Welcome Infos
Working, training, studying, researching... Brandenburg is a vibrant federal state offering a wide range of career opportunities in many different sectors.
The Brandenburg labour market is looking for international skilled workers. The Welcome-Info-Center of the Brandenburg skilled workers portal will give you a quick overview of your options for living and working in Brandenburg.
Vocational training Qualified vocational training 2.5 to 4 yearsHave you found a training place for vocational training in a company in Brandenburg? Congratulations! The requirements are very similar for technical, commercial, industrial, social or medical occupations.
Information on the general conditions:
Prerequisites:
To start an apprenticeship in Brandenburg, you need a recognised school-leaving certificate. The minimum language requirement for an apprenticeship is B1.
Entry:
You can enter Germany without a visa. You only need a valid passport or ID card (EU freedom of movement).
Residence:
You can stay in Brandenburg for 90 days without registration. For a longer stay, there is a registration requirement in Brandenburg (as in all of Germany). This means that you must register with a valid address at the responsible registration office within 14 days of entry.
Note:
You need to have valid health insurance from the first day of entry. Find out whether your existing health insurance covers German health insurance benefits.
Job search Find a job in BrandenburgAre you an EU citizen looking for a job? Then Brandenburg offers you a wide range of opportunities!
Information on the framework conditions:
Prerequisites:
The EU Professional Qualifications Directive stipulates that professional qualifications are generally recognised as equivalent in the EU member states. For some professions (regulated professions), recognition of the qualification must be proven.
Entry:
You can enter Germany without a visa. You only need a valid passport or identity card (EU freedom of movement).
Stay:
You can stay in Brandenburg for 90 days without registering. For a longer stay, there is a registration requirement in Brandenburg (as in all of Germany). This means that you must register with a valid address at the responsible registration office within 14 days of entry.
Notes:
You need valid health insurance from the first day of entry.
Arbeiten Karriere in BrandenburgHave you found a job? Then welcome to Brandenburg!
Information on the general conditions:
Requirements:
You can work in many professions. As a rule, vocational qualifications are recognised as equivalent in the EU member states. For some professions (regulated professions), proof of recognition of the qualification must be provided. However, it is generally advisable to go through a recognition procedure before starting work.
Entry:
You can enter Germany without a visa. You only need a valid passport or ID card (EU freedom of movement).
Stay:
You can stay in Brandenburg for up to 90 days without registering with the authorities. For a longer stay, there is a registration requirement in Brandenburg (as in all of Germany). This means that you must register with the relevant registration office with a valid address within 14 days of entry.
Note:
You need valid health insurance from the first day of entry.
Study Residence for the purpose of studyA wide range of study options await you in Brandenburg.
Information on the general conditions:
Prerequisites:
To study in Germany, you need a school leaving certificate that qualifies you for university (higher education entrance qualification) or a recognised university degree.
Entry:
You can enter Germany without a visa. You only need a valid passport or ID card (EU freedom of movement).
Stay:
You can stay in Brandenburg for up to 90 days without registering with the authorities. For a longer stay, there is a registration requirement in Brandenburg (as in all of Germany). This means that you must register with the appropriate registration office with a valid address within 14 days of entry.
Note:
For a German-language degree programme, sufficient language skills must be demonstrated. Numerous language courses are offered.
Research Doctorates or participation in research projectsIn Brandenburg, you will find a rich research landscape that offers you many opportunities to advance your career in research.
Information on the general conditions:
Requirements:
If you would like to obtain a doctorate, you will need a university degree that is recognised in Germany. In general, the recognition of the exam or the professional requirements form the basis for your research stay.
Entry:
You can enter Germany without a visa. You only need a valid passport or ID card (EU freedom of movement).
Stay:
You can stay in Brandenburg for 90 days without registration. For a longer stay, there is a registration requirement in Brandenburg (as in all of Germany). This means that you must register with a valid address at the responsible registration office within 14 days of entry.
Note:
In structured programmes, the team language is often English and the accompanying courses are offered in English. Nevertheless, in some cases, proof of German language skills may be required to enrol in a doctoral programme.
Start Up Start your own businessYou have the freedom of establishment in Germany and you can become self-employed in Brandenburg without special permission.
Information on the general conditions:
Requirements:
You must observe the respective requirements of the professional field in which you wish to establish yourself. In order to be allowed to work independently in some professions, your qualifications must first be checked and recognised. This applies in particular to highly qualified professions, such as in the medical field.
Entry:
You can enter Germany without a visa. You only need a valid passport or identity card (EU freedom of movement).
Stay:
You can stay in Brandenburg for 90 days without registration. For a longer stay, there is a registration requirement in Brandenburg (as in all of Germany). This means that you must register with a valid address at the responsible registration office within 14 days of entry.
Note:
If your self-employment is classified as a ‘liberal profession’, you must register your self-employment with the tax office. If your self-employment is classified as a ‘trade’, you must register your self-employment with a trade office.
Working Qualified employment with professional experienceWith the visa to work for experienced professionals, people with practical professional knowledge in the profession they wish to pursue in Germany can enter the country in all non-regulated areas (Section 19c (2) of the German Residency Act in conjunction with Section 6 of the German Residency Ordinance for Skilled Workers). It is not necessary for the foreign qualification to be recognised in Germany.
Information on the general conditions:
Prerequisites:
Entry:
To enter Germany, you need a visa, which can be applied for at the German Embassy or a German representation in your home country.
Residence:
To stay in Germany, you will need a residence permit issued by the relevant immigration office. The residence permit must be applied for before the entry visa expires. In Brandenburg (as in the whole of Germany), there is a registration requirement. This means that you must register with a valid address at the relevant registration office within 14 days of entering the country.
Note:
You will need to present a valid health insurance policy in order to be granted an entry visa.
Find out about the accelerated procedure for skilled workers – this can shorten the entry process with the help of your employer.
Working Visa to work for trained professionalsIf you have found a job in Germany and have completed qualified vocational training or a course of study outside of Germany, you can apply for a visa according to § 18a AufenthG or § 18b AufenthG and work in Germany as a specialist.
Information on the conditions:
Prerequisites:
Entry:
To enter Germany, you need a visa, which can be applied for at the German Embassy or a German representation in your home country.
Residence:
For your stay in Germany, you will need a residence permit, which is issued by the relevant immigration office. The residence permit must be applied for before the entry visa expires. In Brandenburg (as in all of Germany), there is a registration requirement. This means that you must register with a valid address at the relevant registration office within 14 days of entry.
Note:
A valid health insurance policy is required to obtain an entry visa.
Find out about the accelerated procedure for skilled workers – this can shorten the entry process with the help of your employer.
EU Blue Card for labour migration highly specialised professionalThe EU Blue Card (Sec. 18g Residence Act) is a visa for skilled workers with academic or educational qualifications requiring at least three years of study or IT specialists and managers without formal qualifications (Sec. 18g (2) Residence Act) to take up employment. The advantages over a visa to work for skilled workers are shorter deadlines for a settlement permit and simplified family reunification (up to and including the reunification of parents and parents-in-law).
Information on the conditions:
Requirements:
Entry:
To enter Germany, you need a visa that can be applied for at the German Embassy in your home country.
Residence:
To stay in Germany, you need a residence permit, which is issued by the relevant immigration office. The residence permit must be applied for before the entry visa expires. In Brandenburg (as in the whole of Germany), there is a registration requirement. This means that you must register with a valid address at the relevant registration office within 14 days of entering the country.
Note:
A valid health insurance policy is required in order to obtain an entry visa.
Start Up Start your own businessIf you wish to enter Germany to pursue a self-employed activity, you will need a visa in accordance with Sec. 21 (1) Residence Act or Sec. 21 (5) Residence Act . The conditions will vary depending on whether you wish to engage in commercial or freelance activities.
Information on the framework conditions:
Requirements:
Business person (Sec. 21 (1) Residence Act)
or
Freelancer (Sec. 21 (5) Residence Act)
Entry:
To enter Germany, you need a visa, which can be applied for at the German Embassy or a German representation in your home country.
Residence:
To stay in Germany, you will need a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) issued by the relevant immigration authority (Ausländerbehörde). The residence permit must be applied for before the entry visa expires. In Brandenburg (as in all of Germany), there is a registration requirement. This means that you must register with a valid address at the relevant registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt) within 14 days of entry.
Notes:
A valid health insurance policy is required in order to obtain an entry visa.
Find out about the accelerated procedure for skilled workers – this can shorten the entry process with the help of your employer.
Links and brochures:
Programme/overviews:
Job search Job opening without specified requirementsThe so-called Western Balkans regulation (Section 26 (2) BeschV) allows nationals of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia to work in Germany under simplified conditions. It applies to all types of employment and you do not need to provide proof of a recognised university or vocational qualification. This does not apply to regulated professions, for example in medicine.
You can positively influence and shorten the visa process with good preparation. To do this, your future employer must apply for the so-called pre-approval at the Federal Employment Agency before you make an appointment to apply for a visa. As soon as your future employer has received the approval, you can apply for the visa by presenting this pre-approval.
Further information is available from the German > Federal Employment Agency.
Special regulations
IT professions EU Blue CardThe EU Blue Card (Section 18g AufenthG) is also a visa for taking up employment and is aimed at third-country nationals with academic qualifications, educational qualifications with at least three years of training or IT specialists and managers without formal qualifications (Section 18g (2) AufenthG).
Information on the general conditions:
In order to obtain an EU Blue Card, you must have a job that is appropriate to your qualifications and earn a certain salary.
Requirements for IT specialists with formal qualifications:
EU Blue Card requirements for IT specialists without formal qualifications
Entry:
To enter Germany you need a visa, which can be applied for at the German Embassy or a German representation in your home country.
Residence:
To stay in Germany, you will need a residence permit issued by the relevant immigration authority. The residence permit must be applied for before the entry visa expires. In Brandenburg (as in the whole of Germany) you are obliged to register. This means that you must register with a valid address at the relevant residents' registration office within 14 days of entering the country.
Notes:
A valid health insurance policy is required to obtain an entry visa.
Find out about the accelerated skilled labour procedure - it can shorten the entry process with the help of your employer.
Working in nursingThe special regulation for nursing assistants allows people with less than three years of nursing training to carry out nursing activities Section 19c (1) Residence Act in conjunction with Section 22a Employment Ordinance. The training must have been completed in Germany or the foreign qualification as a nursing assistant must be recognised.
Information on the general conditions:
Prerequisites:
or
Entry:
To enter Germany, you need a visa, which can be applied for at the German Embassy or a German representation in your home country.
Residence:
To stay in Germany, you need a residence permit, which is issued by the relevant immigration office. The residence permit must be applied for before the entry visa expires. In Brandenburg (as in all of Germany), there is a registration requirement. This means that you must register with a valid address at the relevant registration office within 14 days of entering the country.
Note:
You will need to present a valid health insurance policy in order to be granted an entry visa.
Find out about the accelerated procedure for skilled workers – this can shorten the entry process with the help of your employer.
The Welcome Centre only serves as a source of information and we cannot guarantee that the information provided is complete or up-to-date. Furthermore, we would like to point out that the content provided is not legally binding and is therefore not legally binding.