriate documentary evidence or at least guarantees of its receipt.
3. If you are applying for a highly skilled position, it is advisable to provide proof of your German language skills.
These steps will help you prepare for your application and make the visa application process more efficient.
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.
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.
Employment in Germany: how to get a work permit for a foreigner 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.
Photo: Morsa Images/istock/Getty Images
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