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Some EU citizens (citizens that belonged to the EU before May 1, 2004) can enter Germany and start working without applying for a residence permit including permission to work. Such individuals simply need to register their local address with the local city hall and voluntarily pick up a certification of free movement (Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung) from the local immigration office. The following nationalties belong to this category:

Austria

Belgium

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Great Britain

Greece

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Portugal

Spain

Sweden

Other EU citizens (citizens that joined the EU on May 1, 2004) can enter Germany without applying for a work visa, as well. But they still need to apply for a work permit (Arbeitserlaubnis-EU) in addition to the certification of free movement (Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung) before starting to work in Germany. The following nationalities belong to this category:

Estonia

Latvia

Lituania

Poland

Czech Republic

Slowakia

Malta

Slovenia

Cyprus

Hungary.

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Nationalities other than the above mentioned ones need to apply for a work visa at the German Embassy/Consulate nearest to their home town before entering Germany. The German Embassy will forward the application to the local German immigration office, which will render discretional decisions together with the competent local employment office.

After a positive decision has been made by the local German authorities, the German Embassy will be informed about the approval. Afterwards, the applicant can visit the Embassy a second time to pick up his/her work visa. After having received his/her work visa, he/she is entitled to enter Germany for employment purposes. The family dependants need to apply for a visa for family purposes. After arriving in Germany, the applicant needs to register his/her local address with the local city hall and pick up the residence permit including permission to work from the local immigration office. According to the new German immigration laws, permission to work should be stamped inside the individual's passport, as well.

EU Citizens

Some EU citizens (citizens that belonged to the EU before May 1, 2004) can enter Germany and start working without applying for a residence permit including permission to work. Such individuals simply need to register their local address with the local city hall and voluntarily pick up a certification of free movement (Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung) from the local immigration office. The following nationalties belong to this category:

Austria

Belgium

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Great Britain

Greece

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Portugal

Spain

Sweden

Other EU citizens (citizens that joined the EU on May 1, 2004) can enter Germany without applying for a work visa, as well. But they still need to apply for a work permit (Arbeitserlaubnis-EU) in addition to the certification of free movement (Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung) before starting to work in Germany. The following nationalities belong to this category:

Estonia

Latvia

Lituania

Poland

Czech Republic

Slowakia

Malta

Slovenia

Cyprus

Hungary