Welcome
Employment visas (inclusive skilled workers and researchers)
General information for employment
Foreigners’ access to the labour market is regulated by the Residence Act and the Employment Regulation. In the past years, several measures have been taken to liberalize access to the German labour market. The most recent change has been the implementation of new regulations on the immigration of skilled workers. Further information can be found on www.make-it-in germany.de.
In general, access to the German labour market is limited to skilled workers (academic or vocational education) and certain occupational groups and normally requires the approval of the employment authorities.
Usually the qualifications have to be recognized in Germany, however there is exceptions for certain occupational groups mentioned in the Employment Regulation.
Please ensure that your application documents are complete! Incomplete applications can cause delays or may result in rejection of the visa application.
This checklist is regularly updated but makes no claim to be complete.
Further documentation can at all times be requested or provided by the applicant, in support of the application.
General Information for the application
The application can be submitted at the earliest 6 months before the planned entry.
The standard processing time is approx. 4 weeks, in individual cases even longer.
Documents that are not issued in German or English must be submitted together with a translation.
To shorten the procedure, your employer can apply for a pre-approval „Vorabzustimmung“ from the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit). You can find more information at www.arbeitsagentur.de.
Your employer can also contact the aliens authorities for an accelerated skilled worker procedure („Beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren“).
The Consulate General reserves the right to request further documentation.
Necessary documents
Please bring the following documents in the mentioned order to your appointment at the Embassy. Additional documents may in some cases be requested. Documents sent in advance will not be archived.
Complete the online application form korrekter link? (application forms are required for each applicant separately; all children require separate forms).
Bring one signed printout of the form including the barcodes to your appointment.
A valid passport signed by the holder, issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least one year is necessary. The passport needs to have at least 2 subsequent blank pages. Please bring 1 photocopy of the passport biodata page to your appointment.
2 fully biometric passport photo, 35 x 45 mm, no older than three months. Digitally altered passport photos cannot be accepted. Please ensure that your photo adheres to German biometric requirements korrekter link? and is taken in front of a white/bright background.
Bring your valid Hongkong-ID-card and Hongkong-stay-permit and 1 photocopy of each to your appointment.
The following declaration is required in addition to your application form (link pdf).
Bring one signed printout of the declaration to your appointment.
Visa application fee
- 75 EUR, in cash in HKD.
- for minors 37,50 EUR,
in cash or by credit card (visa/master) in HKD. The exact amount in HKD depends on the exchange rate.
Spouses/parents of German and EU citizens do not have to pay a fee.
Minors (under 18) must submit the signed application forms and their birth certificate in the presence of at least one legal guardian. If both parents are the legal guardians, both should be present. If this is not possible, the legal guardian that is absent must submit a written declaration of consent (including legalization of signature). If there is only one legal guardian, he/she must submit proof of sole custody of the minor.
Akkordeon employment
Akkordeon skilled workers
Book an appointment
Please use our online appointment booking system (link hinterlegen). Booking via telephone or email is not possible. At the appointment, you will submit all required documents and pay the visa processing fee. You will be interviewed with regard to your planned stay in Germany and your biometric data (passport photograph and fingerprints) will be collected.