FAQ General Information Germany Students

Germany Post Study Work Visa Requirements and Application Process

Snigdha DaluaNovember 23, 2022

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Germany Post Study Work Visa Requirements and Application Process

Germany is renowned for providing free public education. A German post-study work visa is required if you plan to remain in the country after finishing your education. Post-study work permits are one of the most crucial considerations for continuing to live and work abroad. Similar to other countries, Germany provides various visas for students from the EU and those from outside the EU. In this article, we provided all the required information in regard to the requirements for obtaining a Germany post-study work visa.

Types of Germany Post-Study Work Visa

After finishing their education, students from the EU and non-EU are subject to various employment laws in Germany.

EU/EEA Student

A work permit is not necessary for EU citizens to work in Germany. The only paperwork they need is their passport. The reason for this is that in terms of employment, social and tax benefits, and working conditions, EU citizens and students are regarded in the same manner as German residents. This is mostly due to the fact that the EU is fundamentally the European Union, and as a result, all of the member states have a policy of considering citizens of all EU member states as their own, with the same or comparable rules.

Non-EU/EEA Students

Students from outside the EU/EEA who want to live and work in Germany after finishing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree there must submit an application for a residence permit. The Immigration Laws provide immigrants a maximum of 18 months to hunt for work in their field of study. After 18 months, you would have to leave Germany if you couldn’t find a job that was relevant to your education.

One important thing to remember is that the student visa does not include a post-study employment visa for Germany. There are no real shocks because it is quite normal, but because there are so many myths around it, we wanted to dispel this one. To get a valid residence permit, you must submit an application to the foreign nationals’ registration office.

Working while studying: Non-EU and EEA students are permitted to work for a full 120 days or half 240 days annually provided they are still enrolled in school and finishing their degree program. Students are exempt from paying taxes on salaries up to EUR 450 per month. Any additional income is taxed.

Working after graduating: If you are given a job after receiving your residence visa, you are able to apply for an EU Blue Card, which will allow you to stay and work in several European nations. You can apply for a settlement permit to establish a permanent residence in Germany as soon as two years after acquiring your EU Blue Card.

How to Apply for Post-Study Work Visa?

The following steps are involved in applying for a German residence permit:

1. Following the completion of your course, you must convert your temporary residence permit into a German resident permit within 90 days.
2. You must obtain health insurance and create a bank account before submitting an application for a residence permit. By opening a bank account, you may demonstrate your ability to support your family and yourself and have any financial bank statements connected to other papers. You will already have it as an international student studying in Germany, so there are no issues there.
3. Make an appointment and complete the resident permit application. The application form is available directly from the office or online through the website. Your employer could occasionally help you with the formalities. It helps to prevent any last-minute problems if you can schedule the appointment as early as possible.
4. Arrive on time at the location on the scheduled day. Meet with the officer, adhere to all guidance given, and present the necessary paperwork to prove your identification and eligibility.
5. The Germany post-study work visa takes two to three weeks to process. Therefore, be careful to prepare appropriately.

Documents Required for Post-Study Work Visa

- Passport: Present a passport that is valid for the time period you plan.
- University Degree: The University Degree or Nachweis is a certified certificate issued by the university certifying that you have finished your course of study. As the degree document takes longer to produce, the Nachweis may be filed in its substitute. Keep in mind that the official university stamp should appear on the Nachweis. It is essentially what we in India refer to as transcripts in German.
- Health Insurance: It is recommended that you get health insurance for both your stay in Germany and your student visa. Since you can never predict when an emergency may occur, it is crucial for your personal safety as well as the paperwork.
- Proof of Funds: You must show that you have the means to sustain yourself while traveling in Germany. Therefore, you must present bank account documents showing the necessary cash.
- Two Photographs: You must provide two recently taken pictures.
- Proof of German Language: German language proficiency is evidenced by the fact that you are more likely to get a job fast if you speak German. So, present a German proficiency certificate.

Produce all the necessary documents requested by the officer for your legitimate German residence permit. After the visa is approved, take pleasure in working in Germany. This will confirm that you have completed the Work Permit Process. And finally, if you plan to stay and work in Germany, keep in mind that you will need to have a basic knowledge of the German language. So be ready for that as well!