Excellent healthcare, low unemployment, and the largest economy in Europe. Plus, hot sausages and beer on every corner. Recognise the country? Ja, das ist Deutschland 🇩🇪 – here’s how to move to Germany in 2024.
Table of contents
hide
Why You Should Move to Germany in 2024
If you’re reading this text, you’re already considering moving. This is unsurprising – in 2024, Germany ranks third among the world’s economies.
According to the German Federal Employment Agency, the unemployment rate in Germany in 2023 was 5.7%. Despite global uncertainty, the labour market in Germany is actively developing, and companies are happily inviting top specialists from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. For example, in 2023, sales and business development growth increased by 61%!
The average salary in Germany in 2022 is €4,105 gross. However, this figure is not final and depends on various factors, including your ability to present yourself and negotiate.
It’s important not to immediately agree to the salary offered but to negotiate. For instance, one of EP Advisory’s clients received a +19% relocation bonus when moving to Berlin last year.
Elizaveta Morjan
Taxes also vary depending on the region. The final amount can depend on marital status, the number of children, and income level. Sometimes even on religion. Fun fact: officially registered Catholics, Protestants, and Jews must pay a religious tax of 8-9% of their annual income tax. In general, taxation in Germany is high: from 14 to 45%.
Salaries also depend on the region. More economically developed cities are in the south of the country: Bavaria, Hesse, Baden-Württemberg. In Berlin, salaries are lower, but there are many startups and tech vacancies.
As for culture and mentality, you surely think of the Germans’ passion for order, punctuality, excessive seriousness, and even gloominess. But it is not that bad!
Germans are very logical at work and will consider a situation from all sides before making a decision! At first, I didn’t understand this and even got annoyed because a task could be dragged out for a long time! Over time, I realized how important it is. In the end, it’s better to think longer and then act than to close a task quickly and then redo it.
Ellina Miron
There are other special German traits like: stingines in money, water, and electricity usage; maximum striving for gender equality; love of bread (yes, no less than in France) and fairly early bedtimes.
For the move, it is important to be open to new opportunities. To the fact that you will be surrounded by people with a different mentality and perspective on seemingly familiar things. If you see a square and someone else sees a triangle – it all depends on perspective. Try to look from the other person’s point of view; it will greatly simplify the adaptation process.
Natalia Sobina
Visas and Residence Permits for moving to Germany in 2024
In short: in 2024, Germany offers great visa options for highly skilled expats. Below, we consider which visas you can obtain.
Blue Card
This is the basis for obtaining a temporary residence permit, a kind of work visa. Blue card is issued to qualified specialists with higher education for four years.
The applicant must have an employment contract with a German employer. The minimum gross annual salary of €45,300 euros. For representatives of in-demand professions (e.g., IT specialists, engineers, scientists), it’s slightly lower – from €41,041.80 gross.
The Blue Card is issued directly in Germany – first, you need to enter on a national visa (or category D visa), register at your place of residence, and apply for the Blue Card at the Immigration Office.
Attach your diploma, employment contract, proof of salary, and health insurance to the application. The documents are reviewed for up to six weeks.
ICT card
Suitable if you are moving to Germany under a relocation program. The ICT card is a residence permit for non-EU citizens. It can be obtained for up to 3 years. You must have an employment contract for the entire transfer period – at least 90 days.
The ICT card is issued in Germany – first, you need to enter the country on a national visa. After registration and obtaining health insurance, you can apply for the ICT card at the Immigration Office.
Visa for qualification recognition
Needed for doctors, teachers, lawyers – everyone who must confirm their qualification. The applicant must come to Germany and undergo the procedure in person.
Therefore, it is better to apply for a special visa for 18-24 months. To obtain it, you need to provide educational documents, confirm the German language level A2 or B1 depending on the specialty, and have sufficient funds in the account – from €947 per month for the first year of residence. More details
Job search visa
Needed if you want to look for a job on-site – for example, to come to Berlin and attend interviews. Or if you are finishing a German educational institution but have not yet found a job. Usually issued for six months.
With this visa, you can come to Germany for up to six months. You need a diploma – German or translated. Knowledge of the language at the B1 level, financial guarantees (based on €947 per month), and proof that you have a place to live while looking for a job in Germany (invitation from relatives, rental agreement, hotel reservation).
A motivational letter is mandatory. Explain in which field you plan to look for a job, your experience, and which companies you will send your resume to. Working on a job search visa is prohibited, but you can take up to 10 trial hours per week. More details
Researcher/Guest scientist visa
For scientists, researchers, and academics. You need an acceptance agreement, a contract for research activities, or a guaranteed job offer. If the salary is from €1,797 per month, confirming your financial capabilities is not necessary. More details
Visa options for IT Professionals in 2024
Option 1: Residence Title for Qualified Employment (Skilled Workers)
- Requires a higher education qualification or vocational qualification recognized in Germany.
- Concrete job offer as an IT specialist in Germany.
- Gross annual salary of at least €41,041.80 (as of 2024).
- Approval of the Federal Employment Agency (BA).
Option 2: EU Blue Card
- Higher education qualification recognized in Germany or comparable tertiary education qualification.
- Concrete job offer in Germany as an IT specialist or manager.
- Minimum gross annual salary of €41,041.80 (as of 2024).
- Approval of the Federal Employment Agency not needed if the salary threshold is at least €45,300 (in 2024).
Option 3: Residence Title under Section 19c (2) of the Residence Act
- At least 3 years of work experience at an academic level in the IT sector during the previous 7 years.
- Employment appropriate to the qualification in Germany.
- Gross annual salary of €41,041.80 (as of 2024).
- Approval of the Federal Employment Agency (BA).
For IT professionals without formal educational qualification:
- At least 3 years of work experience at an academic level in the IT sector during the previous 7 years.
- Employment appropriate to the qualification in Germany.
- Gross annual salary of €41,041.80 (as of 2024).
- Approval of the Federal Employment Agency (BA).
Find out more here.
Moving to Germany for studies: undergraduate, master's, and colleges
Before deciding to move, it is important to understand if the country, its mentality, and culture suit you. While studying for your bachelor’s degree, you can get a scholarship and go for a semester on exchange, as Dasha from Relocation Stories did. By the way, Dasha later enrolled in a master’s program in Berlin.
After completing my master’s degree at the Goethe University Frankfurt, I would recommend Germany to those who love stability. There are rather high taxes, but the salary level corresponds. It’s a good country to start a family, have children, and buy property.
Almas Karshalov
For those dreaming of an undergraduate degree in Germany: you cannot enroll immediately after your home country’s school. First, you need to study at a local university for at least two years – because secondary school education in Germany lasts 13 years.
Many students come to Germany for Studienkolleg. These are special preparatory schools at universities for foreign students. To enroll, you need confirmed German B1-B2. Education is free, but you need money for living in Germany.
A year before applying, study the websites of your desired universities to find out how they accept foreigners – some have exams, some just interviews. Documents can be submitted in June-July or December-January.
Foreigners usually only pay the Semesterbeitrag – a semester fee of €100 to €500. But there are regions where you also have to pay for education. The same applies to master’s programs.
To enroll in a master’s programme, you need a bachelor’s or specialist’s degree, German or English at level B2-C1, and recommendation letters. Apply early – just checking documents can take 6-8 weeks. If you don’t have a diploma at the time of application, get a certificate from your university stating that you are completing your studies in the relevant specialty.
Another great opportunity to study in Germany is to get vocational education (Ausbildung). Suitable for those who want to learn working professions: locksmiths, carpenters, masons, nurses, midwives, and others. Foreigners can study specialties included in the Positivliste – a list of in-demand professions. It is updated annually on the Federal Employment Agency website.
You can enroll in vocational schools after school or much later – the permissible age for students is from 16 to 50 years. Look for offers on the websites of enterprises, companies, hospitals, and factories. Training lasts up to 4 years, following the dual system: 3-4 days at the enterprise, 1-2 at the vocational school.
As a student in Germany, you can already find your first job – students can work up to 20 hours a week.. The average salary is €400 to €900 after taxes. This is a great chance to establish yourself in the country, gain experience, and build projects.
Germans don’t like risks and the unknown. If you move to Germany for studies, it is important to start doing projects, internships, and “self-affirming” in the country right away. This will greatly help in finding a full-time job later!
Elizaveta Morjan
Moving to Germany for work: how to find vacancies and pass interviews
Relocation
You can move to Germany through a relocation program. That is, get a job in your country in an international company that can transfer you to the head office. For example, Henkel’s head office is in Düsseldorf, BMW’s is in Munich, Volkswagen’s is in Wolfsburg.
Where to look for a job
Look for vacancies on official company websites, popular portals, and social networks. For example:
- Xing – the German equivalent of LinkedIn. However, also update your profile on LinkedIn!
- StepStone – the most popular job board in Germany. Create a profile there and sign up for alerts. They also have a CV builder!
- Stackoverflow – vacancies for programmers.
- Berlin Startup Jobs – for those looking for work in startups.
- Gruenderszene, Monster, Glassdoor – popular portals where large corporations often post ads.
- Hays and Robert Half – similar to HH.ru and SuperJob.
- Local resources (in German):
More resources for job searching:
- https://www.jobmensa.de, https://www.die-masterarbeit.de – for students, young professionals
- http://www.ictjob.de – for IT specialists
- https://berlinstartupjobs.com – for those dreaming of startups
In Germany, the recommendation/referral culture is very strong, so you can safely ask for support. Look for employees of companies you are interested in and don’t hesitate to introduce yourself. Many companies pay employees for referring candidates, so it’s beneficial for them too.
How to write a resume (Lebenslauf)
Anna Yakovleva, HRD of the Berlin office of Adjust, advises being brief and specific in your resume. Fit it on one PDF page and supplement it with a cover letter – read the article on how to write it correctly. By the way, you can find a job in Germany without German – strong English is enough.
Make sure to list your previous career achievements using the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Read our full guide on writing the CV in English based on 30,000 resumes.
How to send applications
Don’t bet on mass mailing resumes – tailor your application to each company and key duties listed in the vacancy. If you are sending application after application but see no results, review your mistakes and request feedback from recruiters.
👉🏻 For inspiration: watch the recording of our webinar “Job search abroad: how to nail it?” 🔥🔥🔥
How to pass the interview
The number of interviews depends on the company and position. The first interviews are usually conducted by phone or Skype, and the final one – in the office, to meet in person. In Germany, it’s normal to bring a whole stack of papers to the interview: diplomas, certificates, awards, printed resume. But in the UK, this is not advisable – they might think you have a poor memory.
Conduct research on the company in advance: check their website, social media, articles, and key top management. Prepare 2-3 questions you are interested in about the employer – you are not only being chosen, but you are also evaluating the company.
… And get the desired offer!
It can take several months from application to offer. Although there are exceptions – one of our article’s heroines received an offer in a week! Offers are often sent as a PDF document by email. They specify the pre-tax salary – you can calculate the net amount using an online calculator. It’s better to do this before moving to Germany!
How EP Advisory Can Help You Move to Germany in 2024
If you’re unsure about moving, want to learn about the market situation, assess your chances, and explore options, choose a career consultant and book a free introductory call. Our specialist will review your CV, discuss opportunities, and find the most suitable package for you.
Together with our experienced team, we will revamp your resume and LinkedIn profile, create a master cover letter and LinkedIn messages, develop a personalised job search strategy for Germany, find suitable vacancies, and prepare you for interviews in English or German.
Natalia Sobina
Career Consultant – Germany
Natalia is eager to help you regain your confidence and work with you to build a successful job search strategy in Europe. Having started her career at FIFA, Unilever, and BBDO, Natalia moved to Belgium, where she completed her master’s degree and gained experience as a student working with leading consulting firms such as Deloitte and Accenture. During this time, she also mastered the intricacies of job hunting in corporate Belgium. Now in her second year living in Berlin, Natalia is excited to share her expertise in job hunting within the fields of marketing, communications, e-commerce, consulting, and IT, both in this dynamic city and across other regions of Germany. Her secret weapons are LinkedIn optimisation and networking.
Almas Karshalov
Graduate Career Consultant – Germany
A highly accomplished financial analyst with numerous awards, scholarships, and grants, as well as a diverse professional background. Master's degree graduate from Goethe University Frankfurt. Specialises in helping students and young professionals successfully navigate all stages of the selection process, including corporate tests and other assessment stages, for internships and full-time positions.
