Immigration to Germany

Does Germany need immigrants?

Germany is a country with an open immigration policy. The state encourages immigration due to a lack of workers and low birth rates. In addition, the immigration policy is influenced by the historical past: returnees are welcomed back and immigration of Jews from the post-Soviet space is encouraged. Today, more than 12 million people that live in Germany were born outside the country — Germany takes second place by the number of immigrants right after the United States^[6].

Reasons to immigrate to Germany

Visa-free access. It is not surprising that a German passport is one of the most desirable. Germans have visa-free access to 189 countries, which include all EU countries, the USA and Australia^[2].
High salaries. Germany has one of the highest salaries in the EU. The average monthly salary is about 4,312 USD^[4].
Multicultural society. Many immigrants live in Germany^[1], and this may ease the adaptation — a foreigner will not feel alienated in a multicultural society.
Great medicine. So much so that Germany is one of the world centers of medical tourism^[7].
Geographical proximity to other countries. Living in Germany means living in the heart of Europe. The rest of the European countries are close at hand.
Low levels of corruption. Germany is one of the least corrupt countries in the world. And although the Germans have not yet been able to eradicate corruption completely, compared to other states, Germany has achieved fantastic results^[8].

Reasons to not immigrate to Germany

Dual citizenship is prohibited. Therefore, upon obtaining German citizenship, you will have to terminate the citizenship of your native country.
High taxes. Germany has a progressive tax scale, and the tax depending on income is up to 45%^[9]. With an average salary of about 4,312 USD^[4] the amount of tax is already approaching the maximum possible. There is a chance that a good and sought-after specialist will be able to earn that kind of money at home, without giving up almost half of the salary.
Bureaucracy. The process of immigration to Germany is associated with a large number of bureaucratic procedures. This can be felt as soon as the stage of collecting documents for an entry visa.
Long stay for citizenship. In addition to the need to perfectly know the language and structure of the country, before obtaining citizenship, in most cases, you need to live in the country for eight years^[10].

In order to immigrate to Germany, it is necessary to brace yourself for bureaucratic red tape: the candidate will need to collect more than a dozen documents, the processing and translation of which may take even more time than applying for the visa itself. On the other hand, moving to Germany is relatively inexpensive due to the geographical proximity of the state (if we speak about Europe) and reasonable visa fees. In addition, candidates who have correctly collected all the documents without any problems receive permission to move to Germany. The most important thing is to carefully study all the requirements for the desired type of immigration and prepare for it in advance without unnecessary anxiety and haste.

Universities for any budget
Scholarship options
Installment plans up to 2 years

Ways to immigrate to Germany

Immigration	Exam	Consideration period	Condition
Student	Yes	4-8 weeks	University studies, preparatory courses, vocational education
Labor	No	Individually	High qualification with an invitation, science and research work, doctors, artists by invitation, opening a business, Freiberufler (a special form of freelancing in Germany), finding a job, advanced training and subsequent employment
Marriage	Yes	From 1 month	Fiancé(e) of a citizen or resident
Family reunion	Yes	Individually	Spouse, a close relative
Resettlement program	Yes	Individually	German roots, Jews and ancestors of Jews affected by the persecution
Humanitarian	No	6 months	Refugees and people seeking protection

Main stages of immigration

Choose a method of immigration;
Obtain a D visa for the chosen immigration method;
Enter Germany to apply for a residence permit;
Acquire citizenship after living for 3 years in Germany.

Please note that citizens of EU/EEA member states, Switzerland and some other countries are exempt from the German long-stay visa requirement. They usually apply for a residence permit right after their entry to Germany without a visa. Check the complete list of exemptions on the Federal Foreign Office website.

Documents for various stages of immigration

Document	Cost	Valid	What for	Reason for obtaining
Visa D	85 USD	3-6 months	Entry for registration of residence permit / Blue card	-
Blue card	124 USD	4 years	Work	Visa D
Residence permit		6-36 months	Study, work, family	Visa D
Permanent residence	153 USD – 282 USD	∞	All rights and obligations other than political	Blue card, residence permit, Jewish immigration
Passport	288 USD	∞	All rights and obligations	Residence permit, permanent residence, repatriation

Visa D application

To obtain a D visa, you must collect the required documents and personally submit them to the German Consulate. Processing an application for a visa will take from a week to several months — depending on the method of immigration, after which it will be possible to pick up a passport with a visa.

General visa D application package

Two fulfilled, printed and signed visa application forms;
International passport with 1-2 blank pages valid for at least six months;
2 identical photos complying with the specific requirements;
Proof of Accomodation in Germany (a hotel booking, a rental agreement, a letter of invitation, etc.);
Transportation reservation or itinerary;
Proof of sufficient financial means (a bank statement, a letter of sponsorship or a blocked account);
Medical insurance for the whole period of stay in Germany.

Documents for visa D for different methods of immigration;

Educational:
Employment:
- Blue Card;
- Business and freelance;
- Scientists;
- Job search;
Family reunion;
Special programs
- Late resettlers;
- Jewish immigration.

Requirements for other documents for a D visa

Apostille on all originals of documents of civil status, except issued by the German registry office;
Notarized translation into German for all documents that are not in German (including apostilles), except for passports and insurance;
Two copies of all originals and translations;
Documents must be retained for further stages of immigration.

Please check with the German Embassy in your home country for an updated list of documents requirements for each type of visa.

Student immigration to Germany

You can immigrate to Germany through education if you enroll in a university or vocational school and get a student visa, and after graduation, you can get a job and stay in Germany. Obvious arguments for this method of immigration are a low cost of higher education and the absence of German language requirements if the training program is in English. A student visa can be obtained not only by those who already have an invitation from the educational institution but also by applicants who have just submitted application documents or take foundation courses in Germany — the main goal is to show that a future student has money to live before and after admission, as well as the ability to pay tuition. If the university is ready to accept the candidate, and the candidate has enough evidence of funds, then he will receive a visa and a residence permit without any issues when he arrives in Germany.

Education in Germany at a glance

Living in Germany: 1,243 USD/month
The cost of language courses: starting at 282 USD/month;
The cost of higher education: free, only semester fees are paid, starting at 452 USD/year;
Language proficiency: English, German;
Number of universities: 418;
Universities in the world ’s top 100: 3;
International students at German universities: 8.3%;

More details about education in Germany.

The process of immigration through education

Main article Student immigration

Search for an educational institution and prepare the documents;
Wait for admission and receive an invitation from the university;
Collect documents (original + translation + 2 copies) and apply for a national D study visa at the Consulate of Germany;
Wait for consideration of the application (4-8 weeks);
Open a blocked account, if required;
Enter Germany and obtain a residence permit;
Apply for a graduate Residence permit (63 USD 113 USD) for a period of up to 18 months upon successful completion of studies.

Admission to a German university

Main article: German Universities

Documents for admission to the university

Certificates of prior education with the translations;
Letters of recommendation;
Motivation letter;
Language certificate depending on the language of instruction;
Other documents upon request.

Student visa application

Documents for a student visa

Package of general documents for D visa;
Proof of civil status;
Copies of previous visas, if any;
A CV with evidences of previous / current internships and employment;
Evidence of funds (the minimum of 11,567 USD/year);
Certificates of prior education;
An acceptance letter, or confirmation of application (for student applicant visa);
Language certificate depending on the language of instruction (at least B1 level);
Cover letter explaining reasons for studying and future plans;
Other documents per request.

Additional documents for underaged students

Notarized consent of parents allowing the student to travel abroad unaccompanied and authorizing a prolonged stay of the child in Germany;
Notarized confirmation of the presence of a guardian in Germany with copies of his identification card;
Birth certificate of a child;
D visa application must be signed by parents.

Work while studying in Germany

Main article Student immigration

120 days full-time (40 hours a week) or 240 days part-time (20 hours a week);
Work as an assistant on campus without restrictions;
Mandatory practice/internship as part of the exam preparation;
Voluntary practice, which is not included in the curriculum (90 days a year or with the permission of the Labor Department).

EU/EEA nationals are allowed to work for a maximum of 20 hours a week during term time (including volunteering).

Labor immigration to Germany

To immigrate to Germany as an employee, it is necessary not only to find a job in advance and receive an official invitation from the future employer, but also to confirm your degree and/or work experience. When this is done, you can apply for a work visa. It will allow you to enter the country and give the right to obtain a residence permit or a Blue card.

Types of labor immigration

Labor immigration	Valid	Exam
Blue card	Up to 4 years	No
Businessmen, Freiberufler (German freelancers), scientists and researchers, artists	6–36 months	No
Doctors	6–36 months	Yes

How to confirm your degree

The process of confirming higher education and qualifications:

Find your university in the ANABIN database. It must be accredited (have the status of H+), and the specialty or degree must be on the list for this university. This means that the education received in it corresponds to the one in Germany;
If specialty/higher education institution is not listed in the database, or are treated as category "meets/comparable", educational certificates of such institutions must be validated. This can be done at the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen, ZAB). This information can be found on the official website. The cost is about 226 USD. A diploma from an accredited university may also require a validation — details must be checked with official representatives of the department.

Documents for confirmation of higher education

Passport;
A CV in tabular form (education and work experience) in German;
Diplomas / certificates with a notarized translation into German;
A letter of intent in German;
Recommendation letters;
Other documents upon request.

Useful resources for finding work in Germany

Make it in Germany — Specialists site about a job search, professions and relocation;
Monster.de - German site for a job search;
LinkedIn, Xing — international social networks for a job search;
EURES — European Commission website’s section for job search.

EU Blue Card for professionals

Skilled university graduates who have found an employer in Germany can enter the country on a work visa and receive a blue EU card. The blue card is an analog of a residence permit, but with better conditions: it is valid for 4 years, allows you to stay outside Germany and the EU for up to 12 months, and obtaining it does not require the knowledge of German. With these cards, the European Union attracts the best professionals, providing them with good living conditions. Registration of a blue card takes about 6 weeks after applying. The card gives the right to work and social guarantees.

Requirements for obtaining a visa and a blue card

Qualification of a specialist or a master’s degree;
Confirmed higher education (qualifications based solely on experience are not evaluated);
Written guarantees of employment with a minimum annual salary of 60,567 USD or 47,243 USD for STEM professionals;
Your job in Germany must be related to your qualifications.

Documents for a visa to obtain a blue card

Package of general documents for a D visa;
An employment contract/guarantee of a job with a description of duties and requirements;
Higher education diploma recognized in Germany;
Confirmation foreign language proficiency, if any (certificates from the language school, Language certificates);
Employment record book;
A CV in tabular form;
Inquiries from the employer, letters of recommendation, if any.

The process of immigration with an EU Blue Card

Notarize translations of all documents (including Apostille) into German;
Get a confirmation of higher education at the Central Office for Foreign Education;
Search for a future employer and pass an interview;
Receive a formal job offer or contract;
Collect the documents (original + translation + 2 copies) and apply for D visa to the Consulate of Germany in person;
Get a visa within several weeks;
Enter Germany to start your work;
Apply for a blue card at the Office for Foreigners (Ausländeramt) in Bonn;
Get a blue card within a month;
Obtaining permanent residence after 33 months or after 21 months with a German language certificate of B1.

Immigration for scientists, doctors, and artists

Requirements for scientists, doctors, and artists

Confirmed professional qualifications;
A job invitation or a signed contract;
Knowledge of German of at least B2 (only for doctors).

Documents for a visa for scientists

Package of general documents for a D visa;
An employment contract/guaranteed job offer or contract with a research institution;
A confirmed diploma of the last higher education;
Confirmation of foreign languages proficiency, if any (certificates from the language school, Language certificates);
Employment record book;
A CV in tabular form;
Inquiries from the employer, letters of recommendation, if any.

Documents for a visa for doctors

Package of general documents for a D visa;
An employment contract/guaranteed doctor position;
Confirmed diploma;
German proficiency of at least B2;
Permission to work as a doctor;
Employment record book;
A CV in tabular form without any time gaps, with a full address and contact information;
Inquiries from the employer, letters of recommendation, if any.

Documents for a visa for artists

Package of general documents for a D visa;
Medical insurance covering sport and professional injuries;
Employment contract/engagement;
Confirmed certificate of vocational education;
Employment record book;
A CV in tabular form without any time gaps, with a full address and contact information;
Inquiries from the employer, letters of recommendation, if any.

What should be indicated in the employment contract of a scientist, doctor or an artist?

Employer information (name, address, contracts);
The specified type of activity for scientists and artist;
Part-time or full-time employment;
The amount of the monetary reward in EUR without tax deduction or scholarship (indicate the source of scholarship);
Employment period (fixed-term/perpetual);
In the contract specify whether you are hired as an employee of a freelancer.

The process of immigration for scientists, doctors, and artists

Notarize translation of all documents into German (including Apostille);
Get a confirmation of professional qualifications;
Make a contract with the employer;
Receive confirmation of admission;
Collect documents (original + translation + 2 copies) for D visa;
Apply for a D visa in person at the German Consulate;
Obtain a visa within 1-2 months;
Enter Germany and register a residence permit.

Requirements for international personnel exchanges within the company or for those who enter as contractors may slightly vary.

Entry for job search or recognition of qualifications with subsequent employment

Visa D can also be obtained for a job search in Germany. All requirements for documents for labor migration are preserved, but you do not need to have a confirmation of the employment. Instead, you need to confirm the availability of funds for the duration of the job search — in this case, a visa will be issued for six months.
Sometimes employment is possible only after recognition or advanced training in Germany. In this case, in addition to the contract with the future employer, documents about the planned training must be attached.

How to increase the chances of obtaining a visa for work

Attach a full set of documents. Lack of even one of them will cause denial;
Add letters of recommendation from previous places of study and work.

Business immigration and Freiberufler in Germany

Does Germany need entrepreneurs?

Immigration of entrepreneurs and investors is important for Australia, as well as for many other countries: foreign entrepreneurs and investors provide capital inflows, create jobs, and fill up the shortages of goods and services in the market. Before immigration, the businessman must analyze the local market, negotiate with potential partners, states and territories, if necessary, present a business plan. In other words, the host state must believe in the economic success of the future enterprise.

Business immigration to Germany involves two types of activity. The first is entrepreneurship, and the second is private business when a highly qualified professional works for himself. In German law, he is called a Freiberufler, or a freelancer. This is not just any freelancer though — the Freiberufler is a certified specialist, registered legally. He is not considered an entrepreneur and does not pay entrepreneurial tax, although he can hire assistants. Such professions include consultants, educators, translators, writers, psychologists, nutritionists, lawyers, dentists, and some others.

Is it easy for a businessman to immigrate to Germany?

It may seem that immigration through business is a very simple way because to open a company you can have only 1 USD in the authorized capital, and a Freiberufler is completely exempt from such a requirement and taxes. However, everything is not so simple: the amount of the authorized capital is taken into account and matters when deciding whether to issue a visa to a future businessman, and the future free employee must prove his professionalism. After the candidate has prepared his business project or documents on professional qualifications, he can apply for a visa. If it is approved, it will only be necessary to enter the country and apply for a residence permit.

Requirements for obtaining a visa for business;

Share capital depending on the type of the company (from 1 USD for UG company and from 28,250 USD for GmbH company);
Conducting preliminary procedures for starting a business: creating constituent documents, drawing up a business plan, etc.

Requirements for obtaining a visa for Freiberufler

Confirmed professional qualifications;
Work experience.

Documents for a visa for business and liberal professions

Package of general documents for a visa D;
Confirmation of old age security (the availability of personal property in any form, the right to receive a pension in your home country/or abroad, etc.) for persons over 45 years of age;
Confirmation of language proficiency, if any;
Certificates of education, advanced training, confirmation of experience;
Employment record book;
A CV in tabular form without any time gaps, with a full address and contact information;
Inquiries from the employer, letters of recommendation, if any;
Financing plan, evidence of funds (for example, bank statement);
A detailed description of work plans for Freiberufler.

Additional documents for starting a business

Notarized constituent document;
Notarized constituent agreement;
Current transcript from the trade register;
List of company’s members/shareholders, if any;
An employment contract made with the commercial director, if any;
Description of a business idea;
Other documents upon request.

The process of immigration through business

Notarize translations of all documents (including Apostille) into German;
Prepare constituent documents;
Collect the documents (original + translation + 2 copies) and apply for a D visa personally at the German Consulate;
Wait for submission of the application by the Consulate to the Federal Foreign Offiсe in Germany (Ausländerbehörde) and its consideration within a few months;
Obtain a visa and enter Germany;
Obtain a residence permit at the Federal Foreign Offiсe (takes from several weeks to several months).

Marriage immigration to Germany

This is the easiest way to immigrate to Germany that does not require language skills, education or professional experience. For marriage immigration, you need to get a special visa for the fiance — such a visa is needed to enter the country and marry a citizen or resident of the country. After that, you can easily get a permanent residence in Germany after 3 years of consecutive stay. The disadvantage of this type of immigration is a large number of bureaucratic obstacles that prevent the arrangement of a fictitious marriage. If the migration service discovers that the marriage is fictitious, then the fraudster is extradited from the country. Same-sex marriage is also legal in Germany.

Requirements for a marriage visa

18+ years old;
Lack of registered or civil marriage;
Lack of family ties with the future spouse;
Legal capacity;
Compliance with the conditions of marriage law in their country;
Knowledge of German of at least level A1;
The date of marriage must be set before obtaining a visa.
When it is unnecessary to confirm German proficiency
According to the rules of the German Federal Foreign Office, a certificate can be omitted in a number of exceptional cases, such as:
- Candidate’s language proficiency is obvious and can be checked at an interview for a visa;
- The candidate has a German child;
- The spouse has a blue card;
- A candidate is married to a German citizen who has lived in another EU state for a long time;
- A candidate married to a German citizen tried to master German, but failed to do so (confirmation of training within 1 year and convincing reasons for the situation are required);
- If the candidate’s spouse is a citizen of Australia, Canada, Israel, the USA, South Korea, Andorra, Monaco or San Marino;
- If the candidate or (future) spouse are citizens of one of the EU countries;
- It is not possible to confirm language proficiency due to illness;
- The candidate does not intend to stay in Germany for a long period of time;
- The marriage was already concluded at the time of the spouse's moving to Germany as a refugee, professional, scientific worker, etc.

Documents for a visa for marriage

The package of general documents for D visa;
Two copies from the passport of the current marital status page;
Marriage ability certificate (Ehefähigkeitszeugnis);
Certificate from the German registry office about filing an application with the date of marriage (can be submitted by the time you get a visa, but no later);
Certificate from the German registry office about the existence of all prerequisites for marriage, if the application to the registry office has not been filed at the time of applying for a visa;
All certificates of civil status, if at the time of filing there is not a single certificate from the German registry office;
Certificate of knowledge of the German language (from A1);
All certificates from the registry office and the court on the conclusion/dissolution of marriage/death (if the marriage is not the first);
The application of the bride/groom made in Germany on the adoption of obligations on expenses and planned residence in Germany, may be in an official form — a partner in Germany receives it at the Foreign Office closest to the current address;
2 copies of a passport or identity card of a partner from Germany;
2 copies of a certificate of registration at the partner's place of residence not older than 6 months

The process of immigration with a visa for marriage

Affix an apostille on all documents of civil status and provide a notarized translation of all documents (including Apostille) into German;
Submit the documents to the German registry office and obtain a marriage certificate, or
Obtain a certificate in the same office proving the presence of all the prerequisites for marriage, or
Confirm marriage ability;
Collect the documents for D visa (original + translation + 2 copies);
Apply for a D visa in person at the German Consulate;
Wait for an examination of visa application D which takes up to 1 month;
Submit the documents to the German registry office (if not filed yet);
Obtain a D visa for entry and marriage;
Enter Germany, marry and obtain a residence permit on the basis of marriage;
It is possible to obtain permanent residence or citizenship after three years of living with a residence permit.

Family reunification in Germany

Сlose relatives of a German citizen or resident (these are spouses, minor children and parents) have the right to immigrate. Relatives who require medical care in Germany can also go there. To immigrate to a loved one, you need to prove family ties with him with the help of birth certificates, marriage certificates and other documents in accordance with the case circumstances^[11]. After applying for a visa and entering the country, the candidate receives a residence permit.

Documents for a visa for a reunion with a spouse

Package of general documents for visa D;
2 copies of the marital status passport page with a stamp with an apostille;
Marriage certificate;
Certificates from the registry office and the court on the conclusion/dissolution of marriage/death, if the marriage is not the first;
2 copies of the partner’s identity card from Germany;
2 copies of a certificate of registration of a partner at the place of residence not older than 6 months;
A free-form invitation for cohabitation from a partner from Germany;
A free-form statement on the taking of expenses for the moving person;
Certificate of knowledge of the German language (from A1).

How to increase the chances of obtaining a visa for marriage and family

Attach a full set of documents. Lack of even one of them will cause failure;
Attach the maximum possible number of documents proving future cohabitation.

Humanitarian immigration to Germany

People who cannot stay in their own country due to persecution or humanitarian disaster can receive asylum in Germany. In this case, the candidate must provide evidence that will convince the immigration service to give him protection. To obtain asylum, you must arrive in Germany with any visa and apply to the refugee reception center. Arriving illegally and applying for help at the border will get you a temporary housing for the duration of the proceedings. They are also given food, personal hygiene products, clothing, free medical care and pocket money. In addition to evidence of persecution, like with any other method of crossing the border, you must have your identification documents that the immigrant has managed to take with him: passport, driver's license, birth certificate.

Who can count on asylum in Germany?

Asylum in Germany can be granted to people who are persecuted in their home country on the grounds of:

Race;
Nationality;
Membership in a social group (including sexual minorities);
Religion
Political views.

Those who fled from their country because of a humanitarian catastrophe — war, famine, genocide and massive violations of human rights can also count on protection.

How to prove the fact of the persecution

It is necessary to provide as much evidence of the persecution as possible:

Inquiries from medical institutions;
Photos;
Received letters with threats;
News articles;
Evidence of engagement with human rights organizations.

It must be reported if the refugee was subjected to torture, serious bodily harm was inflicted, or there is a threat of his death penalty at home due to persecution based on the indicated signs.

The process of obtaining asylum

Appeal to the border officers, the police, the migration service or directly to one of the refugee reception centers;
Receive a confirmation of arrival;
Be distributed to one of the German lands according to quotas;
Get accommodated in temporary housing;
Apply for asylum;
Pass an interview explaining the reasons for fleeing a home country;
Wait for the review of the asylum application within six months;
Get a residence permit for 1 to 3 years;
Leave the country if the application is rejected.

How to increase the chances of obtaining asylum or protection

Apply for protection by entering Germany legally;
Provide as much evidence of harassment as possible.

Immigration with the family

When applying for a visa for the purpose of entry and obtaining a residence permit or permanent residence, the candidate has the right to take with him close family members — spouse and children. In this case, you need to apply for a visa for each family member. Sometimes a German language proficiency test is required not only from the main candidate but also from members of his family — this requirement depends on the method of immigration. All family members must apply and be present when receiving a visa in person.

Obtaining German citizenship

German passport gives the immigrant political rights and the possibility of visa-free entry to most countries of the world, however, to obtain it, you will need to renounce your previous citizenship. Since work rights and social guarantees can be used with a residence permit, permanent residence and the Blue Card, obtaining citizenship is not always a vital step for an immigrant.

Requirements for obtaining citizenship

German proficiency (at least B1);
EU blue card, or
A visa not obtained for study/internship/volunteering, or
A residence permit, or
An unlimited EU residence permit;
Knowledge of the social structure of Germany;
Stay in Germany for 8 or 6–7 years upon successful completion of integration course and certificate B2, or 3 years in marriage immigration;
Be self-sufficient and have funds to support yourself and family members;
Lack of criminal record;
Recognition of the values of a free democratic public order.

Documents for obtaining citizenship;

Current identity card (residence permit, permanent residence);
Language certificate;
Civics test results;
Police certificate;
Certificate of renouncing previous citizenship;
Other documents upon request.

The process of obtaining citizenship

Pass a civics test;
Appeal to the Office of Citizenship Affairs at the place of residence;
Obtain the Einbürgerungszusicherung certificate for renunciation of citizenship;
Make an appointment to the German Consulate at the place of residence;
Submit the documents (the exact list and forms are provided by the Consulate);
Wait for revocation of citizenship within 6-12 months;
Obtain confirmation of lack of citizenship;
Apply for citizenship (a form is issued by the German Citizenship Office);
Submit the documents for German citizenship;
Obtain German citizenship.