In this guide, we will explain how to get your social insurance number from the German public pension office and everything else you need to know about the German social security number.

What is the social security number and why do I need it?

The social security number is essential when you take up a new job in Germany. Your employer needs your social security number or social security card to issue your payroll and deduct mandatory social security contributions for you. That’s why they will usually ask for it before or on your first day of work.

Mandatory social security contributions for employees in Germany include

• health insurance (“Krankenversicherung”),

• pension insurance (“Rentenversicherung”),

• nursing care (“Pflegeversicherung”),

• accident insurance(“Unfallversicherung”) and

• unemployment insurance (“Arbeitslosenversicherung”).

Social security contributions are deducted from your monthly paycheck by your employer and paid directly to the responsible German institutions. The only exception is if you have private health insurance. In this case, you will have to pay the health insurance fees yourself. However, all other contributions will still be paid by your employer. You can read more about health insurance in Germany in this article.

What the social security number looks like

The social security number is a 12-digit number that is determined individually for each insured person. It is valid for a lifetime, but may change if you move to a new city or change your last name.

This is what your social insurance number could look like: 25 170839 A 50 5

• Digits 1 and 2 of the social security number (XX) indicate the area number of the responsible pension insurance provider. 25 stands for Berlin.

• Digits 3 to 8 of the social security number (DDMMYYY) indicate the insured person's date of birth. 070892 means the insured person was born on 07th August 1982.

• Digit 9 of the social security number stands for the first letter of the birth name. In this case the letter “A”.

• Digits 10 and 11 of the social security number (YY) provide information about the gender of the insured person. The numbers 00-49 are used for male persons, the numbers 50-99 are used for female persons or persons of indeterminate gender. In this case, the number 50 indicates that the insured person is either female or of indeterminate gender.

• Digit 12 is a check digit that is automatically assigned by the system to distinguish you from people with the same name and date of birth.

It's important to note that your social security number is distinct from your tax ID (“Steuernummer”). The tax ID consists of 11 digits and is issued by the German tax office.

How to get your social security number as an employee in Germany

The social security number is issued by the German public pension office “Deutsche Rentenversicherung”, also known as “DRV”. If you just moved to Germany to take up a new job, for instance on an EU Blue Card, the way you get your social security number depends on your health insurance status:

If you have public health insurance, the social security number is usually sent to you via post after applying for public health insurance and completing your city registration (“Anmeldung”) in Germany. In case you have not received it, take a look at your health insurance membership confirmation which usually includes your social security number or contact the German public pension fund yourself (see information below).

If you have private health insurance, it's necessary to take the initiative yourself and ask the German public pension fund to issue you a social security number. For this, you can either send an email to your regional German public pension fund office or go to a local branch and get your social security number on the same day. You can find the . In both cases, you need to include a copy of your passport and a confirmation of your city registration (“Anmeldung” or “Meldebescheinigung”).

An alternative would be to ask your employer or health insurance broker to assist you with this.

🕒 Average waiting time to get your social security ID: 1 - 6 weeks, in most cases under 2 weeks

How to get your social security number as a student in Germany

If you just moved to Germany on a student visa, this social security number is not issued to you automatically. You only need a social security number if you plan on taking up a job, for instance as a working student or part time help. If that is the case, you can either send an email to your regional German public pension fund office or go to a local branch to get your social security number. You can find the . In both cases, make sure have a copy of your passport and confirmation of city registration (“Anmeldung” or “Meldebescheinigung”) at hand.

Where to find your social security number

When you are issued a social security number for the first time, you will receive a letter by the German public pension fund (“Deutsche Rentenversicherung”) that includes your social security card.

You will then receive a yearly letter by the German public pension office with an overview of your public pension contributions. This letter also includes your social security ID, usually on the top left corner.

If you have already been employed in Germany in the past, you can also find your social security number on your payslips (“Gehaltsabrechnung”) or yearly summary of social security contributions (“Meldebescheinigung zur Sozialversicherung”) issued by your employer. Look for abbreviations such as "SVNR," "RV," or "RNVR" on the payslip.

How to contact the German public pension office (“Deutsche Rentenversicherung”)

If you have lost your social insurance card or have questions about your public pension, you can contact the German pension insurance directly. . Unfortunately, the information in English is very limited and most connecting links will take you to German websites. Same goes for their free hotline where you will only be greeted in German language. So it’s best to work with a translator or ask a German speaking friend or colleague to help you out.

If you want to go to one of their regional offices, you can find the .

To start working in Germany, you will also need a bank account and a German tax id. This article will give you a full overview of these steps.

Important note: Our Âé¶ččÙÍűGermany articles are written with utmost care to explain careers and paperwork in Germany. However, please note that the content presented here does neither constitute nor replace any form of legal advice. We highly recommend consulting a lawyer for any legal concerns you may have.

*Image source: Deutsche Rentenversicherung - Sozialversicherungsausweis:

Other sources:

• Deutsche Rentenversicherung - Versicherungsnummer:  

• Haufe Personal - Versicherungsnummer / 2.1 Bereichsnummer der Deutschen Rentenversicherung:

• Lohninfo - Sozialversicherungsnummer (Versicherungsnummer bzw. Rentenversicherungsnummer):

In this guide we’ll explain

• how you can apply for your EU Blue Card residence permit

• which documents you need for your application

• how to book an appointment for your residence permit application

• what waiting periods to expect after submitting your residence permit application

In case you are not applying for an EU Blue Card but for another residence title to take up employment, for example IT specialist or qualified employment in Germany, you can still follow the steps in this guide.

If you have entered Germany with a work visa, then you can already start working in your new job before getting your residence permit. Just keep in mind that the visa is usually only valid for 90 days and that you need to convert it into a residence permit during this period.

In case you are located outside Germany and need a visa to enter Germany, then start with our guide to apply for the EU Blue Card visa.

Step 1: Find out if you are eligible for an EU Blue Card

Read up on the EU Blue Card requirements and other residence titles for employment or run our quick check to make sure you meet the requirements for EU Blue Card applicants.

Step 2: Find an accommodation

Are you still staying in an AirBnB, with friends or in a hotel right now? Then this is the first important step towards getting your EU Blue Card: You need a place to stay where you can also formally register your residence and receive mail. This is a mandatory step before you can open a bank account, apply for a tax number and your residence permit.

If you are moving to Germany from abroad, we usually recommend booking a furnished apartment for the first 2 to 4 months of your stay in Germany. This way you can find out in which part of town you would like to live before you decide on a long-term apartment. There have also been an increasing number of scams on apartment platforms recently. You can protect yourself from something like this if you already know your way around locally instead of renting from a distance.

Before booking a furnished apartment or short term stay, do ask the landlord if they can provide issue you a so-called "WohnungsgeberbestĂ€tigung" - a confirmation by your landlord. You will need this document to register in Germany (“Anmeldung”). In addition, make sure that you can receive letters at this address as you will receive some important documents by mail once you have completed your city registration.

You can book fully furnished apartments and rooms on these platforms:

• Spacest: (filter for “You can take up residence”)

• HousingAnywhere: (filter for "Registration possible")

• spotahome: (look out for "Registration / Anmeldung" possible in the landlord policies)

• Wunderflats: (look out for “Landlord's confirmation of residence (WohnungsgeberbestĂ€tigung)” under “Services”)

For more info, take a look at this article with a full list of housing platforms in Germany.

Step 3: Do your city registration (“Anmeldung”)

Once you have found accommodation, you can do your formal city registration (“Anmeldung”). For this, you need an appointment at your local citizens' office and a confirmation from your landlord (“Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung”). Here is a full guide on how to register in Germany, including links to the local citizens’ office and what documents you need to bring.

If you are moving with your family, remember that each family member needs to register. You can make an appointment for all of you together, but you will usually need to fill out a separate registration form for each person.

Once you have made your registration you will receive a certificate of registration (“Meldebescheinigung”). This document is very important because you will need it for the following steps.

In big cities like Berlin, it is often difficult to get an appointment at the BĂŒrgeramt. In this case, instead of the city registration, some authorities also accept a rental contract and the confirmation of the landlord as proof of your main residence. In addition, make sure that you can receive letters at this address as you will receive some important documents by mail once you have completed your city registration. In any case, do make sure that you can receive letters at this address as you will be receiving some important documents by post later on.

🕒 No processing time. The registration certificate (“Meldebescheinigung”) will be issued to you directly at your registration appointment.

Step 4: Sign-up for health insurance

If you entered Germany with a visa, you have most likely already enrolled for health insurance. In this case, inform your health insurance provider about your local address after you have registered.

If you entered Germany without a visa, this is an important requirement before applying for your EU Blue Card residence permit. As a resident of Germany, a valid health insurance is mandatory and you need to provide proof of health insurance when you apply for your EU Blue Card residence permit, so your next steps is to sign up with a health insurance provider. Before registering, make sure you know the ins and outs of health insurance in Germany. There are two types of health insurance schemes: Public and private health insurance. Learn more about the topic here.

Do you want to enroll for German health insurance? Our partner allows you to get a price estimate for different German Health Insurance providers and to enroll with a provider of your choice to get your proof of health insurance:

• : Excellent coverage which includes cover care for pre-existing conditions and dependent family members. For salaried employees (from anywhere) or self-employed people (from other EU countries).

• : Excellent coverage for salaried employees (earning over 69.300 € annual gross salary). This type of policy is often much less expensive than public health insurance and includes better access to cutting-edge procedures and specialist doctors.
  
  🕒 Health insurance confirmation: Usually provided immediately after registration or within 1-3 days.

Step 5: Prepare documents for your residence permit application

You will need a number of documents for your EU Blue Card application. As a first step, go on the website of your local foreigners authority and carefully go through the instructions and list of documents provided on their website. You can use to find out which foreigners authority is responsible in the city you live in.

If you already applied for a visa before moving to Germany, you will find that many of the documents required for your EU Blue Card application are the same documents that were required when you applied for your entry visa to Germany.

Here is a list of documents you will definitely need:

• Valid passport

• Valid visa and proof of entry date to Germany (for example entry stamps in your passport)

• Biometric photos (3,5 x 4,5 cm with light background)

• Completed and signed application form for issuance of a residence permit

• University degree certificates or in case of IT specialists proof of minimum three years of work experience within the last seven years

• For academic degrees obtained outside Germany: Anabin excerpts or Statement of Comparability proving that your academic degree is recognized in Germany

• If you are working in a regulated profession (e.g. doctors, teachers): professional practice permit

• City registration certificate (“Meldebescheinigung”) (see step 3)

• Proof of health insurance (see step 4)

• In some cases: Proof of income (payslips of the last 3 months)

Documents you need to request from your employer: 

• Signed work contract including information about your job title and gross salary 

• Job description

• Filled and signed form

• If applicable: Pre-approval of Federal Employment Agency

Step 6: Schedule your appointment at the local foreigners authority (“AuslĂ€nderbehörde”)

To apply for your EU Blue Card residence permit, you need to book an appointment at your local foreigners authority (“AuslĂ€nderbehörde”). Every administrative district and city in Germany has its own foreigners authority. They go by different names and the application process also differs. Which foreigners authority is responsible for you depends on where you are registered, meaning where you did your city registration (“Anmeldung”).

Here are some examples:

• Berlin - Landesamt fĂŒr Einwanderung (LEA): Make sure to have scanned copies of all required documents ready and submit your EU Blue Card application and wait for feedback. In case your current residence title expires soon and you have not heard back from them, you can contact the responsible department via email. Read more about this (for English language, scroll to the end of the page).

• Frankfurt - Ordnungsamt - AuslĂ€nderangelegenheiten: Make sure to have scanned copies of all required documents ready and submit your EU Blue Card application and wait for feedback.

• Munich - Kreisverwaltungsreferat (KVR): You first have to complete an online application and submit your documents. After approval, you will then receive an appointment. takes you directly to the online portal.

• Hamburg - Hamburg Welcome Center or your local district office (“Bezirksamt”): You can submit your documents online to the and you will receive an appointment when your documents have been checked.

🕒 Waiting times for residence permit appointments:

• Berlin: 4 - 6 weeks

• Munich: 3 - 5 months

• Hamburg: 2 - 4 months

Step 7: Go for your residence permit appointment

At your appointment, you will be met by an employee of the foreigners office who will check your documents. Usually this takes no more than 15 minutes and you will be asked to take a seat in the waiting room while your application is being processed. Unfortunately, some of the employees on site only speak German and no English. Don't let this put you off and always try to remain friendly. If you do not speak German at all, you can take a translator or a relocation consultant with you.

If a document is missing or questions arise, you will usually get a new appointment in a few days to collect the documents and submit a new application. In this case, try to clarify exactly what document is needed to avoid misunderstandings.

If your application for the EU Blue Card is approved, you will have to pay an administrative fee, usually 100 € for the first issuance. The fee is paid directly on site at a separate pay station, and in most cases you can pay by cash or card. If your application is rejected or you need to submit additional documents, no fee is charged.

đŸĐź Fees for the first issuance: 100 €, for an extension by up to three months: 96 €

Step 8: Receive your electronic residence permit (eAT)

If you are lucky, the residence permit will be issued to you directly on the spot and you will receive an electronic residence permit later on by post. However, in some cases, you may not get it directly and you will be mailed the residence permit, or you will be notified and have to pick it up on site once it has been processed.

The electronic residence permit is a plastic card that contains a chip on which your personal and biometric data is stored. Together with the identity card, it serves as proof of identity and proof of your stay in Germany. You will also receive a separate letter with the PIN and PUK for your electronic residence permit. Read more about the functions of the electronic residence permit .

🕒 Average processing time for electronic residence permits: 6 - 8 weeks

To start working in Germany, you will also need a bank account and a German tax id. This article will give you a full overview of these steps.

Important note: Our Âé¶ččÙÍűGermany articles are written with utmost care to explain careers and paperwork in Germany. However, please note that the content presented here does neither constitute nor replace any form of legal advice. We highly recommend consulting a lawyer for any legal concerns you may have.

This guide will help you figure out

• the first steps to get your visa for Germany as an EU Blue Card candidate

• what documents you need for a successful visa application

• how much time to plan for each step

Step 1: Find out if you are eligible for an EU Blue Card

Read up on the EU Blue Card requirements for Germany or run our quiz to make sure you meet the requirements to apply for an EU Blue Card.

Step 2: Book a visa appointment at the German embassy or consulate

To apply for a visa, you need an appointment at the German embassy or consulate in your home country. You can find a list of German missions abroad .

Waiting times for visa appointments vary a lot depending on the country you live in and the location where you apply for your visa. In some countries it’s currently up to several months. Make sure you find out early about the current waiting times and check in advance which documents you need for the application.

If the waiting time for appointments is very short, it is best to gather all the documents first (see next step) and then book a visa appointment.

🕒 Waiting times for visa appointments: About 2 weeks - 5 months depending on your location.

Step 3: Gather the necessary documents for your visa application

You will need a number of documents for your visa application. Make sure to check the website of the German embassy or consulate in your home country to find out exactly what documents are required. Gathering these documents can take time and effort, so it's good to start early!

Here is a list of documents you will definitely need:

• Valid passport

• Biometric photos (3,5 x 4,5 cm with light background)

• Updated CV and sometimes a personal cover letter explaining the purpose and duration of your stay in Germany

• Completed and signed visa application form for national visa

• University degree certificate

• If you hold a foreign university degree: Proof that your academic degree is recognized in Germany (see step 4)

• If you are working in a regulated profession (e.g. doctors, teachers): professional practice permit

• If you are an IT specialist: Proof of minimum three years of work experience within the last seven years

• Proof of health insurance (see step 5)

  
  

Documents you need to request from your employer: 

• Signed work contract including information about your job title and gross salary 

• Job description

• Filled and signed form

• If applicable: Pre-approval of Federal Employment Agency (see step 6)

Step 4: Check your degree on Anabin and apply for a Statement of comparability by ZAB if needed

As you have seen above, a proof of recognition of your degree is required for your visa application. This is especially important if you want to apply for an EU Blue Card because you need a recognized university degree to get one.

If you have a German university degree, you do not need a proof of recognition and can skip this step. If you hold a foreign university degree, you start with running a check on the Anabin database to see if your degree and university have already been evaluated. Here is a full guide on how to verify your degree in Anabin.

If your degree is not listed on the Anabin database, you will need to apply for a Statement of Comparability (often called "ZAB"). It will take a few weeks for you to receive the document, so we recommend starting this process as early as possible.

The application form for a Statement of Comparability for EU Blue Card applicants can be found . For EU Blue Card applicants, the waiting time is 2 weeks instead of several months. To submit the application, you have to send all documents by post to Germany and you will be asked to pay a fee after the documents have arrived. Since the processing of the application does not start until the money has been received by the ZAB, we recommend to plan some more time.

If you are planning to apply for pre-approval by the Federal Employment Agency (see step 5), make sure you have proof of recognition first.

🕒 Normal waiting time for ZAB results: 2 - 3 months
EU Blue Card applicants: 3 - 4 weeks

Step 5: Apply for pre-approval by the Federal Employment Agency (“ZAV”)

Some jobs require the approval of the Federal Employment Agency in Germany (often simply called “ZAV”). This is the case, for example, if you want to apply for an EU Blue Card but earn between 3.420 € and 3775 € (as of January 2024) gross per month. The approval is usually requested internally by the authorities when submitting your visa application. That's why applicants are often not even aware of this step.

Here we have another pro tip for those of you dealing with long waiting times for a visa appointment: You can ask your employer to apply for pre-approval at the Federal Employment Agency (in German “Vorabzustimmung fĂŒr auslĂ€ndische BeschĂ€ftigte”) to shorten the processing time for your visa later on.

The application for pre-approval can only be made by your employer. The application is free of charge and all the required documents are documents that you need to collect for your visa application anyways. To initiate the process, your employer needs to fill out the (“ErklĂ€rung zum BeschĂ€ftigungsverhĂ€ltnis''). Along with the form, the work contract, a job description and the proof of recognition (see step 4) need to be submitted. will take you directly to the application portal of the German Federal Employment Agency.

🕒 Labor market approval processing time: 2 - 3 weeks

Step 6: Sign up for health insurance

As a resident of Germany, a valid health insurance is mandatory. That's why you will be asked to provide proof of health insurance when you apply for your EU Blue Card. Before registering, make sure you know the ins and outs of health insurance in Germany. There are two types of health insurance schemes: Public and private health insurance. Learn more about the topic here.

Do you want to enroll for German health insurance? Our partner allows you to get a free price estimate for different German Health Insurance providers and to enroll with a provider of your choice to get your proof of health insurance:

• : Excellent coverage which includes cover care for pre-existing conditions and dependent family members. For salaried employees (from anywhere) or self-employed people (from other EU countries).

• : Excellent coverage for salaried employees (earning over 69.300 € annual gross salary). This type of policy is often much less expensive than public health insurance and includes better access to cutting-edge procedures and specialist doctors.

General health insurance usually only comes into effect on your first day of work. That's why you will often be asked for additional proof of a valid travel health insurance for the time between your departure and your first day of work in Germany. You can purchase this insurance from insurance providers in your country or from German insurance companies.

🕒 Health insurance confirmation: Usually provided immediately after registration or within 1-3 days.

Step 7: Get your documents translated and legalized if needed

When compiling your documents, keep in mind that in many cases, translations and copies are required in addition to your original documents. Some documents might also need to be legalized or validated with an apostille, for instance:

• University degrees

• Birth certificates

• Marriage certificates

You can find detailed instructions on this in the embassy's document checklists.

Step 8: Go for your visa appointment

It’s finally time for your visa interview. Make sure to double-check on the official embassy website if you have all required documents! There can always be last minute changes.

Once your visa has been processed, you will be notified by the German embassy or consulate. Your visa will be placed as a sticker in your passport. In most cases, you will receive a national visa ("visa type D"), which allows you to enter Germany for 90 days and start working immediately after your arrival.

🕒 Visa processing time after all documents have been provided: 1 - 3 weeks

Step 9: Look for accommodation

If you haven't already done so, the wait for your visa is a good time to book your initial accommodation in Germany. In many German cities there is a shortage of available apartments, which can make the search for long-term housing very difficult, especially from a distance. Therefore, we recommend booking a furnished apartment for the first 2 to 4 months after your arrival. When booking, make sure that the provider permits "Anmeldung" (registration), one of the first tasks after your arrival in Germany.

You can book fully furnished apartments and rooms on these platforms:

• Spacest: (filter for “You can take up residence”)

• HousingAnywhere: (filter for "Registration possible")

• spotahome: (look out for "Registration / Anmeldung" possible in the landlord policies)

• Wunderflats: (look out for “Landlord's confirmation of residence (WohnungsgeberbestĂ€tigung)” under “Services”)

Here is a complete list of websites where you can find accommodation.

Step 10: Off to Germany!

Congrats! You made it! You’ve mastered the first part of German paperwork. It’s time to finalize your travel plans and start your new adventure.

Would you like to know how to convert your visa into a residence permit after your arrival in Germany?

Take a look here.

Important note: Our Âé¶ččÙÍűGermany articles are written with utmost care to explain careers and paperwork in Germany. However, please note that the content presented here does neither constitute nor replace any form of legal advice. We highly recommend consulting a lawyer for any legal concerns you may have.

CV parsing tools or automated screening tools - so-called ATS - are applications that companies use to pre-screen applicants to save time and manual work reviewing CVs. The software analyzes the contents and keywords of your CV and generates a matching score based on the company's job posting and other parameters. This score is often decisive for making it to the next stage where someone will look at the application in person.

Here’s what you need to know to make it through the automatic screening

Ensure you use text in standard fonts, not graphics or funky fonts. Oftentimes people are using tables or graphics in their CV (for example, to present their skills or provide a chronological overview). Although this looks very good on the eye, for the ATS it would be better to use fully spelled out words because the data in visuals is not readable and will therefore not be counted towards your matching score.

Headlines

Keep it simple. Sometimes people like to use creative titles in their CV, however it’s not a good idea if an ATS is screening your profile because it will most probably not be able to classify the provided data. Stick to very clear titles to structure your CV, for instance: “Professional experience” or “Work experience”, “Education” and so on. 

Keywords from the job ad

Part of the analysis will be a keyword matching score. You can increase this score if you use the same terminology for important skills as the company does in the job ad. Some people recommend a trick to improve your matching score: you can include keywords in your application and turn them white so that they are invisible to a reader, but are taken into account by the ATS. White font keywords are an absolute no-go! The automatic screening is always followed by a manual check where you would be filtered out anyways. Make sure to use the right keywords, and adapt the language in your CV, but always use only real content.  

Time frame

Always mention the full dates of your work and education history and present the data in chronological order, for instance if you started working at company X in January 2019 and left in May 2021, it should be clear. You could also write 01/2019- 05/2021.

It’s always better to avoid big time gaps, but in case you had a gap, it might be a good idea to insert the time frame and then give a clarification on what you were doing during this gap.

Abbreviations

Because screening programs frequently don't recognize them, it's best to write the entire term unless it’s a common abbreviation that is used globally. If you are unsure whether or not you can use an abbreviation, the language in the job posting provides good guidance.

Classification of language skills

As you know, we recommend learning German, since it will boost your chances of finding a job (and just generally make your life in Germany easier). When indicating language skills on your resume, always indicate and spell out your language level classification. Be sure to use words like "beginner," "fluent," or "native speaker," and avoid standard classifications like A1, B1, or C1, or write them in brackets after the appropriate level. Why is this so important? Although these are standard classifications for language skills, they are also used in Germany for driving license categories. For example, there are also A1, B1 and C1 driving licenses and your language skills might not even be recognized as such but would be ranked as a driving license instead.

Want to find out how your application would perform in an automated screening?

We tested for you - a free online tool where you can upload your CV to test how it would perform under an ATS scan. Check out the linked videos to see how we put the ATS to a test and how you can screen your application online.

There are minimum salary thresholds and other criteria that determine whether or not you will be eligible to work in Germany. The exact requirements and terminology can be confusing, so bear with us as we try to clarify the most important points that will help you figure out what kind of visa or residence permit you need to work in Germany.

First step: Who needs a work visa to enter Germany?

Foreigners from non-EU countries usually need a visa to enter Germany. This is for instance the case if you want to stay in Germany for more than 3 months and work here:

• Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland are entitled to freedom of movement. They do not need a visa or a residence permit to enter Germany and take up employment.

• Citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and the United States of America are allowed to enter Germany without applying for a visa beforehand. If they want to stay in Germany for more than 90 days and take up employment, they need to apply for a residence permit after entering Germany. This process usually takes several weeks. If you intend to start working as soon as you arrive in Germany, we recommend that you apply for a visa before you arrive to accelerate the process.. 

• All other non-EU nationals have to apply for a visa at their local German consulate or embassy before entering Germany. For longer-term stays, they will usually receive a national visa ("type D visa") that allows non-EU citizens to move freely in the Schengen area for a period of up to 3 months in a 6-month period. It needs to be converted into a residence permit within 3 months of arriving in Germany. 

To apply for your work visa or EU Blue Card, take a look at this step by step guide. Once you have moved to Germany, you need to apply for a residence permit at the local foreigners authority if you are not an EU citizen. 

What are the requirements to get a residence permit?

The residence permit is granted for a specific duration and purpose, for instance for studies, family reunification, or employment. If you wish to work in Germany, the type of residence permit you receive is determined by your qualifications, salary level, and other variables.

There are different types of residence permits for academic degree holders and IT specialists wishing to work in Germany. Some target groups enjoy easier access to the EU Blue Card with a lower minimum salary threshold than others:

• Graduates: Persons who have graduated from university within the last three years.

• Professionals working in shortage occupations, for instance in the fields of engineering, mathematics, natural sciences and human medicine. A full list of shortage occupations can be found .

• IT specialists and software developers: Professionals with minimum three years of work experience within the last seven years.

Here is a full overview of the minimum salary and other applicable criteria for the EU blue card and the residence permit for qualified employment (as of January 2024):

The residence permit's validity is often linked to the length of your work contract, which can be up to four years. EU blue card holders enjoy a number of advantages, including a faster application for a settlement permit and fewer restrictions on family reunification.

In some cases, the Federal Employment Agency (“Bundesagentur für Arbeit”) has to give a pre-approval for the candidate to work in Germany (“Arbeitsmarktzulassung”). The employment agency verifies that the conditions of employment comply with the legal regulations of the immigration act (Aufenthaltsgesetz). It is not always required to have this labor market approval before taking an appointment at the embassy, but it accelerates the process and a visa is usually issued much faster.

Another important prerequisite is a recognized degree in Germany, visit our Anabin guide to find out if your academic degree is recognized in Germany or not.

If you have family in Germany, you also have the alternative of applying for family reunification. In this case you do not need a job offer in Germany to get your residence permit.

Not sure which residence title is the right one for you?

Take our quiz and find out if you meet the requirements to apply for a German work visa or a residence permit.

How to apply for your work visa and residence permit

Are you all set and ready to apply for your work visa or residence permit? Our visa application guide and residence permit application guide will help you master the required paperwork!

Frequently asked questions

I don’t have a job offer in Germany. Can I still get a work visa?

Unfortunately, a binding job offer is mandatory to get a work visa and residence permit in Germany. Alternative options would be to enter Germany on a jobseeker visa, sign up for a study program or apply for family reunification in case you have family in Germany.

What’s the difference between a German residence permit and work permit?

There is no formal “work permit” in Germany. If you are a non-EU citizen, you can get a work visa and residence permit that will allow you to work in Germany. You can see the different types of residence permits above or try out our visa quick check to find out which residence permit is the right one for you.

How to apply for an entry visa for Germany?

You can apply for an entry visa at the German embassy or consulate in your home country. Take a look at our EU Blue Card visa application guide to learn about the different steps you need to take to get your entry visa. Before you apply, make sure to check on their website what exact documents are required.

How to apply for an EU Blue Card?

Take a look at our EU Blue Card visa application guide to learn about the different steps you need to take to get your EU Blue Card.

Are German language skills required to get a work visa or residence permit?

If you already have a job offer in Germany, you do not need to prove German language skills to get your work visa or residence permit. Nevertheless, it is worth learning the language to be able to communicate better in everyday life. German language skills are also mandatory if you want to apply for a settlement permit later on. If you are still looking for a job, we definitely recommend learning German to increase your job chances. This way, companies will immediately see that you are committed and have language skills.

How can I find out if my academic degree is recognized in Germany?

Take a look at our fully-blown Anabin guide where we explain how you can search for your university in the Anabin database and find out if your academic degree is recognized in Germany or not.

How to apply for the residence permit in Germany?

You can find a detailed guide on residence permit applications here. Before applying for a residence permit in Germany, make sure that you have completed these first 4 must-do steps after your arrival in Germany.

Can I bring my family to Germany?

Yes, you can bring your family to Germany. This applies for children aged below 18 and your spouse. The exact requirements for family reunification depend on your nationality, your current residence permit and your spouse’s nationality.

Important note: Our Âé¶ččÙÍűGermany articles are written with utmost care to explain careers and paperwork in Germany. However, please note that the content presented here does neither constitute nor replace any form of legal advice. We highly recommend consulting a lawyer for any legal concerns you may have.

You probably have been preparing for your job interview, practicing responses to job interview questions you might be asked and memorized what you SHOULD NOT DO during the job interview. Don’t forget that there is one last important section to go over. Every job interview usually ends with the interviewer asking, "Do you have any questions for us?" So how should you address it? 

First and foremost, bear in mind that every interview is a two way street, and designed to understand if there’s a suitable match for BOTH sides (much like dating!). 

Asking questions during a job interview is important for you, the candidate, to get a better understanding if this company and this particular role are the right fit for you. In addition, questions from the candidate are also a part of the interview, so take advantage of this opportunity to ask relevant questions and to make a good impression. 

Typically, you'll want to ask about the role, the company, and the working conditions, and questions that prove that you have given this job opportunity some thought and that you were paying attention to what the interviewer was saying. Try not to stretch it too much, and stick to 1-3 relevant and insightful questions.

Here are a few examples:

Could you describe a typical day in this role?

Is the typical day full with meetings? Is most of it done in a team or solo? Getting a glimpse of the schedule and everyday tasks, will prepare you better mentally and professionally to what is expected of you.

What do you think are the most important qualities for someone to excel in this role? 

Understanding what soft and hard skills the role requires. The answer will clarify what is anticipated of the ideal employee.

What is the typical career path for someone in this role?

This question indicates you’re thinking about the future, and would like to know how you may progress in this position because you’re here for the long run.

To whom will I be reporting? 

A question that helps you to get a better understanding of the company’s hierarchy, and where is your position in all of that.

I read that XYZ... Could you elaborate on that? 

In case you’ve read news about the company, or maybe something in their website sparked your interest, ask about that. Being genuinely interested in the business goes a long way.

What are the biggest challenges the company or department is currently facing?

Understand the challenges that you and the company or department will face. It helps you to be more ready when tackling issues and helps you understand the bigger picture. 

Who previously occupied this position? 

Lets you know if it is a brand new position within the company, or if you’ll be replacing someone who has left or about to leave. If the second option is the case, you can ask if there will be a handover phase or training. Also, it is a chance to ask why this person left / is leaving.

What are the next steps in the interview process?

This question is a must! Usually the interviewer will explain the next steps to you, but if not, you should definitely ask. This is the only way to know when you can expect an answer and when it' s time to do a follow-up if you don't hear anything.

Goodluck! 

In this step-by-step guide, we will show you how to use the Anabin database to get a proof of recognition for your foreign university degree.

You need this proof if you have obtained a university degree in a non-EU country and if this degree is an important qualification for the job you will be taking up in Germany. The Anabin excerpt can also be used for your application for admission to a German university.

What is the Anabin database?

The Anabin database lists information on all institutions and degrees that have been evaluated by the Central Office for Foreign Education (so-called ZAB) in Germany to date. With the Anabin database you can find out if there is any information available on your academic qualifications and if they are recognized in Germany.

If your university or degree is not listed in Anabin, this does not mean that your qualifications are not recognized in Germany. It only means that no one has applied for an evaluation yet and therefore no ZAB assessment is available. To find out what to do in this case, scroll down to the FAQs at the end of the article.

Anabin is a bit tricky to handle and there are two steps you have to complete to get all the information you need.

Let's get started!

How to access the Anabin database

This link will take you directly to the website.

First of all, it's important not to be put off by the confusing interface and the fact that the entire site comes in German language. Yeah, so confusing right? Even as a native speaker it is sometimes hard to find your way around on Anabin. That’s why we’ve designed this detailed guide to help you out.

First, take a look at the left side of the page: There are two options to start your search on the Anabin database: You can either search for the university you studied at (“Institutionen”) or search for the degree that you completed (“HochschulabschlĂŒsse”).

Step 1: How to search for your university on Anabin

We’ll start with looking up your university on Anabin. To access the database and start your search, click on “Institutionen” and then change the tab from “Info” to “Suchen”.

This will finally give you the option to start a search in the database. Now click on “LĂ€nderauswahl öffnen”, select the country you have studied at and confirm by clicking “LĂ€nderauswahl bestĂ€tigen”.

In the lower part of the screen you will now see the search results. To narrow down the results, you can add additional filters, such as the city, the type of university, or individual search terms. If you are using search terms, the easiest way to find your university is to enter only one word of the university name (e.g. the name, city or other unique identifier).

Once you have found your university, click on the small purple plus icon on the left side next to the university name. This will open a pop-up with more detailed information. What we are particularly interested in is the "Status" section.

What does the Anabin university status mean?

There are three different status categories for universities on Anabin:

• H+ status: The best outcome for you is if your university has an H+ status, which means that your university is recognized in Germany.

• H- Status: Unfortunately, if your university has an H- status, it means that your degree is not recognized in Germany. Take a look at our FAQs to find out what you can do in this case.

• H+/- Status: Many universities on Anabin have an H+/- status. If your university has this rating it means that there is no clear recognition status for your university and each degree is evaluated and decided on on a case-by-case basis.

If your university has an H+ or H+/- status, you still have to look up your particular degree and find out if it is recognized. We’ll explain how this works in the following paragraphs.

Before we move on, you will most certainly need a print-out of the university status. Simply click on the printer icon at the top right of the pop-up window and off you go! You can now print the file or save it to your computer.

Step 2: How to look up your university degree on Anabin

Now let's move on to your university degree. Don't miss out on this step! If you require the Anabin excerpts for your application for an EU blue card or a German work visa, you will definitely need to complete both steps to get all the information and printouts you need.

To open the search interface for university degrees, take another look on the left side of the screen and click on “HochschulabschlĂŒsse” (which can be translated as “university degrees”).

Then again change from the Info tab to the search tab. Here, you have two search options: You can search by the name of the degree (”Suche nach AbschlĂŒssen”) or by the type of the degree (“Suche nach Abschlusstypen”).

In the search interface you now have the option to set filters. Again, it's best to start with filtering by country. This is often saved from your previous search anyway. In addition, you can set filters for the type of degree and the field of study. If you are not sure which filters to set or if your search is not successful, try entering the exact title of your degree as a search term. You might get more results that way. If you don't find your degree on the first try, play around a bit with the search terms and filters (e.g. by omitting words) or just go through the list of universities listed for your country.

Important note: When looking up your university degree, make sure that the degree title on Anabin exactly matches the title of the degree you obtained! If this is not the case, the Anabin excerpt will most probably not be accepted as proof of recognition.

Once you have found your degree, click on the small purple plus icon next to the title of your degree which will open a pop-up window with detailed information.

Scroll down to the section “Bewertung” and look out for a column called “Äquivalenzklasse” (equivalence class), which is what we are looking for.

What does the Anabin degree classification mean?

There are three types of classifications currently used in the Anabin database:

• Gleichwertig: Your degree is considered equivalent to a comparable German academic degree and there are no formal differences.

• Entspricht: Your degree is considered as equivalent to a German degree and there are no significant differences from it.

• Bedingt vergleichbar: Your degree is only conditionally comparable, meaning that there are formal differences to the corresponding academic degree in Germany. In this case you have to apply for a Statement of Comparability.

Exactly what classification you need depends on what you want to use the Anabin excerpt for. In most cases, a classification of "Gleichwertig” or "entspricht" combined with H+ status or H+/- status from the university is sufficient. So make sure you know exactly what type of classification you need for your paperwork. For example, if you need to prove your recognition for an EU blue card application, you will most likely need a classification of "Gleichwertig" or "Entspricht".

Once you have found the classification, click on the print icon on the upper right and save the document or print it directly.

What to do with the Anabin print-outs

If both your university and your degree are recognized in Germany, you can use the two print-outs in combination as proof of recognition for your visa application for an EU blue card or German work visa. To do so, simply attach the two print-outs to your visa application and take them with you to your visa appointment.

Anabin - Frequently asked questions

What if my university is listed as H+ on Anabin, but my specific university degree is not listed on Anabin?

In this case you have to have your degree assessed individually and apply for a Statement of Comparability at the ZAB. You'll find more information on this below.

What to do if my university is not listed on Anabin?

Not all foreign academic degrees or universities are listed in the Anabin database. In this case, you most probably need to apply for a Statement of Comparability. You'll find more information on this below.

What to do if my university has an H- status on Anabin?

This unfortunately means that your university is not recognized in Germany and neither is the degree you obtained from it. If you are working in IT and have more than three years of work experience, you could try to apply for an instead.

I have found a degree with a slightly different title than the one on my diploma. Can I use it?

The title of your university degree must exactly match the title on the Anabin printout. If the titles do not match, then the degree is considered as conditionally comparable, meaning it is not classified as a recognized degree. In this case, you will have to apply for a Statement of Comparability for your degree.

My degree is classified as “entspricht Fachschule”. What does that mean?

Degrees listed as „entspricht Fachschule” are unfortunately not recognized as comparable to a German university degree.

How to apply for a Statement of Comparability?

The Statement of Comparability is an official document issued by the Central Office for Foreign Education (so-called ZAB) in Germany. It’s basically an individual evaluation of your academic qualification and specifies the German qualification to which your foreign academic degree is comparable. You can find a detailed list of the documents you need to apply and .

Looking for more?

Important note: Our Âé¶ččÙÍűGermany articles are written with utmost care to explain careers and paperwork in Germany. However, please note that the content presented here does neither constitute nor replace any form of legal advice. We highly recommend consulting a lawyer for any legal concerns you may have.

As employees in Germany, part of the contributions coming from your salary goes into pension contributions. This is meant to finance the pension system and make sure you still have income during retirement. However, there is a good chance that you will leave the country before retirement age.

Are you eligible to a German pension refund after leaving Germany? How much can you expect? How does the process look like? We answer all these questions in this post.

How much refund could I expect

When eligible for a refund, you can get a refund of your share of contributions as an employee. That is set at 9,35% of your gross income. Some other factors can impact the total sum, like for example the maximum cap to contributions (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze).

Your employer's share of contributions will not be refunded to you.

Who is eligible for a refund?

Eligibility is defined by law in the German social security act . You need to qualify for the following requirements:

• You last contribution (= last paycheck) was made more than 24 months ago.

• You no longer need to make mandatory contributions to the German pension system. This happens when you leave Germany.

• You cannot make voluntary contributions to the German pension system. This option is given to German nationals, EU nationals and some nationals who come from a country with a bilateral agreement with Germany on that matter.

This last requirement is often the make-or-break condition when it comes to a German pension refund. It's not possible for all. In short:

• German citizens always have the option to make voluntary contributions. They are not eligible to a refund.

• EU citizens are basically considered as like German citizens, which almost always exclude them as well.

• Contracting state citizens* have a good chance to get a refund, but only if they have worked less than 60 months in Germany. Chances are impacted by nationality and place of residence after their time in Germany.

• Non-contracting state citizens are never given the opportunity to make voluntary contributions. They can get a refund, regardless of their time spent/worked in Germany

How to apply for a pension refund after leaving Germany

Surprisingly enough, the amount of forms and documentation required for the application is fairly small. Once the 24 months waiting period is over (1st requirement, remember?), do the following:

1. Download and fill the right forms in from the German pension office You will need the V0901 (Main application form called Antrag auf Beitragserstattung bei Aufenthalt im Ausland) and forms A1313 or A1312 or A1311 or A1310 (respectively if your bank account is located in Germany or Canada/Usa or Italy or anywhere else).

2. Provide a copy of your social insurance certificate (Meldebescheinigung zur Sozialversicherung) and copy of your passport.

3. Send all documents by post (yes, this is still Germany) to the pension office of the municipality where you first did your Anmeldung.

Next steps might involve providing further documentation or answer questions from the officer about your application. This can lead to long processing times depending on your nationality and place of residence. Some nationalities have dedicated offices, and some other not.

UK nationals: Brexit has impacted your German pension refund

Brexit took place on 01/01/2021. The UK is now considered a contracting state as far as pension refund is concerned. However, if you started to work in German before that date, your case would still be processed as a normal EU citizen.

This post was based a on detailed guide on  by Bastien Allibert on settle-in-berlin.com. Active since 2011, settle-in-berlin.com helps anybody coming to Germany tackle all practical aspects of moving here. Everyday, up to 2500 visitors come find answers on registration, tax returns, unemployment, insurance, visa applications and more. Over the years, SiB has been recognized for its work and has been featured on Bundesregierung.de, Expat.com, Deutschlandfunk and SĂŒddeutsche Zeitung.

*Contracting states are coutries with bilateral agreements with Germany: Albania, Australia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada/Quebec, Chile, China (only posting employees), India, Israel, Japan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Philippines, Serbia, South Korea, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay, USA, UK, Ukraine (pending).

Looking for more?

Important note: Our Âé¶ččÙÍűGermany articles are written with utmost care to explain careers and paperwork in Germany. However, please note that the content presented here does neither constitute nor replace any form of legal advice. We highly recommend consulting a lawyer for any legal concerns you may have.

It’s like dating. Whether you are currently dating or whether it has been a while for you, you need to stand out. Remember that they are getting tons of messages on a daily basis. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the recruiter - what would have made you read and respond? 

Sending generic messages or the same template to everyone is not a good idea. Make an effort to personalize your message. Include a personal reference (e.g., how did you learn about them? Webinar? Company’s site? Podcast? Other events? Maybe you have joint connections?). Watch the recording of our to learn more.

Compliments that are genuine are always a good idea. If you have something nice to say, you are welcome to do so.

Be precise, explain why exactly you are writing to them. Sending out a message such as “Help me find a job”, it is guaranteed you won’t hear back from them. Instead, include a brief introduction about yourself, what roles you’re looking for, why you’re an interesting candidate for them, express your interest in that specific company, why you would like to work there, be personal! And also, keep it short and to the point. 

Eventually, include a call to action at the end of your message. Ask them if you can send them your CV (ensure it is formatted according to the German CV standard)/ or in the case of general networking, suggest them to jump on a call with you. Whatever you choose to do, don’t put too much pressure. 

Profile settings. Before sending the message, double-check that your profile is up to date and that your privacy settings allow others to see your LinkedIn profile. Recruiters will usually look at your profile to learn more about who you are, what you've done so far, and everything else you've shared on your LinkedIn profile. Learn how to .

Always be polite and leave a positive impression. They may respond negatively, or not respond at all, which is also fine, like we said, they do get A LOT of messages and can’t reply to every single one of them. If you make a good impression, the recruiter may remember you for the next open position and contact you/recommend you to other recruiters. You can never know!

Looking for more?

Disclaimer: Each start-up and corporate is distinct from the others. We present some of the most common general characteristics in this article, so that you could get a rough understanding of the differences in work culture and opportunities between the two. This does not mean it applies to ALL of the startups/ corporations. 

Start-ups

They are usually vibrant, tech-savvy, the dress code is more casual. They are pet-friendly, and might have cool offices, a pool table, and a fresh fruit bowl or a fridge full of beer at all times. Pretty fun, huh?! 

Pros and cons:

• They usually offer a lot of opportunities for internationals.

• Fast-paced, pivots often happen in a short period of time.

• Small teams, therefore each team member plays a significant role and should be responsible and accountable.

• Flexible-business model prone to changes.

• Budget is often lower, and not as stable as a corporation.

• Flat hierarchy.

• Less formal

• Less safety, the start-up might fail.

• Performance based promotion: You can develop faster career-wise faster.

You’ll be well integrated in a start-up if you are: creative, very passionate about your work, have an entrepreneurial mindset, want to have a big impact within the company, innovative, have a high learning curve, like taking on a lot of responsibilities and do things outside your title, experience in various tasks and projects. If this sounds like you, you will enjoy the start-up culture and nature! 

Corporates

In Germany, there are also many opportunities in corporate settings. They are larger businesses with far more workers, larger budgets, are more robust, and they have typically been in business for many years. Although getting a job in a corporation is certainly possible, bear in mind that many of them are more conventional, with a German mentality and climate (also the business language might be, you guessed it: German).

Pros and cons:

• Relatively secure workplace in which it is more difficult to dismiss workers (after the probation period has ended).

• Usually have structured guidelines and protocols

• You may have the opportunity to go abroad or to handle foreign markets, a good chance to leverage your international experience

• Processes-based, you will be asked to do just what you were hired for, and typically not much more than that. 

• Since the work environment is more stable and coordinated, transitioning from one role to the next can be more difficult and time consuming.

• A clear job prospects in terms of internal promotions.

• Innovation and change take time.

• Taking on duties requires time.

• Larger budgets that allow for bigger projects and resources

• More employee benefits

• Hierarchic environment

You’ll be well integrated in such a company if you are: looking for stability, work-life balance, a decent wage, a labor union, climbing slowly the corporate ladder, prefer structured processes over rapid changes, and looking for a place to stay for a long time.

Bear in mind that this isn’t black and white. Some of the big corporations are adopting start-up characteristics, and vice versa.

You'll find job openings from both on our.

Good luck!

Looking for more?

This is our top 10 list of interview questions we think you should prepare for when applying for jobs in Germany:

Could you tell us a bit more about you? (Or in other words: tell us about your career so far and focus on those aspects that are particularly relevant for the job you are applying for)

Interviews often begin with some kind of introductory question where the interviewers give you the chance to present yourself and highlight the points you find most important.

Tip: Don’t tell your whole life story, but really focus on the aspects which are most relevant for the job.

Which are the most relevant skills you bring to this position?

Now it’s getting more specific. The interviewers want to know whether you have understood what responsibilities the role entails and select which of your skills are most important for the position.

Tip: It’s good to imagine the role beforehand and think about very concrete tasks that you think you will be doing in this position.

Why are you interested in working here?

The interviewers want to see whether you know who is the company/organization that you are applying for, not only in general, but specifically within the respective sector, market or project where “your” position is also located.

Tip: Do some research about the employer and the department or project you want to work for (e. g. websites, news, specialized journals).

Could you give us an example of a project that you successfully handled and tell us what your contribution was to the success?

German recruiters love examples from your previous work experience. In this case they want to give you the chance to highlight something positive, hoping for aspects that are relevant for the position you are applying for.

Tip: When you prepare for the interview note down several examples from previous jobs with which you can tell a good (and relevant) story in the interview.

Could you give us an example of a work situation where you did not deliver and tell us what you learned from this experience?

German recruiters don’t only love examples, they also love asking difficult questions where they don’t only want to get a satisfying answer, but where they want to see how you react in the interview situation, for example, whether you get nervous or stay calm.

Tip: Tip: Like in the previous question prepare some examples beforehand so that you don’t have to come up with them in the interview. Try to stay calm, and remind yourself that everybody makes mistakes, but highlight what you learned from them, and always end on a positive note.

Did you ever experience difficult situations or conflict in teams and what did you do to solve them?

Again this a rather difficult question, here with the focus on your behaviour in teams. The interviewers want to better understand whether you are a teamplayer and whether you are compatible with the respective team.

Tip: Again preparation is the key. Make sure you use a positive story and stay calm!

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

This is a classic question, of course, but it’s still used in interviews because it’s quite tricky to answer and the interviewers want to see your reaction.

Tip: Your strengths are the easy part, be careful to focus on something that is relevant for the job. Pick a weakness that doesn’t scare the interviewers, but one you have already worked on and where you have improved.

What do you think is a good leadership style?

Here the interviewers want to understand whether you fit into their hierarchies or (in case you will be a team leader yourself) how you lead others.

Tip: Do some research about how hierarchical the company is, big corporates are different here from small start-ups. The idea is not that you tell them what they want to hear, but that you pick the employer where you with your understanding of leadership fits in well, otherwise you would become very unhappy quickly.

What would you do on your first day at work in your new job?

Here the interviewers want to see whether you can imagine yourself being in the position, both regarding the tasks you would have and the interaction with colleagues and supervisors.

Tip: This question gives you the chance to show the interviewers how excited you would be to get the job and how strategic you are. Don’t exaggerate, of course, but you could give some examples of your enthusiasm. Regarding the tasks you might want to give the impression that you are realistic and proactive.

What salary expectations do you have and when could you start working for us?

The question about salary will definitely be asked if they haven’t asked about it in the application already, same about the starting date. For jobs in public administration the salary level might be fixed and mentioned in the job ad already.

Tip: Do some research about salary levels for jobs in your field beforehand on platforms like , , or , so that you go into the interview with a specific number (e. g. your gross annual salary). Have a look at our and article about salaries!

Do you want to put your skills to the test with a German recruiter?

Book our a 1-on-1 career coaching session for a mock interview with an experienced HR expert. We’ll give you feedback and make sure that you are fully prepared for your next interview!

Except for our blog, and , here are some other useful links that we love, and think you will too. You can thank us later!

Great Podcasts

• - Shaun from South Africa is the host of this podcast where he interviews foreigners who moved to Germany - either temporarily or permanently - and tips and advice for life in Germany, about the life in Germany, as seen through the eyes of outsiders. 

• Listen to our interview with him on job search and working in Germany: expectations vs. reality, work contracts, and corporates vs. start-ups .

• - Nicole, an American living in Freiburg, hosts on her podcast expats that share stories about fitting in, standing out, and every mishap on their journey to feeling at home abroad.

• Listen to our interview about resumes, interviews, and contract negotiations in Germany

YouTube channels

• Take a look at our !

• - Diana Verry - A Canadian girl living in Berlin shares her experience with the locals as an expat, work culture in Germany, etc.

• - Antoinette Emily, a New Zealander living in Germany with her family. She shares her views on life in Germany, life with kids in Germany, and more. 

Helpful Blogs

If you are moving to Berlin specifically, make sure to check these informative blogs:

Just for fun

• - Play this game to find a flat in Berlin!

Learning German

• - One of the most popular apps is Babbel. Babbel offers a module-based language learning approach where you learn German vocabulary and grammar. You can either choose an which gives you access to online modules without a teacher or book a with virtual German language lessons.

• - Watch your favorite TV show and learn a little German on the side. You can connect Lingopie to your Netflix account to learn German with dual subtitles and other learning features.

• - Duolingo offers a free German language learning app and is one of the most popular options on the market. It uses gamification and focusses primarily on everyday challenges.

• - These guys create videos in German on the streets of Berlin while talking with locals. 

• - A channel by Deutsche Welle, one of the public German news agencies. Many videos to help you learn German, from the very beginning. 

• - This couple, Steffi and Shlomi, teach German in a fun and easy way throughout their videos. 
  

Application writing in Germany

• - Very helpful for writing job applications in German

• - Free ATS resume checker

Jobboards

Take a look at our list of job platforms

Salary in Germany

• Search tool “Entgeltatlas” by the federal employment agency in Germany -> Type in your profession and location:  

• Starting salaries for graduates sorted by professions:   

• Starting salaries for graduates by field of study, city, company size and industry:  

• Average salaries by field of study, city, company size and industry:

• Cost of living - comparison of cities in Germany:  

• Employer ratings and salary insights:

• Employer ratings and salary insights:  

• Salary insights:

Find accommodation in Germany

Take a look at our comprehensive list of links for finding accommodation

Taxes

• - Online tax return tool with option to book a tax advisor.

• - Online tax refund tool, for expats in Germany.

• - An online tool for freelancers in Germany.

Information about Insurances

• - Feather insurance helps expats manage their insurances (you will definitely need these in Germany, for example , liability insurance, legal insurance, and more. Also, make sure to read this ).

• - 100% online insurance company. 

Do you have other suggestions? Leave a comment below!

Looking for more?

Remember when you arrived and every time you moved into a new apartment within Germany you had to doAnmeldung (registration)? When leaving Germany, you have to do the opposite: You need to deregister at the local German citizens office (“”țĂŒ°ùČ”±đ°ùČčłŸłÙ”, “BĂŒrgerbĂŒro” or “·ĄŸ±ČÔ·ÉŽÇłóČÔ±đ°ùłŸ±đ±ô»ć±đČú±đłóö°ù»ć±đ”, in each city it’s called differently) so they’ll know you no longer live in Germany, which means you don’t need to pay the local health insurance, taxes in Germany, and other providers you’ve been paying for. This de-registration is called “AČúłŸ±đ±ô»ćłÜČÔČ”â€ (de-registration). 

Note that temporary stays abroad, e.g. for study purposes, travel, do not require you to de-register.

When to do it?

The de-registration can be made 7 days before but must be done up to 14 days after moving out of the place where you had your permanent address.

How to?

To do your de-registration, you need to contact your local citizens office and follow their instructions. In each state the procedure is a bit different. Here are two examples of how it’s done in Berlin and Frankfurt: 

In Berlin, for example, there are 3 different ways;

Personal appointment

1. Schedule a meeting at the local citizens office (“”țĂŒ°ùČ”±đ°ùČčłŸłÙ”). If living in Berlin you can.

2. Fill out this (each state has its own form).

3. Bring your identity card or passport for your appointment.

4. They will issue you a deregistration certificate (“Abmeldebescheinigung”) on the spot.

Registered mail

1. Fill out the and send it to one of the (”țĂŒ°ùČ”±đ°ùĂ€łŸłÙ±đ°ù).

2. Attach a copy of your identity card or passport.

3. If there are more than 3 people that need to be de-registered, please fill out additional de-registration forms.

4. They will send your deregistration certificate (“Abmeldebescheinigung”) to the address you filled out in the form (also abroad).

Email

1. Send the and a scan of your identity card or passport to buergeramt@ba-sz.berlin.de. 

2. They will send your deregistration certificate (“Abmeldebescheinigung”) to the address you filled out in the form (not by email!).

For more details on , take a look at this guide by All About Berlin.

In Frankfurt, there are currently two ways:

Personal appointment

1. Schedule a meeting at the local citizens office (“”țĂŒ°ùČ”±đ°ùČčłŸłÙ”) .

2. Fill out this.

3. Bring your identity card or passport.

4. It can also be done by a representative, he/she needs to have a signed power of attorney, and a copy of your identity card or passport.

5. They will issue you a deregistration certificate (“Abmeldebescheinigung”) on the spot.

Registered mail

1. Fill out this and send it to one of.

2. Attach a copy of your identity card or passport.

3. They will send your deregistration certificate (“Abmeldebescheinigung”) to the address you filled out in the form (also abroad).
   

Fees: None. 

Good luck!

Looking for more? We can help you out!

Important note: Our Âé¶ččÙÍűGermany articles are written with utmost care to explain careers and paperwork in Germany. However, please note that the content presented here does neither constitute nor replace any form of legal advice. We highly recommend consulting a lawyer for any legal concerns you may have.

Documents required for your apartment application

• Work contract - It is an indicator of your financial stability in Germany (especially if you’re no longer on probation period), indicates your income, your industry and how easy or difficult it is to find another job in that sector. However, if you don’t have a work contract yet, it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to find a flat.

• Schufa - Your credit score, demonstrates whether you have a questionable history of financial behavior, or you pay everything on time. Landlords want to see a good Schufa, a score of over 95% is very good. You can also get it for free (4 weeks waiting time) or .

• Proof of income - Payslips from the last 3 months, or other income that you may have. 

• Bank statements, proving you have enough money to pay rent. This is only needed in case you do not have a regular income.

• A letter from your previous landlord indicating you paid your rent on time. It’s called “Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung”.

• Special tip: A short cover letter introducing yourself and your fellow tenants can leave a positive impression and adds a personal touch to your application.

You won’t be asked to present all of the documents all of the time, but keep in mind that it could be a requirement, and it’s always better to be prepared. It also makes a good impression if you have these documents ready. It shows that you’re organized and responsible.

These requirements may sound weird to an expat, perhaps it' s different in your country. Many rental contracts in Germany are for years on, and mostly in favor of the tenant (it is difficult for a landlord to terminate a contract, or to take a tenant out of the apartment). In addition, there is a very high demand in certain cities like Munich and Berlin. This makes the landlords very picky, and they don’t want to risk renting the apartment to an untrustworthy tenant. For this reason, there is quite a lot of paperwork that needs to be collected and submitted. Sometimes you won’t be the only one applying for the apartment, so keep searching until you get a contract.  

Good luck!

Alternative solution: Temporary housing

Have you been searching for a while, but can't find anything? Get a temporary flat or room, for a few months to settle in and then look for a long-term apartment. You can book fully furnished apartments and rooms on these platforms:

• Spacest: (filter for “You can take up residence”)

• HousingAnywhere: (filter for "Registration possible")

• spotahome: (look out for "Registration / Anmeldung" possible in the landlord policies)

• Wunderflats: (look out for “Landlord's confirmation of residence (WohnungsgeberbestĂ€tigung)” under “Services”)

Here is a complete list of websites where you can find accommodation.

If you are interested in buying real estate, take a look at the by Hypofriend.

Looking for more information?

Important: In order to get your Anmeldung you have to have a permanent apartment address, where you can register and receive letters. To prove this, you need a confirmation by your landlord (see list of documents below). When you move into a new apartment in Germany, you need to register at the local citizen’s office within a time frame of two weeks after moving in. If you do not meet this deadline, you may be liable for an administrative fine. However, since the offices are often heavily overloaded and you usually have to wait a long time for an appointment, the responsible clerks often tend to turn a blind eye to minor delays.

As a newcomer, if you don’t have an apartment yet, you can do one of the following things:

1. Get a temporary flat/ sublet, for a few months to settle in and then look for a long-term apartment. You can book fully furnished apartments and rooms on these platforms:

• Spacest: (filter for “You can take up residence”)

• HousingAnywhere: (filter for "Registration possible")

• spotahome: (look out for "Registration / Anmeldung" possible in the landlord policies)

• Wunderflats: (look out for “Landlord's confirmation of residence (WohnungsgeberbestĂ€tigung)” under “Services”)

Here is a complete list of websites where you can find accommodation.

2. Live in a WG at least for a while (shared flat).

3. Register under a friend’s address.

No matter which option you choose, it is important to make sure beforehand that you can use this address for your Anmeldung. This is only possible if your friend, your flatmates or your landlord can provide you with the necessary documents (see below)!

A step-by-step guide to Anmeldung

Let’s dive in.

1. Make an appointment at the local citizens’ office as soon as you have a move in date. The exact name of the responsible authority varies somewhat depending on where you live in Germany. Here are a few examples:

In some cities, the workload is quite high so it might take some time to book an appointment. Keep trying, as they release available appointments all the time. Especially in the mornings!

2. Once you’ve booked your appointment, you’ll get an email confirmation with an appointment number. make sure to have this information at hand when you go for your appointment.

3. Prepare the documents needed for your city registration. These may vary depending on your location and specific case. Be sure to check the website of your local citizens office to see what exactly is needed. Here are some documents you will need in any case:

• City registration form: Bring form with you. Mind the religion section. If you indicate that you belong to one of the religious communities recognized under public German law that are allowed to collect taxes from their members, you may end up paying church tax, which is around 8% of your salary. These are for example the Protestant and Catholic churches, as well as the Jewish denominations.

• Written confirmation by your landlord (“WŽÇłóČÔłÜČÔČ”ČőČ”±đČú±đ°ùČú±đČőłÙĂ€łÙŸ±Č”łÜČÔČ”â€): The certificate needs to contain the following information: Name and address of the housing provider and if he/she is not the owner, also the name of the owner, date of moving in, address of the apartment and names of the persons subject to registration. A rental contract is usually not accepted as a replacement for the confirmation by your landlord. In case the person renting out the place to you does not have a standard document for this, you can use as a template.

• Your rental contract.

• Marriage certificate: If you are married, you may need to bring your marriage certificate, translated in German by a certified translator.

• Have children? Bring the identification documents or birth certificates if your children are also moving in with you.

4. The desired day of your appointment has arrived! Double check your documents and plan enough time to get there in time. There will be a screen in the waiting room, wait until your number will appear. Once your number appears it’s your turn: Go to the desk or office mentioned next to your appointment number. Many of the staff won’t speak English, so try to come with a German speaker. The process itself takes about 5-10 minutes in total, at the end you’ll get a piece of paper, the “Meldebescheinigung“, a residence registration certificate. 

5. NOW you can get on with your business and finally receive mail, get a tax ID and apply for your residence permit.

You’ll have to do the whole process again when you move to a different apartment!

Recommendation for those of you moving to Berlin: Take a look at this detailed guide on Anmeldung in Berlin by All About Berlin.

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What is Schufa?

The German credit score. It’s a report indicating your creditworthiness, based on your historical financial behavior. A company called “Schufa Holding AG” is collecting data from different sources, such as banks, credit card companies, mobile phone providers and other contracting parties, and creates a report about your financial reliability. 

Didn’t pay a loan on time? Your Schufa score will decrease. Are you late with paying bills? Likewise. Having too many credit cards? The same. You get it. 

Why do you need a Schufa document?

As mentioned, you’ll most likely be requested to present your Schufa to your future landlord. The report ranks your financial stability and lets the landlord know if you’re a reliable payer or not. The final score you get represents the statistical probability with which you’ll meet your payment obligations and is calculated on the basis of past experience. Almost every financial step you’ll make in Germany will need to look at your Schufa: when signing a contract with a cell phone/ internet provider, asking for a loan, mortgage, etc. 

What is a good Schufa score?

A score over 95 is considered to be very good.

How to get the Schufa for free?

You can get it for FREE once every year. You order it online and the report will be sent to you by post within 5 to 7 days.

This is how you order your free Schufa online: Click on, and select the option called “Datenkopie nach Art. 15 DS-GVO”. Click on Jetzt beantragen (= apply now) and you’ll be redirected to a page with a form to fill in. 

Download your Schufa online

If you prefer to order your Schufa online and get it right away, you can simply order the for 29,95 €.

You can also receive it for 29,95 € on the spot in different banks in Germany. locate the closest branch and just go there and ask for a Schufa (the service is open for all, no need to be a customer in that specific bank). 

Important to know

The Schufa score does not depend on your income, only on your behavior! 

For foreigners, the issuance of a SCHUFA report is usually only possible if you have already lived in Germany for some time and have a German bank account. If this is the case, you will need some other proof of your financial reliability. This could be, for example, a reference letter from your current bank or a voluntary financial guarantee from a third person, e.g. a relative in Germany.

The Schufa will continue to collect information about you even after you leave Germany. So make sure you’re not leaving any open payments behind.

Always try to have a good Schufa score, otherwise, it can backfire.

Do you have further questions? Feel free to get in touch with us.

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1. Don’t go unprepared. We have written a detailed article about how to prepare for job interviews. Go through this article and prepare regarding the job ad, the company, and potential interview questions. If you already know the names of the interviewers, familiarize yourself with them so that you can easily remember them in the interview. If the interviewers are using a specific type of software for an online interview, you can check whether you have to download a plug-in or install software to be able to enter the virtual interview room. It can be extremely stressful if you take longer to log in to the interview than you expected.
   

2. Don’t say bad things about your former or current employer. There is a reason, of course, why you want to change jobs. Still, even if you leave your previous job on bad terms, don’t talk about it in the interview. Recruiters are hesitant to employ somebody who has a history of bad endings of contracts or who seems to be a difficult person. It doesn’t matter whether it was your fault at all. Be discreet and diplomatic. You can highlight what opportunities you see with the new employer.
   

3. Don’t use empty or general phrases. There are standard questions in interviews that are asked very frequently, but that doesn’t mean that you should use standard answers. Unconventional answers are not necessarily helpful in every interview situation, for example, when you are talking about concrete skills or experiences, but if you are too general recruiters don’t perceive you as being authentic. The more you can speak about examples from your professional life to underline your arguments the better it is. One of the most standard questions is about your strengths and weaknesses. Those examples are particularly suitable to give away something about your personality, e.g. that you handled something in a bad way, but you realized your mistake and you act differently now. 
   

4. Be polite even if interviewers ask difficult questions. In Germany recruiters are quite frank, so they might ask you critical questions which you wouldn’t be asked in other countries or which are difficult to answer. This is on purpose. They want to challenge you and see how you react to uncomfortable questions. Keep calm, even if you don’t know the answer. You can tell them what you know and be frank if there is anything you don’t know. Questions should always be related to professional topics, of course, private questions are not allowed and you are not obliged to answer them (e.g. whether you are planning to have children).
   

5. Don’t make your answers too short or too long. Interviewers want to learn something about you. Three-word answers don’t help them to get a better idea of who you are. Give them a bit more, ideally, as mentioned before, with examples from your professional life. At the same time, they have plenty of things they want to ask you, so try to be brief enough that recruiters have the chance to ask several questions or change topics. Keep in mind that they have to base their decision on these 30-60 minutes that they have for each and every candidate and decide who is the best fit for the company. If you realize during the interview that they interrupt you during your answers in order to proceed to their next question, your answers are too long.
   

6. Don’t miss the opportunity to ask your own questions. At the end of every interview, you will get the chance to ask questions. Don’t waste this opportunity by not asking anything at all, or by only asking questions about the application process. The interviewers will tell you anyway what the next steps are and until when you will hear from them. So do have content-related questions prepared e.g. about the products or services, about particular tools the company uses or about the way you would be working together in your new team. Those kinds of questions show that you are into the job and you are genuinely interested in how things will be when you start the job. Recruiters are happy to see this kind of interest in the job.

Check out our for more helpful tips on job search in Germany.

Good luck with your interview!

Looking for more?

Here are 5 things you can do to be ready for your interview:

1. Take a look at the job ad again. In case you haven’t saved it earlier, do save it now because sometimes job ads are taken offline after the period of advertising and you don’t have access to it anymore. The job ad will help you to understand what your job will be in case you get the position. Have a close look at the requirements and qualifications they ask for. Can you come up with examples from your previous jobs where you did something similar to this job? And if you didn’t, do you at least know what the particular responsibility described entails? You should be the expert for the job that you will have to do already in the interview so that you can impress the interviewers with your in-depth knowledge about the particular role.
   

2. Do some research about the company. Visit their website and social media channels and check out recent news reports. What are they working on currently? What are their values? What is their most important product or service? Can you find out anything about the company’s history so far? You can also get a feeling of the company’s culture, how their office looks like, who is working there, whether they have a dress code, what departments there are, etc. Try to understand the potential employer as well as you can. It might come in handy when you mention the employer’s most recent project, an award they won recently, or if you know about their focus areas in different countries.
   

3. Outer appearance matters. You should think about the right clothes. In an interview in the start-up context you might not wear business attire, but something more casual. In more traditional sectors you would be underdressed if you don’t wear a business outfit. If you are in doubt go for the more formal dress because it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed. This applies to online interviews as well. For them, another factor comes in that you don’t have when you are being interviewed in person: The right environment. Make sure you have a stable internet connection and some neutral background (not your messy bed or your kitchen sink with the leftovers from your last meal). Try to find a spot where it’s not noisy, cars in the background can be as disturbing as children screaming. 
   

4. Know your salary expectations. If you have not stated any salary expectations in your application, it could well be that this topic will be addressed in the interview. Even if you have already stated your salary expectations, it is important to be able to justify them in an interview. Here you will find everything you need to know about salary negotiations.
   

5. Prepare answers to questions and practice, practice, practice. Ask yourself what you would want to know if you were sitting on the other side. You can also brainstorm with some friends or family members what questions they can come up with. Practice. Do a mock interview with them and make them ask you the most difficult questions, e.g. about qualifications or experience you are missing or about a very short employment period with a company where you had problems with your colleagues or the boss. Can you explain why you think you are the most suitable person for the job despite the fact that you only fulfill 60% of the criteria mentioned in the job ad? Try to be so well-prepared that you are not confronted with any question in the interview that you didn’t already think about and you have already come up with the answer in advance. It will also make you feel calmer when you go into the interview.
   

There are many questions that can be asked in interviews, but just to give you some ideas, we have put together a shortlist of common interview questions:

• Why are you interested in working for us/working in this particular position?

• Which are the most relevant skills that you bring to this position?

• Can you give me an example of a project where you worked under tight deadlines (time, money, resources)? How did you deal with it?

• Can you give me an example of a successful project you handled? What did make it successful and what was your contribution?

• Can you give me an example of a working situation where you did not deliver? What did you learn from this experience?

• Let’s assume you would start in this role. What would you do on your first day at work?

• What factors are important to keep you satisfied in a position?

• What type of leadership works best for you?

• What are your salary expectations?

• What are your strengths/weaknesses?

• How can you be motivated? How do you motivate others?

• How can a leader fail?

• Can you describe a situation in which you learned a lot?

• How would you deliver bad news to your team?

• Do you have a role model, someone you admire?

• What do you think is the best way to resolve a conflict at work?

• How do you organize projects and tasks?

• How did you handle a situation in which you had to make an unpopular decision?

• What are you passionate about?

• What salary do you expect?

• Do you have any questions for us (apart from administrative points)?

This list is not comprehensive, of course, and there can be very specific questions about your expertise in case the job requires particular knowledge. We hope these points help you to prepare for the interview and we wish you all the best!

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Germany has a very strict legal framework for employment contracts. These laws are also applicable if no specific terms have been agreed upon in the employment contract itself or if the terms agreed upon do not comply with the legal framework. 

Things that should not be missing in your employment contract

• Full name and address of you and your future employer

• Your starting date and the end date of your employment contract (in the case of a temporary employment)

• The length of probationary period 

• A description of your tasks and responsibilities

• Definition of your workplace and working hours

• Your salary and any benefits that you agreed upon

• Your leave entitlement (monthly or yearly) - if nothing is noted here, you have your statutory vacation entitlement in any case

• Where applicable, references to applicable tariff standards or other agreements

10 things you should know before signing an employment contract in Germany

Probationary period

In Germany, employment contracts usually include a probationary period of 6 months. During the probationary period, the employment contract can be terminated with two weeks' notice by both parties and without the need to provide any kind of explanation.

Temporary employment

A temporary employment contract contains a specific end date and usually ends automatically. This means that neither you nor the employer must terminate it in order to end the contract. Of course, a continuation of the employment with a follow-up contract is still possible. 

Working hours and compensation of extra work

The usual weekly working time in a full-time position is a 5-day week with 40 hours, sometimes even less. A maximum of 8 hours of work per day is permitted by law in Germany. Of course, these times are not always adhered to and special regulations apply to some occupational groups (e.g. doctors, managers). Many employment contracts in Germany contain a general clause stating that overtime and extra work are fully compensated with the salary, although this is not legally valid. In practice, actual compliance with these regulations and real working hours vary greatly depending on the work environment and the size of the company.

Your salary

The salary in an employment contract is usually stated as gross salary. This means that the employee's share of income tax and social security contributions is automatically deducted from this amount before the payment is made. Salaries are usually paid out monthly in the middle or at the end of the month.  

Make sure that your employment contract not only includes the agreed starting salary, but also any agreed increase after the end of the probationary period. Same goes for variable salary components or other benefits such as ESOPs, mobility allowances and relocation packages.

Learn more about and on our .

Leave entitlement

With a 5-day week, you are legally entitled to at least 20 days of paid vacation per year. However, many employers also grant more leave days. Your salary will continue to be paid during your time off. If your employment contract started at a later point in the year, you can calculate one twelfth of your annual leave for each month of employment.

Absence due to illness

If you cannot come to work because you’re ill, you’re obliged to inform your employer as soon as possible. Most employers will require a medical certificate by a doctor attesting your inability to work latest from day three of your absence. In most of the cases, you can get 100% of your salary from your employer for up to 6 weeks. After the 6-week sick leave, you will get benefits from your German health insurance.

Notice period for employees

If not stated otherwise in your employment contract, you can generally terminate your employment after the end of the probationary period with only four weeks' notice to the fifteenth or end of a month - regardless of how long you have been employed there. Many employment contracts also stipulate longer notice periods, e.g. three months. This is also permitted by law. But watch out: Different periods of notice apply during the probationary period. In both cases, you must give notice in writing. 

Notice period for employers

Employers must adhere to different notice periods than employees and can only terminate employee contracts for specific reasons. The longer you work for a company, the longer the notice period. Beware: These regulations only apply if you have already been working for an employer for more than 6 months. Some persons also enjoy special protection against dismissal, e.g. pregnant women, employees on parental leave, severely disabled persons or members of the works council. 

Contract changes

Did you renegotiate your salary or do you have other changes coming up, such as a promotion, a change in working hours, or a change in your work location? No worries, if both the employee and the employer agree to the changes, the employment contract can still be changed at any point of time. It is best to record these changes in writing with reference to the current employment contract. 

Sources: 

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Important note: Our Âé¶ččÙÍűGermany articles are written with utmost care to explain careers and paperwork in Germany. However, please note that the content presented here does neither constitute nor replace any form of legal advice. We highly recommend consulting a lawyer for any legal concerns you may have.

No matter if you are starting your career or changing jobs, sooner or later, each of us has to formulate a salary requirement at some point. In Germany, this information is often already asked for when submitting your application documents and is usually raised at the latest during the interview. 

There is only one exception: If you apply for a job which falls under a standardized tariff agreement (e.g. in public institutions or professions with active labor unions). In this case, the salary levels are usually transparent and only negotiable to a very limited extent.

How much salary can I ask for?

To get a basic understanding, you can start with research on platforms like or . Once you have found out what other employees in this company earn, determine your individual market value. No worries if you do not find information on one particular employer right away. Look up individual salaries for your profession, e.g. from competitors in the same industry, and then research salaries in that particular location and industry in which you are interested. 

Salary expectations: How to calculate your salary

• Company size - Salaries in start-ups are usually lower than what you can expect when you work for a large company. On the other hand, you may be able to take on a lot of responsibility earlier and have more flexibility in how you organize your work.

• Location - For instance income in Berlin is generally lower than in Munich. But in Munich you also need more income because the cost of living is higher than in Berlin. 

• Your qualifications

• Your practical experience

Here are some numbers that will give you a first idea of salaries in Germany. All the data is displayed as yearly gross salary*:

Average income by field of study for master graduates: 

• Industrial engineering: 52.832 €

• Data science: 50.978 €

• Engineering: 50.774 €

• Business and economics: 46.931 €

• Natural sciences: 43.745 €

Average income of graduates in Germany:

• General: 45.395 € 

• Bachelor: 42.169 €

• Master: 47.370 €

• PhD: 56.260 €

At the end of this article, you will also find a list of links that will help you with your research on salary levels for your individual profile. 

Do I have to include my salary expectations in my job application?

If it says so in the job ad, then you have to include a salary range. If it is not specified, then it is also not mandatory to include it. However, if you already have a very clear idea of your future salary, it is a good idea to set clear expectations and include a number right away. You can integrate this information in the last paragraph of your cover letter. If you want to learn more about cover letters, check out our full article on how to write the perfect cover letter.

In case you decide not to include your salary expectations in your application: Be prepared to be confronted with this question at the latest in the interview. At this point you should be done with your research, have a clear salary expectation and be able to justify it. 

What if I ask for too much or too little money? 

First of all: It’s normal to negotiate your salary in Germany. So don’t be too scared of writing down a wrong number here. What matters is that you show that you have done some research and have a clear understanding of what your market value is and what you need to cover your cost of living. 

Don’t sell yourself under value. Too little expectations may leave an impression that you are desperate to go for any job. Similarly, too high expectations could also leave a wrong impression, particularly if you apply for a job in a start-up with a limited budget. The salary you ask for should be in line with your profile and the average salary range on the market and you can still indicate that you are open to negotiate. 

Also keep in mind that you need a minimum income for certain types of visa! 

Current minimum gross annual income for Non-EU citizens holding an academic degree: 

• Blue card: 48.300 € annual gross salary / 4.025 € monthly gross salary (in 2025) 

• Blue card for graduates and professionals in shortage professions: 43.759,80 annual gross salary / 3.646,65 € monthly gross salary (in 2025) 

Run our visa quick check or take a look at our overview of German work visa and residence permit requirements to figure out if you meet the requirements.

How much money will be deducted from my salary? 

You can use to get a general idea and watch our video on how to calculate salary in Germany.

How to negotiate my salary?

• Important: Income is negotiated as the employee’s yearly gross income: Don’t forget to include tax and social security deductions in your calculation. You can use an online salary calculator for this.

• Be well prepared: Do research on your market value and come up with a good storyline: What added value will you bring to the company?

• Be flexible but act determined: Your salary negotiations will not go well if you reject every proposal or give in too easily. Take time to review offers and come up with a suggestion. 

• Agree on a lower starting salary and set a date or milestone at which you will receive a salary increase e.g. once the trial period of the first six months is over. This will give you the chance to prove that you are a good hire.

• Negotiate a variable salary or additional benefits e.g. a performance-based bonus, yearly training budget, mobility allowance, additional vacation days, ... 

• If you have to relocate: Ask your employer for a relocation allowance. Relocation allowances are usually tax deductible for employers in Germany and therefore a win-win for both parties. 

Helpful links 

Unfortunately mostly only available in German:

• Search tool “Entgeltatlas” by the federal employment agency in Germany -> Type in your profession and location:  

• Starting salaries for graduates sorted by professions:   

• Starting salaries for graduates by field of study, city, company size and industry:  

• Average salaries by field of study, city, company size and industry:  

• Cost of living - comparison of cities in Germany:  

• Employer ratings and salary insights:

• Employer ratings and salary insights:  

• Salary insights based on job title and location:

• Salary insights:

• By professional groups, level of experience and regions in Germany (only in German):

• Salary calculator in English:

• Âé¶ččÙÍűGermany salary calculation explained:

• Average expenses and cost by city:

• Numbeo generated by user data
  

*Source of data: Stepstone Gehaltsreport 2020

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