Information for contract workers

Description

Visa procedure:
Before entering Germany, you must apply for a visa at a German mission abroad (embassy or regional consulate). The German mission abroad decides on the visa application and does not involve the Foreigners Office.

After entering the country:
After entering the country, you must first register your residence at the registration office (Citizens Office). You must apply for a residence permit in person at the Foreigners Office.

If you are working here on the basis of an intergovernmental agreement for employment under a contract for work and labour, you may stay in Germany for a maximum of two years. If it is clear from the outset that the work contract will last longer than two years, you can stay here for a maximum of three years.

Required documents

Once you have entered the country, the Foreigners Office will need the following documents from you:

• fully completed application form
• valid national passport
• a current, biometric passport photo
• (photo booths are available at the Foreigners Office)
• Contract worker card

Further documents may be required in individual cases.

Legal basis

The authorisation of foreign contract workers is based on the intergovernmental agreements concluded by the Federal Republic of Germany with the Central and Eastern European states and Turkey since the end of 1988 on the posting and employment of workers from foreign companies on the basis of work contracts.

Intergovernmental agreements for contract workers exist with the states of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and the EU states of Bulgaria and Romania (as of May 2011).

§ Section 18 (4) AufenthG in conjunction with Section 39 BeschV
§ 35 No. 1 AufenthV