5 steps for successful labour migration

Starting your own business

The EU Blue Card (§ 18g AufenthG) is a visa for taking up employment and is aimed at citizens of non-EU countries who wish to work in Brandenburg. The requirements for this are an academic degree, educational qualifications with at least three years of training or previous employment as an IT specialist or manager, even without formal qualifications (§ 18g para. 2 AufenthG). To obtain this visa, the applicant must have a job that matches their qualifications and a certain salary. This visa offers numerous advantages, such as shorter deadlines for obtaining a permanent residence permit, simplified family reunification without the requirement of language skills and proof of sufficient living space for the family, as well as the possibility of parents and parents-in-law joining the applicant.

The general requirements (Section 5 (1) AufenthG) for entry to Brandenburg are: Passport, proof of financial means, no existing reason for deportation. In order to successfully obtain the "EU Blue Card" visa for labour migration to Brandenburg, you already need an employment contract with an employer with a guarantee of employment of at least 6 months. Before applying for an entry visa, clarify which qualifications are recognised and which language skills are required for the intended job.

Step 1

Check requirements

Equivalence or comparability of the foreign university or vocational qualification, possibly a licence to practise.

- Information on the recognition of university qualifications: Anabin.kmk.org

- Information on the recognition of vocational qualifications: For skilled workers (anerkennung-in-deutschland.de)
Employment in Germany appropriate to the qualification
Concrete job offer in Germany or valid employment contract with a minimum employment period of six months
Required gross annual salary of at least €45,300 (year 2024) for regular occupations and €41,041.80 (year 2024) for bottleneck occupations (list of bottleneck occupations) as well as for young professionals
Special case: IT specialist without formal qualification + at least three years of professional experience at university level + concrete job offer as IT specialist or valid employment contract (at least six months' employment): annual gross salary of at least €41,041.80 (year 2024)

Requirements EU Blue Card for IT specialists without formal qualifications

Specific job offer as an IT specialist
Employment in Germany commensurate with the qualification
Employment contract for at least 6 months of employment
At least 3 years of professional experience in the IT sector in the past 7 years
At least €41,041.80 gross annual salary (2024)

Step 2 (in the home country)

Appointment request at the German Embassy

Applying for an appointment at the German Embassy
Prepare the required documents: including employment contract, passport, proof of recognised university or vocational qualification, visa application form
Websites of the German missions
Application forms for national visas (auswaertiges-amt.de)

Note: Find out about the expedited procedure for skilled workers – with the help of your employer, this can shorten the entry process.

Step 3

Apply for a visa

Please ensure you have all the necessary documents ready.
National visa fee: €75 (in local currency)
Websites of the German missions abroad
Foreign portal | Overview of visas (diplo.de) – The online procedure is being gradually expanded

Please note: The processing time varies considerably depending on the mission abroad and the processing effort involved. Please check the website of the relevant embassy

Step 4 - in Germany

Entry to/arrival in Germany

Issuance of an entry visa for the purpose of taking up skilled employment.

A valid health insurance policy must be presented in order to obtain the entry visa.
After entering the country, a new health insurance policy must be taken out in Germany.
Book your trip to Germany.

Step 5

Apply for a residence permit at your place of residence

Register your residential address in Germany with the residents‘ registration office (within two weeks of arrival)
- Residents’ registration offices in Brandenburg
Book an appointment with the relevant immigration office
- Find the immigration office responsible for you: BAMF-NAvI - Authorities
Find out which documents are required from the immigration office and prepare them
Apply for a residence permit to take up skilled employment (Sections 18a, 18b of the Residence Act).
Fees can be up to €100 (Section 45 ff of the Residence Ordinance)

Note: The application for a residence permit must be submitted before the entry visa expires.

Links and brochures

Explanatory video: EU Blue Card: watch on YouTube

Erklärvideo: Als IT-Fachkraft in Deutschland durchstarten: watch on YouTube

Erforderliche Deutschkenntnisse: Je nach Visumart, können unterschiedliche Deutschkenntnisse zur Voraussetzung gehören (PDF-Dokument)

Anerkennung von Hochschulabschlüssen: Bewertung von nicht nichtdeutschen Hochschulabschlüssen: > Anabin.kmk.org

Informationen über die Anerkennung von beruflichen Qualifikationen: > Für Fachkräfte – anerkennung-in-deutschland.de

Anerkennung in Deutschland: Informationsportal zur Anerkennung ausländischer Berufsqualifikationen: > For skilled workers (anerkennung-in-deutschland.de)

Anerkennungsberatung im Ausland: ProRecognition: In einigen Ländern gibt es Annerkennugsberatungsstellen vor Ort: > ProRecognition Beratungsstellen

Erklärvideo: Das beschleunigte Fachkräfteverfahren: Der kürzere Weg nach Brandenburg (muss vom zukünftigen Arbeitgebenden beantragt werden): > zum YouTube-Video

Ankommen in Brandenburg: Willkommen in Brandenburg!-Beratungsstellen: PDF-Dokument mit regionalen Ansprechpartnern in den Brandenburger Landkreisen

Ausländerbehörden: Finden Sie die für Sie zuständige Ausländerbehörde finden: > BAMF-NAvI - Behörden

zuständige Botschaft finden: > Webseiten der deutschen Auslandsvertretungen

Kontakt

> IQ Servicestellen Fachkräfteeinwanderung NordWest & SüdOst

Einwohnermeldeämter

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