Frankfurt 
Residence Permit for Employed Professionals
Non-EU (third-country) professionals looking for a “work visa” in Germany may be a bit confused when researching the process. Rather than a “visa” issued by the Federal Foreign Office that permits the ability to work in the country, the Immigration Authority of each city issues a residence permit (or Aufenthaltserlaubnis) that allows the holder to stay in Germany and work under specific conditions. In order to obtain a residence permit, qualified workers must have certain qualifications.
Minimum application requirements:
- The possession of qualifications that are recognized in Germany or comparable to qualifications from a German institution of higher education.
- A formal employment offer (job contract) with a position that is appropriate based on the applicant’s qualifications.
- If over the age of 45 and coming to Germany for the first time as an employee, a minimum gross annual salary of 46,860 (as of 2021), or proof of adequate retirement pension provisions, is required.
Additional details on application requirements can be viewed on our page on Residence Permits in Germany.
For professionals that hold recognized higher education degrees or intend to work in certain impacted fields that lack qualified talent, you may be qualified for an EU Blue Card.
EU Blue Card
Certain highly qualified or academic professionals may be eligible to apply for an EU Blue Card, which permits employment not only in Germany but throughout the European Union. This offers typically executive-level professionals and experienced business professionals the opportunity for flexibility in their choice of working place (all EU countries except Denmark and Ireland). Germany remains the highest issuer of EU Blue Cards throughout the region and is welcoming to qualified international talent.
Minimum application requirements:
- The possession of a university degree that was acquired in Germany OR recognized/comparable to a German degree.
- A formal employment offer (job contract) of at least one year with a position that is appropriate based on the applicant’s qualifications.
- The gross annual income must be at least 56,800 EUR (as of 2021).
- For employees within the fields of natural science, human medicine, IT, engineering, and mathematics, the gross annual income must be at least 44,304 EUR (as of 2021).
Full details on application requirements can be viewed on our page on Residence Permits in Germany.
If you require legal assistance with your EU Blue Card application or have an Employment Law issue in relation to your EU Blue Card holder status, our specialized German Employment Law attorneys welcome your inquiry.