Although Germany offers a large number of study programs in English, being proficient with the spoken German language is a huge advantage when looking for a job and opens immense job prospects. Speaking German is almost always a prerequisite especially for entry-level jobs. The common exceptions are jobs in tech/IT, and jobs at internationally oriented startups. Having a level B1 German Language certificate is one of the requirements in obtaining your residence visa.
Germany’s visa system is relatively simple, quick, and open compared to other nations in Europe. Like any other EU nation, access to the German labour market depends on your nationality. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens may reside in Germany for the purpose of taking up gainful employment if they have a residence permit which explicitly authorises them to do so. Australian, Israeli, Japanese, Canadian, South Korean, New Zealand and US nationals may obtain a residence permit from the relevant foreign authority once they have arrived in Germany. It is important to note, however, that they may not commence their intended employment until they have the permit.
As a foreign graduate of a German university (outside the nationals mentioned above), you enjoy a more favourable status compared to other non-EU citizens.
The moment you complete your studies, your student visa also expires however students can get 18 months of work visa after obtaining your German university degree. You need apply for this permit before your student visa runs out otherwise you will need to return to your home country. You can skip this step if you are already employed.
You can use this period to look for a permanent job which is related to your field of study while working part time to support yourself. In these 18 months, you can work as much as you like and take up any kind of employment to support yourself however experience in your field of study is a big advantage.
To qualify for this permit, you must fulfill the following conditions:
- Proof of a successfully completed course of studies (i.e. university degree)
- Proof of your health insurance coverage
- Proof of sufficient financial means to cover your costs of living
If you returned to your home country after the course completion and want to return to Germany for career opportunities, you are eligible for a temporary short time visa up to six months. During this time, you can look after the different possibilities connected with your educational qualifications. Remember this short visa is not your permanent residence or work permit. This only helps you look for a permanent job. After you are employed on a permanent basis, you need to apply for a separate work and residence permit.
To qualify for this visa, you must present the following requirements:
- Academic or vocational qualification
- Secure financial means (blocked account or declaration of commitment)
- Proof of German language competence: minimum requirement is level B1 (CEFR) (compulsory for people with vocational training)
You should apply for this visa in your home country.
As soon as you have a job offer which corresponds to your qualifications, you can choose whether you want to apply for a residence permit for the purpose of taking up employment or an EU Blue Card for the next part of how to stay in Germany after your studies.
Allows foreign nationals to work in Germany for the period of time depending on your employment contract. If your contract is for only 2 years, your permit will also be valid for 2 years. However, you can extend it as many times as you need as long as you maintain your employment status. If you plan to permanently stay in Germany then this is more advantageous to you.
EU Blue Card
Allows foreign nationals of non-EU countries who are highly skilled in a profession and want to work in Germany and other 25 EU states. Those who are more likely to get the EU Blue Card have an IT or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) background. If you intend to live and work in another EU state, the EU Blue Card may be more beneficial for you than the residence permit for taking up employment.
Various conditions are attached to both these residence permits. Depending on what you are planning to do in the future, either the residence permit for the purpose of taking up employment or the EU Blue Card can be advantageous for you.
To be granted this residence permit or the EU Blue Card, you have to fulfill the following requirements:
- Proof of a successfully completed course of studies (i.e. university degree)
- Proof of your health insurance coverage
- Proof of sufficient financial means to cover your living costs (German work contract)
- For EU Blue Card holders: minimum gross annual salary of EUR 55,200 or EUR 43,056 for MINT professions (year 2020)
