Living and working in Germany
We are delighted that you have chosen to live and work in Germany. We have put together some information to help you get started.
Before you move to Germany, find out which documents you need and contact the relevant authorities. Your embassy or consulate in Germany should be able to provide you with the necessary information about the procedures and documents required, as well as special cases and exceptions.
Make sure that you keep all the documents that you receive when you arrive in Germany. You will need many of them for future applications.
Our checklist contains the most important information for working in Germany:
- You need identification documents: ID card or valid passport. If you have children, you must provide proof of their identity (a copy of their birth certificate).
- You will often be asked for certain certificates and references: Make sure your birth certificates and school, university and training certificates are translated and certified. Check whether/how widely your qualifications are recognised.
- Registering your address at the residents’ registration office: Register at your local residents’ registration office within two weeks of arriving in Germany and whenever you change your address. You must provide proof of a permanent address. The residents’ registration office will issue you with a ‘certificate of registration’.
- Employment contract: In Germany, a written employment contract is customary. Sign your contract and keep a copy for your records. Your employment contract contains details about you and the company, the start date, term, probationary period, place of work, a role description, salary details, working hours, notice periods and collective and works agreements.
- Bank account: Open an account with a bank. Your employer will require an account number to pay your salary into. The bank will need the aforementioned certificate of registration to open the account.
- Health insurance in Germany is normally compulsory. Employees, students, apprentices and freelancers, for example, must take out insurance.
Taxes: You will be placed in a tax bracket based on your income and family circumstances. Income tax and, if applicable, church tax and contributions to health insurance and other aspects of social security are automatically withheld from the salaries of persons employed in Germany. At the end of the year, you must submit a tax return.
- Payslips in Germany: Every employed person in Germany receives a breakdown of his or her pay. This payslip is called a „Gehaltsabrechnung“, „Entgeltabrechnung“ or „Lohnabrechnung“. Employers have a duty to issue payslips.
Your payslip also lists any allowances, deductions for mandatory insurance and taxes. For example, the following information appears on your payslip:
• Your health insurance contribution
• Your pension contribution
• Your unemployment insurance contribution
• Your contribution to long-term care insurance
• Income tax
• Church tax - Insurance number: Once you have started working in Germany, you will automatically receive an insurance number from the statutory pension insurance scheme. You will have the same number for life. Therefore, you do not have to take any action. Your employer can access your insurance number from the pension insurance scheme electronically at any time.
Useful links for travelling to Germany:
- Arbeiten und Leben in Deutschland - Auswärtiges Amt (auswaertiges-amt.de)
- BAMF - Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge - Erste Schritte in Deutschland
- BAMF - Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge - Zuwandernde aus der Europäischen Union
- Zulassung zum Arbeitsmarkt | Bundesagentur für Arbeit (arbeitsagentur.de)
- Fachkräfteseite (make-it-in-germany.com)
