VISAHJELP

Employment of practitioners (workers with substantial experience)

National (long-stay) visa for taking up employment as a practitioner — people with many years of relevant professional experience whose foreign vocational or academic qualification is NOT formally recognised in Germany (residence title for the purpose of employment under § 19c of the Residence Act, in the practical-experience pathway expanded by the 2024 Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz reform). The intended activity must constitute qualified employment. Requirements: a foreign academic or vocational qualification with a ZAB notice (or, in the special case of a German chamber of foreign trade, a certificate with a BIBB positive-evaluation note); employer references for prior practical activity; a social-insurance record from the home country; a concrete job offer in Germany with a declaration of the employment relationship; and medical insurance.

LAST VERIFIED · 2026-05-02 SOURCE: Auswärtiges Amt · Independent · not affiliated

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. Note: applicants aged 45 and over must show evidence of adequate retirement provision. Provide suitable proof of retirement security at the time of application (e.g. real estate, securities, insurance).”
— Federal Foreign Office of Germany · German diplomatic missions

What you need

  • You must show a foreign academic or vocational qualification certificate and a ZAB notice confirming state recognition of your training (exception: a vocational qualification issued by a German chamber of foreign trade with a BIBB-evaluation note exempts you from the ZAB notice); employer references or employer confirmations specifying the concrete activities you performed; a social-insurance record (Vietnamese social-insurance book or VssID printout); a job offer with gross annual salary and language requirements; and an Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis (employer's declaration of the employment relationship) filled in by the employer. In addition: a tabular CV, a passport, biometric photos, and medical-insurance cover until you start work. A Vorabzustimmung from the Federal Employment Agency or the responsible foreigners-authority materially shortens processing. Language proof is not mandatory but increases the plausibility of the application.

Checklist

13
01

Application and identity

  • Application form for national visas, completely filled out and signed by the applicant (online application form via 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, professional experience, and employment

  • (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
  • University degree or vocational training certificate. It must show where and in which subject or occupation you completed the studies or training, and how long the training lasted *
  • ZAB notice. As proof that your training is state-recognised, please submit a corresponding notice from ZAB (Zentralstelle für das Auslandsbildungswesen) or the corresponding digital information. Exception: if your vocational qualification was issued by a German chamber of foreign trade, you do not need to submit a ZAB notice. In that case, your certificate must carry a note that the Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB) has positively evaluated the qualification *
  • Employer references. As proof of your professional experience, please submit appropriate employer references or employer confirmations. The proof must show which activities you performed concretely *
  • Social-insurance record. Social-insurance book or printout of the insurance history from the app, showing your prior employment periods *
  • Job offer. Employment contract or binding job offer with a job description, gross annual salary, and a note on the required language skills. The intended activity must constitute qualified employment *
  • Declaration of the employment relationship. The form (link: Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis) must be completely filled in by the future employer and submitted in original *
04

Medical insurance

  • Proof of adequate medical insurance for entry, valid from your intended entry date until you start work *
05

Language skills (optional)

  • (Optional) Language certificate. Proof of relevant language skills is not mandatory for the visa, but it increases the plausibility of the visa application

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