If you are a global mobility professional currently assigning employees to Germany, one of your tasks is submitting the work permit and visa applications.  How you do this, and what type of visa is required will depend upon your employee’s country of residence. 

Staff that are citizens of European Union member countries do not need a visa or work permit under the EU right to travel policy.  However, they may still need to secure a residency permit.  Non-EU citizens must go through the work permit application process, although for those residing in certain countries (US, Japan, Singapore, et. al.), they can apply while inside Germany on a visitor or business visa. 

For a complete explanation of the required documents and applications for foreign workers you can take a look at this detailed overview which outlines the numerous steps involved.

Immigration and Work Visa Requirements in Germany ;

One of the ways to meet the work visa requirements in Germany is by obtaining an EU Blue Card, which entitles you to work in other EU countries.  The Blue Card is only available for highly skilled professions and for a position that pays at least 1.5 times the average gross salary in Germany.  Even so, this may be a good option for high paid executives and technical staff being assigned to Germany.

Of course, the other option is to obtain a German work permit and residence visa, through the various government agencies that oversee the review and approval process.  One key requirement is that your company must have a local branch or subsidiary already in place in order to submit the application.  If you do not, your other option is to use a GEO employer of record in Germany, who will handle all of the immigration and employment steps for your HR department.

Work Visa Processing Time in Germany 

One of the primary challenges of applying for work permits in Germany is the amount of time that it takes.  Even if you already have a locally incorporated entity, the work visa processing time can be up to several months.  The good news is that your employee could enter Germany and be working with a business visa while awaiting approval.

Without a German company in place, it makes sense to use the Shield GEO employer of record to submit all applications on behalf of your employees.  We can begin the work permit process immediately, shortening the time before your staff are deployed and to be compliant with all immigration and residency laws.  This is an efficient and low-cost solution for meeting the full scope of employment, payroll outsourcing and visa requirements. 

Here’s everything you need to know about employing an overseas worker in Germany. 

Shield GEO makes international employment simple. Our customers use Shield GEO to employ and payroll hundreds of workers in over fifty countries. Find out more.