How to apply for Germany job seeker visa?

Germany is one of the first places that come to mind when the topic is castles or cars. There are more than 20000 castles in Germany and people who want to travel back in time love to visit Germany and walk around in those castles. Also, German cars have world fame. It is hard to find someone that has never heard of these cars: Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, Volkswagen. Are these only "famous" that attract people to Germany? Of course, the answer is no. It is just a visible side of the iceberg. Thousands of people travel to Germany for work. Considering this, we decided to talk about a Germany job seeker visa. In this blog, you will get answers to these questions: how to get job seeker visa for Germany, how to apply for Germany job seeker visa, how long is Germany job seeker visa processing time, what is the Germany job seeker visa success rate, what are the Germany job seeker visa requirements, and more.

Visa policy

What kind of visa types does Germany have? Depending on the length of stay, we can divide German visa types into three categories. These categories are:

• Short-stay Visa (Schengen Visa)
• Airport Transit Visa
• Long-stay Visa (National Visa)

The Schengen visa allows visiting Germany for a maximum of 90 days every six months. Short-stay Visa has the subcategories below:

• Germany Tourist Visa
• Germany Business/Congress/Trade Fair Visit Visa
• Germany Medical Treatment Visa
• Germany Cultural, Scientific, Sports Events Visa
• Germany Visiting Family and Friends Visa
• Germany Visa for Spouses / Relative of EU / German Nationals
• Germany Study (Schengen) Visa
• Germany Work (Schengen) Visa

People who want to stay more than 90 days can apply for a National Visa. Depending on the purpose of the visit, it has the following subcategories:

• Germany Employment Visa & Blue Card
• Germany Job Seeker Visa
• Germany Self-Employment Visa
• Germany Study (National) Visa
• Germany Family Reunion Visa
• Germany Medical Treatment Visa
• Germany Au Pair Visa

Germany job seeker visa

Who can apply for a visa? It is for university graduates from various countries (outside the EU). How long does the visa validity last? Jobseeker visa allows staying in the country for a maximum of six months. During this time, they get a chance to look for a job related to their qualification. We can say that it is a magnificent chance for new graduates that look for an experience. Which jobs are popular in Germany? It is no secret that Germany is a heaven of engineers. So, finding a job in engineering can be more beneficial. Some of the most popular engineering fields are electronics engineering, structural engineering, computer science, mechanical and automotive engineering, and so on. 

Germany job seeker visa requirements

After getting some basics, it is time to talk about the requirements. Of course, when we decide to get a visa for any country, we should collect the necessary documents and provide some details. We advise all applicants to prepare a Germany job seeker visa checklist. Through the Germany job seeker visa checklist, you can plan your application and be sure that you have all the required documents.

• Application form. The applicants must fully complete it in English or German, sign, and date.
• Passport. It should have a minimum validity of three months beyond the departure date from Germany, at least two free visa pages, and it should not be older than ten years. Also, the bearer must sign, and undamaged pictures must securely be affixed to the passport.
• Photo. Three photos not older than six months, a frontal view of the face-covering 70-80% (32-26mm), on the white background, with clear facial features and eyes
• Copy of ID card. Validity minimum of three months beyond the departure date from Germany.
• Residence permit/visa copy. Such as in the ID card, validity must be a minimum of three months beyond the departure date from Germany (if the applicant's residency and citizenship are different).
• Photocopies. Copy of the main page of your passport and previous Schengen visa or German resident permit
• Cover letter (Motivation letter). Applicants must mention their current and future career plans, their course of action to find employment, plan b if things don't go well, and so on.
• CV ( Curriculum Vitae): Personal, contact information, certificates, diplomas, qualifications, experience, and other details about your career
• Previous work experience certificates. It is one of the most necessary documents. It will affect your future employment plans.
• Proof of qualification. You can prove it with a German university degree or a recognized foreign university and foreign degree comparable to a German degree.
• Proof of accommodation. You should give the address and other details of your accommodation. If you stay at a friend or relative's house, you will provide a formal obligation letter. The name of the letter in German is Verpflichtungserklarung.

• Proof of financial means. While living and working in Germany, you should have enough money to cover your expenses, such as rent, food, municipality, and so on. Applicants can show these documents as proof:

I. Formal obligation letter Verpflichtungserklarung by sponsor living in Germany

II. The blocked bank account. It is a specific bank account that will cover your first-year expenses. Applicants will be able to withdraw no more than one-twelfth of the blocked amount per month. It is to be sure that the person will have enough money for all months.

Germany job seeker visa processing time and fee

After providing all documents, you will pay the fee and wait for processing. How long is the processing time? The average processing time for a job seeker visa is 20-90 calendar days. How much is the charge? The fee changes depending on age. There are two groups:

1. People 17 years old and above: For this group, the payment is 75 EUR.
2. People younger than 17. The charge for this group is half of the standard, 37.5 EUR.

But, we should say that the fee and the processing time may vary depending on the country of submission.

How to apply for Germany job seeker visa?

How to get job seeker visa for Germany? It is a standard process. Such as most countries, you will apply in visa application centres, embassies, or consulates. You should find which of them is responsible for such kinds of applications in your country. If none of them is available in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location. What about Germany job seeker visa apply online? You should get to the official website of the German embassy of your location. On the website, you should find a section of visas. Here you will get a link to the embassy or consulate appointment booking platform. After that, you can book a national visa appointment where you'll be able to submit your application.

Germany job seeker visa success rate

It is not a secret that Germany is selective about foreign workers. That is why getting a job seeker visa is not easy. What can I do to increase my chance? Of course, hundreds of people apply for a German visa to change their life per year. So, you should have attractive skills to get a chance and attention. These can increase your success rate:

• Having a B2 or above German language certificate
• Having experience in the field
• Having special skills
• Having a professional or personal network in Germany

Is the job seeker visa extendable?

Unfortunately, you can not extend the duration of the visa. It means that you will need to go back to your country if you do not find a job during the six months. On the other hand, if you find a job, you will need to apply for a working visa or residence permit. Can I work with a job seeker visa? No, you cannot work even if you find work. 

Do these after arriving in Germany

Yes, the visa will allow you to travel to Germany. But, your journey doesn't end here. You will need to do some more things.

• Registration of address at the registration office: It is one of the first things that you will need to do after arriving in Germany. It is not essential where you plan to stay. It can be an apartment, hotel, hostel, and so on. Within two weeks of entry in Germany, you must register your address. Find the nearest registration office, and go there with your passport, visa, and other documents.
• Getting a temporary residence permit: After handling the first one, you can apply for a residence permit for a job seeker. You will need to make an appointment with the nearest Immigration Authorities. They will call you for an interview, and during the interview, you will provide some documents and details.

Finally, I wish success to all readers. I hope that the information that you read here will help you during the application process.