From Auswärtiges Amt
“The visa decision is made by the German consular post in Vietnam. This visa category typically requires the consent of the foreigners-authority responsible for your future work location; a Vorabzustimmung from the Federal Employment Agency or the responsible foreigners-authority materially shortens processing. EU Blue Card: the same application is issued as an EU Blue Card if the employment relationship is for at least 6 months and the gross annual salary reaches one of the following 2024 thresholds: graduates with work experience 45,300 EUR/year; shortage occupations (downloadable list) and career starters within 3 years of graduation 41,041.80 EUR/year; IT specialists 41,041.80 EUR/year. Note: applicants aged 45 and over must show adequate retirement provision. Suitable evidence of old-age security (e.g. real estate, securities, insurance) must be presented already at the time of application.”
What you need
- You must show a recognised foreign academic degree, or a foreign academic degree comparable to a German one — recognition can be checked in the ANABIN database; if your degree or university is not listed there, formal recognition via the ZAB is required. You also need a concrete job offer with a task description and gross annual salary for a qualified position; the Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis (employer's declaration of the employment relationship) in original, completed by your future employer; a tabular CV; a passport; and medical-insurance cover until you start work. For regulated professions, you must additionally show the licence to practise (Berufsausübungserlaubnis) and language proof. A Vorabzustimmung from the Federal Employment Agency or the responsible foreigners-authority materially shortens processing.
Checklist
11 01
Application and identity
- Application form for national visas, completely filled out and signed by the applicant (online application form „VIDEX") *
- Two recent biometric passport photos (45 mm x 35 mm) (photo specifications template). Please glue only one photo onto the application form and bring the second loose *
- Valid passport (or a recognised substitute travel document) *
02
Curriculum vitae
- Tabular and complete CV. In particular setting out your prior education and employment *
03
Qualification, job offer, and pre-approval
- (Optional) Vorabzustimmung. If your employer has already obtained the consent of the Federal Employment Agency or the responsible foreigners-authority in Germany before the visa procedure begins, the consular post's processing time is materially shortened
- Academic degree. To check whether you hold a recognised foreign degree or a foreign degree comparable to a German one, you can query the ANABIN database: http://anabin.kmk.org/ — the printouts for both the degree and the university must be submitted. If your degree or university is not listed in the database, you must first have it recognised by the ZAB (Central Office for Foreign Education) *
- Concrete job offer. Employment contract or binding job offer with a task description, gross annual salary, and information on the language skills required. The intended activity must constitute qualified employment. Qualified employment exists where its performance requires the skills, knowledge, and abilities acquired through a course of study or through qualified vocational training *
- Declaration of the employment relationship (Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis) in original. The form must be completely filled in by the future employer *
04
Regulated professions and language proof
- If applicable, licence to practise (Berufsausübungserlaubnis). For certain professions — in particular in medicine (so-called regulated professions) — a licence to practise is required. You can check whether this applies to you at www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de
- If applicable, language proof. German skills at a particular level must be proven in the following cases: for regulated professions (see „Berufsausübungserlaubnis") — the level required is also stated at www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de; for IT specialists without an academic degree: German skills at level B1. The proof must be by way of a recognised language certificate. This currently applies to the following certificates: Goethe-Institut e.V.; telc GmbH; Austrian Language Diploma (ÖSD); „TestDaF" of the TestDaF-Institut e.V. (institute of FernUniversität Hagen and Ruhr-Universität Bochum, exam level starts at B2 CEFR); ECL examination centre. For all other cases, German skills are not mandatory but improve the plausibility of the visa application
05
Medical insurance
- Proof of adequate medical insurance for entry, valid from your intended entry date until you start work *
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