
Employing international specialists
Employing international specialists is a good way for companies to meet the growing demand for workers in the long term.
The options for recruiting and employing international specialists vary depending on the region of origin and qualifications. Here you can find out what options are available, how the recruitment process works and what you should pay particular attention to. An overview of all relevant recruitment programs that support you in this process can be found at the end of this page.
Country of origin of the specialist
Citizens of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA) (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) enjoy unrestricted freedom of movement for workers. This means that they can take up and pursue employment under the same conditions as German nationals and are treated equally to them under social and labor law.
The working conditions must correspond to those of a comparable German employee.
If you would like to recruit specifically in the European Economic Area, you can advertise your vacancies free of charge on the following job boards:
Fachkräfteportal Brandenburg
advertise quickly and easily
Make it in Germany - job exchange
an offer from the Federal Employment Agency
EURES - Job exchange
an offer of the Federal Employment Agency
If you want to hire someone from abroad, nationality plays a decisive role. In most cases, approval from the Federal Employment Agency is required if the future employee or skilled worker comes from a third country. Not only the nationality is checked, but also the professional qualifications of the person and the type of work in your company.
There are easier conditions for certain nationalities, e.g. visa-free entry for citizens of certain countries (e.g. USA, Canada, Australia).
If you need further support, you can also contact the Employer Service of the Federal Employment Agency. There you will receive advice and support in the search for and recruitment of skilled workers from abroad.
You can post your international job vacancies here free of charge:
Brandenburg skilled workers portal
Advertise quickly and easily
Make it in Germany - Job exchange
an offer of the Federal Employment Agency
EURES - Job exchange
an offer of the Federal Employment Agency
The Western Balkans regulation enables companies in Germany to employ workers from the Western Balkan states (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) under simplified conditions. The regulation applies to all types of employment; recognition of professional qualifications in Germany is not required, except for regulated professions such as doctors.
The Western Balkans regulation has a fixed quota. The Federal Employment Agency can issue up to 50,000 residence permits per calendar year.
Summary of the conditions in the PDF download at: make-it-in-germany.com/...
You can apply for prior approval under the Western Balkans regulation online here
https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/unternehmen/fachkraefte-ausland/westbalkanregelung
People with nursing training
If you would like to recruit nurses from abroad, you should first find out about the country of origin. The recruitment process differs depending on whether the nurse comes from an EU/EEA country or a third country. In many countries, training to become a nurse is academic, so recognition of professional qualifications is important. Nurses from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland generally have their qualifications recognized automatically.
Service Centers for Skilled Immigration NorthWest & SouthEast
https://www.ihk-projekt.de/servicestellen-fachkraefteeinwanderung-brandenburg/
Trainees, employees, skilled workers
If you wish to employ foreign nationals who are already in Germany, you can see from their residence permit whether they are permitted to take up gainful employment. If the residence permit states "Gainful employment permitted" or "Employment (unrestricted) permitted", it is possible to take up employment. The residence permit is usually created as an electronic document and issued in check card format by the foreigners authority. In some cases, residence permits are also affixed to passports as adhesive labels.
If you wish to employ foreign workers who are already in Germany without a work permit, an application for permission to work can be submitted to the Foreigners' Registration Office. This applies, for example, to asylum seekers and persons with a tolerated stay permit whose residence permit or certificate contains the restriction: "Employment only after permission from the foreigners authority".
Permission for employment is clarified in an internal coordination procedure between the Foreigners' Registration Office and the International Placement Services of the Federal Employment Agency. A draft employment contract and the "job description" form completed by the employer should be submitted for the assessment.
With the Ausbildungsduldung or the Ausbildungsaufenthaltserlaubnis, you as a company and refugee receive planning security for your stay in Germany for the entire duration of the training and then for two subsequent professional years.
IMPORTANT:
an adaptation
periodmay be necessary for the recognition of the foreign qualification. During this time, your applicant may already work in your company in a subordinate qualification (example: in the case of an adaptation measure for nurses, they may already work as a nursing assistant).
- Accelerated skilled worker procedure: not applicable
- Approval of the Federal Employment Agency: not necessary
- Employment contract: The working conditions must correspond to those of a comparable German employee.
If you would like to recruit specifically in the European Economic Area, you can advertise your vacancies free of charge on the following job boards:
Fachkräfteportal Brandenburg
advertise quickly and easily
Make it in Germany - job exchange
an offer from the Federal Employment Agency
workeer job exchange
Workeer is a job exchange for international & refugee talent in Germany
The federal government and the state of Brandenburg provide numerous programs that specifically support companies in the recruitment, employment, qualification and integration of international specialists and workers.
Support for employers
Name of the program
"Future International Talents for German Climate Businesses" (FIT for Climate)
Focus occupations/sector(s)
Skilled trades in climate-relevant sectors such as construction, metal, electrical, automotive and HVAC
Countries of origin
Colombia, Uzbekistan
Duration
01.11.2024 - 31.12.2027
The following professions can be recruited in the FIT for Climate pilot project in Uzbekistan and Colombia
Additionally in Uzbekistan:
Qualification level:
Profile of skilled workers
Cottbus Chamber of Crafts
Altmarkt 17
03046 Cottbus
Lukasz Kocur
Tel.: +49 355 7835-177, Mobile: +49 160 9727 8256
Email : kocur@hwk-cottbus.de
Project page of the Cottbus Chamber of Crafts
Potsdam Chamber of Crafts
Charlottenstraße 34-36
14467 Potsdam
Astrid Kühnicke
Tel.+49 331 3703-125
E-Mail : astrid.kuehnicke@hwkpotsdam.de
E-Mail : fachkraefteeinwanderung@hwkpotsdam.de
Info page HWK Potsdamm
Project partners and funding
The pilot project is being carried out by the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH) and the Federal Employment Agency (BA) together with sequa gGmbH and skilled crafts organizations. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK).
mehr Informationen
Name of the program
UBAconnect
Focus occupation(s)/sector(s)
Info comes
Countries of origin
Info comes
Duration
N.N.
Adaptation training in the company
Qualification level:
Profile of the skilled workers
IHK Cottbus
Nadine Theel
Phone: +49 355 365-1409
Email : nadine.theel@cottbus.ihk.de
Web: Find international skilled workers with UBAconnect - IHK Cottbus
IHK Potsdam
Stefanie Polzin-Wertmann
Phone: +49 331 2786-316
Email : stefanie.polzin@ihk-potsdam.de
Web: Securing skilled workers, leveraging potential - IHK Potsdam
Project partners and funding
The "Unternehmen Berufsanerkennung" project was initiated by the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) and the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH). The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
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Name of the program
Hand in Hand for International Talents
Focus occupation(s)/sector(s)
Electrical, HoGA, IT, metal and mechatronics
Countries of origin
Brazil, India and Vietnam
Duration
N.N.
For IHK companies
Qualification level:
Profile of the skilled workers
IHK Cottbus
Nadine Theel
Phone: +49 355 365-1409
Email : nadine.theel@cottbus.ihk.de
Web: Recruit foreign skilled workers with Hand in Hand for International Talents - IHK Cottbus
IHK Ostbrandenburg
Michael Götz
Phone: +49 335 5621-1526
Email:goetz@ihk-ostbrandenburg.de
Web: Looking for a cook or waiter from Vietnam? - IHK East Brandenburg
IHK Potsdam
Natalia Kuchinina
Phone: +49 331 2786-461
Email : natalia.kuchinina@ihk-potsdam.de
Web: Attracting skilled workers from third countries - IHK Potsdam
Project partners and funding
DIHK, BMWK, Federal Employment Agency
mehr Informationen
Name of the program
Skills Experts, category "Skilled workers for Germany"(Sao Paulo)
Focus occupation(s)/sector(s)
Mechatronics
Countries of origin
Brazil
Duration
N.N.
The project aims to support small and medium-sized IHK companies in securing skilled workers. It is important that a "welcoming culture" for skilled personnel from abroad already exists in the company or is at least implemented.
Qualification level:
Profile of skilled workers
Malte Benter
Phone: +55 (11) 5180-2360
E-mail: malte.benter@ahkbrasil.com
Name of the program
Nursing professionals Latin America
Focus profession(s)/sector(s)
Nursing
Countries of origin
Mexico, Brazil, Colombia
Duration
until 2025
Employer target group are hospitals
Qualification level:
Profile of the specialists
Your regional employer service
Web: Employer Service | Federal Employment Agency
Name of the program
Triple Win Nursing staff
Focus profession(s)/sector(s)
Generalist nursing training
Countries of origin
Vietnam
Duration
Until the end of 2025
Placement of small peer groups of at least three nurses or trainees per institution
Qualification level:
Profile of the trainees
Vietnamese school-leaving certificate at least equivalent to secondary school leaving certificate
At least one year of nursing training (college/study) in Vietnam
German language skills B2 (B1 certificate) on entry
Your regional employer service
Web: Arbeitgeber-Service | Bundesagentur für Arbeit
Project partners and funding
International Placement Services (ZAV) of the Federal Employment Agency; German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ)
mehr Informationen
Name of the program
Triple Win skilled workers
Focus occupation(s)/sector(s)
Nursing professional
Countries of origin
Bosnia-Herzegovina (end of 2025), Philippines, Tunisia, Indonesia, Kerala in India and Jordan (end of 2025)
Placement of small peer groups of at least three nurses or trainees per facility
Qualification level:
Profile of the trainees
German language skills B1 (B1 certificate) upon entry
Your regional employer service
Web: Employer Service | Federal Employment Agency
Project partners and funding
International Placement Services (ZAV) of the Federal Employment Agency; German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ)
mehr Informationen
Name of the program
THAMM Plus
Focus occupation(s)/sector(s)
Electrical trade; plumbing, heating, air conditioning; IT; logistics
Countries of origin
Egypt; Morocco; Tunisia
Duration
2024-2026
The project "Supporting regular labor migration and mobility between North Africa and Europe" (THAMM Plus) promotes ways of safe and fair labor migration for trainees and skilled workers from Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia and places them in companies in Germany.
Qualification level:
Profile of the trainees
Your regional employer service
Web: Employer Service | Federal Employment Agency
Project partners and funding
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the International Placement Services (ZAV) of the Federal Employment Agency (BA). This program is jointly funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
mehr Informationen
Name of the program
THAMM Plus
Focus occupation(s)/sector(s)
Electrical trade; metal trade; sanitary, heating and air conditioning technology; logistics
Countries of origin
Egypt; Morocco; Tunisia
Duration
2024-2026
The THAMM Plus project offers you the opportunity to recruit qualified skilled workers from North Africa. Based on the analysis of the demand for skilled workers on the German labor market and in consultation with the employment services in Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, the professions for the placement of skilled workers are determined.
THAMM Plus places trainees and skilled workers in various professions according to the needs in the partner countries and in Germany.
Qualification level:
Profile of the trainees
Your regional employer service
Web: Employer Service | Federal Employment Agency
Project partners and funding
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the International Placement Services (ZAV) of the Federal Employment Agency (BA). This program is jointly funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
mehr Informationen
Name of the program
T.E.A.M Technology
Focus occupation(s)/sector(s)
Metal technology, mechatronics, electronics, industrial electrics, IT system electronics; gardener specializing in gardening and landscaping
Countries of origin
Colombia
Duration
-
TEAM relates to several technical bottleneck occupations that are partially recognizable in Germany. Employer target group are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large companies
Qualification level:
Profile of the trainees
Your regional employer service
Web: Employer Service | Federal Employment Agency
Project partners and funding
International Placement Services (ZAV) of the Federal Employment Agency (BA)
Further information as a PDF download:
https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/vor-ort/datei/arbeitgeberinformation-teamtechnik_ba178298.pdf
Name of the program
Welcome to Kindergarten
Focus profession(s)/sector(s)
Nursery school teachers
Countries of origin
Spain, Italy
Duration
-
As part of the "Welcome to Kindergarten" program, educators from other EU countries (currently with a focus on Spain and Italy) are recruited to Germany to work in German daycare centers in order to meet the high demand for early childhood educators in Germany
Qualification level:
Profile of the trainees
Your regional employer service
Web: Employer Service | Federal Employment Agency
Project partners and funding
International Placement Services (ZAV) of the Federal Employment Agency (BA)
Further information as a PDF download:
https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/vor-ort/datei/arbeitgeberinformationerzieherinnen_ba178289.pdf
Name of the program
APAL - Training Partnerships with Asia and Latin America
Focus occupations/sector(s)
The project is generally open to all professions in the sector strategy.
Focus on the health and industrial/technical sector
Countries of origin
El Salvador; Mexico; Brazil; Colombia; Uzbekistan, India
Duration
-
The project works closely with the German embassies and the regional Goethe-Instituts to find talented graduates from PASCH schools and beyond. PASCH stands for "Schools: Partners for the Future" and is coordinated by the Goethe-Institut. The network consists of around 2,000 schools worldwide where German as a foreign language is highly valued.
Since 2019, the APAL project has been recruiting people from Latin America (starting with El Salvador and later adding Mexico, Brazil and Colombia) who are interested in training in the medical/industrial/technical field and in nursing. With Asia (initially Uzbekistan), the offer was also extended to the skilled trades from 2024.
Qualification level:
Profile of the trainees
Your regional employer service
Web: Employer Service | Federal Employment Agency
Project partners and funding
International Placement Services (ZAV) of the Federal Employment Agency (BA)
mehr Informationen
Name of the program
EURES
Focus occupation(s)/sector(s)
open
Countries of origin
EU, especially Poland
Runtime
-
EURES is a cooperation network designed to facilitate the free movement of workers in the 27 EU countries as well as Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
Qualification level:
Magdalena Marszalek
EURES Advisor, Eberswalde Employment Agency
E-mail: magdalena.marszalek@atarbeitsagentur.de
Anja Falkenberg
EURES Advisor, Potsdam Employment Agency
Email: anja.falkenberg@atarbeitsagentur.de
Aleksandra Drückler
EURES Adviser, Cottbus Employment Agency
E-mail: cottbus.eures@atarbeitsagentur.de
Project partners and funding
Federal Employment Agency
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Name of the program
Specialized!
Focus profession(s)/sector(s)
Human medicine and dentistry
Countries of origin
Colombia, Mexico
Runtime
-
Since 2017, we have been recruiting and placing doctors from Colombia and Mexico through the "Specialized!" programme programme to recruit doctors from Colombia and Mexico for specialist training in Germany. The foreign applicants recruited are supported in regional networks through cooperation with the "Specialized!" programme until they receive their licence to practise medicine. Nationwide hospitals can participate in the programme, with a regional focus on rural areas. Placement depends on the specialist needs of the hospitals.
Qualification level:
Profile of the trainees
Your regional employer service
Web: Employer Service | Federal Employment Agency
Project partners and funding
Central International Placement Services (ZAV) of the Federal Employment Agency, supported by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS), the Integration through Qualification (IQ) network, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Federal Foreign Office.
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Name of the program
Shaping the future
Focus occupation(s)/sector(s)
Early childhood educators
Countries of origin
Colombia
Term
-
Project is currently being piloted
Qualification level:
Profile of the trainees
Your regional employer service
Web: Employer Service | Federal Employment Agency
Project partners and funding
International Placement Services (ZAV) of the Federal Employment Agency
Further information as a PDF download:
https://www.fruehe-chancen.de/fileadmin/user_upload/PDF...
Name of the program
Seasonal workers
Focus occupation(s)/sector(s)
Agriculture
Countries of origin
Georgia, Moldova
Runtime
-
Qualification level:
Your regional employer service
Web: Employer Service | Federal Employment Agency
Project partners and funding
International Placement Services (ZAV) of the Federal Employment Agency
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