Immigration to Germany is a dream of many people as Germany has been considered the fifth most favorable country to study, live and work. This favorableness is due to its well-functioning economy, education system and job opportunities. People from all over the world want the opportunity to move to Germany. This article will focus on information about the possible cases of immigration to Germany and the latest reforms!

To immigrate to Germany, you will need a valid reason. There are a number of ways that foreign citizens can move to Germany, and these include the following reasons, which will be explained in more detail below.

• Settle in Germany to work,
• Immigration to Germany for Education,
• German immigration for entrepreneurs,
• Immigrate to Germany for family reunification,
• German immigration residence permit.

General requirements for immigration to Germany

Although there are many ways to immigrate to Germany and each has its own specific requirements, there are some similarities between them. To be eligible to move to Germany, you must meet the following criteria:

Proof of financial stability

Each immigration purpose has a financial threshold that applicants must meet, but regardless of the purpose, applicants must demonstrate that they can support themselves financially in Germany. Even if you will be working in Germany, you must have initial funds to cover your expenses until you receive your salary.

Have Health Insurance

You will not be able to immigrate to Germany without proper health insurance. The recommended way is to buy German health insurance as you cannot be sure whether the German authorities will accept foreign health insurance. 

Have at least basic knowledge of German

To be able to live in Germany, you need to know German. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​has three language proficiency levels A, B and C. Each level has two parts. Language proficiency is divided into A1/A2 or basic, B1/B2 or language proficiency and C1/C2 or advanced language skills. To immigrate to Germany, you need to take exams and pass them to A1 or B1. If you want to settle down, you will need a higher level of C1 or C2.

Apply for German Visa

Citizens of Vietnam must apply and obtain a visa before entering Germany. 

Types of German Visa:

• Business visa
• German student visa
• Job search visa
• Work Visa (Employment)
• Scientist Visa 
• Training/Internship Visa
• Family reunion visa to join relatives or partners

For expert advice on all types of German visas and to manage your application professionally, consider working with legal experts. They provide expert advice on all matters related to German visas, immigration law and German residence permits.

Immigrate to Germany to work

Germany has reported a shortage of skilled workers and highly qualified people. They are constantly looking for engineers, IT specialists, medical staff and other qualified professionals. To encourage such people to migrate to Germany, foreign immigration authorities have relaxed the strict requirements to come to Germany and work.

Therefore, one of the most popular ways to immigrate to Germany is to find a job in the country. The steps to go to Germany to work are as follows:

•  Find a job in Germany that accepts foreign citizens,
•  Apply for a German Work (Employment) Visa ,
•  Move to Germany and get a work residence permit.

In addition, to be granted a residence permit to work in Germany, employers and employees must demonstrate that:

• There is a shortage of staff from Germany or the EU, so they cannot fill the position,
• That the employee will have the same conditions as any other German employee in terms of salary and working environment,
• That the employee meets all educational and work experience requirements for the job position,
• That the company hiring employees meets all the necessary requirements of the German authorities (registration and certification documents).

As an employee in Germany, you will have the opportunity to work for as long as your residence permit allows it. If your employer wants to continue your working relationship even when your work permit is about to expire, you can apply for an extension or, after a certain period of time; you can also apply for permanent residence.

However, if you are an unskilled worker, immigrating to Germany through employment will be much more difficult.

If you run into legal difficulties during this process, you may not be able to proceed without legal help. Germany’s notoriously complex bureaucracy can be complex and slow. 

Immigration to Germany for Education

Many people do not realize this, but Germany offers free education. Unlike countries like the United States, which charge huge tuition fees, universities in Germany have very low tuition fees or no tuition at all. Because of this, Germany is a popular place to immigrate for educational purposes.

To immigrate to Germany to complete your degree, you must apply for a German student visa. If you receive a German student visa and complete your studies, you can stay in Germany to look for a job for a limited period of time. If you find a job during that time, you are allowed to stay in Germany. Reports show that up to 54% of students who complete their degrees in Germany stay and find work there. 

Immigration to Germany for Business People

If you are an investor interested in Germany, you are in luck. Entrepreneurs and investors who create economic opportunities in Germany are allowed to immigrate there. However, there is a certain investment threshold that you need to meet. As of this writing, it is 250,000 Euros. Additionally, you will need to obtain a Self-Employment Visa, which falls under the category of German Work Visas. To be granted a Visa, you must prove the following:

• That you have the necessary money to invest,
• That your investment will benefit the German economy,
• That your investment is required domestically.

If you maintain your status as an entrepreneur in Germany, you will also be allowed to renew your residence permit indefinitely after three years. Renewing your residence permit indefinitely means you can enter and leave the country whenever you want.

Entrepreneurs from all over the world bring their ideas to Germany’s lucrative market. However, entrepreneurs should work with business immigration lawyers who can oversee their applications and business plans.

The German Business Immigration team adopts a full service approach and will not only prepare your application but also advise you on business opportunities in Germany, draft your business plan and ensure it meets the requirements set out and support you in setting up your German business.

Settling in Germany for family reunification

There are cases where people move to Germany for various reasons but have to leave their families behind in their home country. All spouses and children under the age of 16 can apply for immigration to Germany to reunite with their spouse or parents.

To qualify for family reunification, the spouse must prove that they are married and the children must have birth certificates. For children under 16, German language skills are not required as they are expected to learn German quickly. However, for children over 16, full documentation must be provided to prove their German language skills and ability to adapt and integrate.

For spouses, they will need to have at least an A1 level of German to qualify. If the spouse is already in Germany and can work, the same will apply to the joining spouse. Visas for spouses are subject to the same conditions.

If you are experiencing any practical difficulties in your case or you would like to find ways to minimise the risk of your application being refused then consider working with experts in this field.

German Residence Permit

When you receive one of these immigration visas, you will also receive a residence permit. Residence permits can be temporary or permanent. A temporary residence permit allows a foreign national to stay in Germany for a certain period of time and then return to their home country. A permanent residence permit means that a foreigner can stay in Germany as long as they want, and can leave and return to their home country whenever they want.

However, a permanent residence permit does not mean that you get German citizenship. That is a completely different process. In general, Germany has two types of temporary residence permits and one permanent one.

Standard residence permit

This type of residence permit is used for all the immigration purposes listed above and for other purposes, such as completing training courses, for former Germans who want to return to Germany and for people coming to Germany for political and humanitarian reasons. The standard residence permit is valid for a certain period of time and can be extended.

European Union (EU) Blue Card

The EU Blue Card for Germany is issued to foreign workers (non-EU citizens) who are highly qualified and want to work in Germany and apply those skills. Highly qualified means that the person has a university or postgraduate degree in any field. To qualify for an EU Blue Card, you need to find a job in Germany and the minimum annual salary must be 56,800 Euros.

The EU Blue Card grants the holder the right to remain in Germany for four years, with the possibility of changing their residence permit to a permanent residence. To qualify for a permanent residence permit, the person must demonstrate sufficient German language skills, meet specific financial requirements and have worked in Germany for more than 33 months in a workplace requiring skills acquired at the highest level.

Settlement Permit or Permanent Residence Permit

A permanent residence permit in Germany is called a Settlement Permit. A Settlement Permit is issued to people who have held a standard residence permit or EU Blue Card for at least five years and meet certain language requirements.

The German parliament has passed a law opening up new opportunities for jobseekers from non-EU countries and for many refugees already in the country. 

The Bundestag has finally passed a new immigration law reform aimed at encouraging more people from outside the European Union to come to Germany to work.

?This draft law guarantees prosperity in Germany?, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) said on June 23 as she presented the government’s plan in the morning chamber, although she added that it would only work if bureaucratic hurdles were removed in its implementation.

“It is unacceptable that you have to fill out 17 different applications to bring a new carer into the country,” she said.

Germany looks to attract skilled foreign workers
New Opportunity Card

One important new innovation under the law is a new opportunity card and associated points system, which allows unemployed foreigners to queue up to come to Germany for a year to find work.

The prerequisite for obtaining the card will be a vocational qualification or a university degree.

The card will be awarded to those who meet certain conditions, for which they will be awarded points: These could be German and/or English language skills, an existing relationship with Germany and the possibility of having a partner or spouse accompanying them on the German labour market.

The opportunity card will also allow for seasonal work of up to 20 hours a week while looking for a qualifying job, as well as trial work.

Refugee integration

Those who are awaiting asylum approval and have received their application by 29 March 2023, have the appropriate qualifications, a job offer and will also be allowed to enter the labour market. This will also allow them to participate in vocational training.

A similar change applies to those here on tourist visas. They will not be required to leave the country before returning in an employment context.

Why is Germany short of care workers?

Degree recognition

A major obstacle to immigration has long been the requirement to have a degree recognized in Germany. 

In the future, skilled immigrants will no longer be required to have their qualifications recognised in Germany if they can prove that they have at least two years of professional experience and a state-recognised qualification in their country of origin. Those who already have a job offer will be able to come to Germany and start working while their qualifications are still being recognised.

Citizen identification law reform

In the parliamentary debate, Martin Rosemann from Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD looked ahead: ?Well-qualified young people from all over the world are not really lining up to come to work in Germany,? he said. ?We have to attract them and give them a long-term perspective. That’s why we will also reform the citizenship law.?

The skilled immigration law is part of the Scholz government’s initiative to liberalise conditions for non-Germans in the country. The new citizenship law currently being drafted will also make it easier for dual nationals from non-EU countries to apply for citizenship? something that has been particularly welcomed by Germany’s large Turkish community.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Question: Can I come to Germany to work as an unskilled worker?

Answer: If you are an unskilled worker, immigrating to Germany through employment will be much more difficult.

The steps to go to Germany to work are as follows:

•  Find a job in Germany that accepts foreign citizens,
•  Apply for a German Work (Employment) Visa ,
•  Move to Germany and get a work residence permit.

In addition, to be granted a residence permit to work in Germany, employers and employees must demonstrate that:

• There is a shortage of staff from Germany or the EU, so they cannot fill the position,
• That the employee will have the same conditions as any other German employee in terms of salary and working environment,
• That the employee meets all educational and work experience requirements for the job position,
• That the company hiring employees meets all the necessary requirements of the German authorities (registration and certification documents).