Stage 2 of 7 · 6 lessons · ~2 weeks
Visas and work permits
Learn the work routes for your destination from the government's own pages: who applies, what the job and salary must meet, how long it lasts, whether family can join and what happens if you change jobs. Write every rule down with the date you read it.
Start: Employer-sponsored and job-seeker routesLessons· one lesson for each topic, in this order
Do this
- Identify your main work route and whether it is employer-sponsored or job-seeker.
- Read its official page and write each condition with the date you read it.
- Check the salary threshold or qualifying salary for your role and level.
- Note the documents, fees and processing time from the official page.
- Write down the family rights and job-change rules for the route.
- Note the path from this permit to longer-term residence.
Start with
- GuideFreeMake it in Germany
Federal Government of Germany
The official guide to the Opportunity Card, the Blue Card and other German routes
Practise
Keep handy
Also worth your time
How the Opportunity Card works in practice for developers
EU-wide job mobility portal, for routes outside Germany
- Sefism 1:1 MentorshipGo deeper
Check your understanding of a route with someone who has been through it
Before moving on: A one-page visa note for your main route, built from official pages with the date you read each: who applies, the job, salary and education conditions, the documents, the processing time, family rights, job-change rules and the path to longer-term residence.
Germany has the widest choice of routes in this roadmap: the Opportunity Card to search on the ground, the Blue Card once you have a qualifying offer, and other skilled worker permits for the rest. Check the current Blue Card thresholds on make-it-in-germany.com each January, when they change.