Specialty cooks — National visa (long-stay)

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: visa applications for specialty cooks have relatively long processing times; the consular post may, if required, request a (new) medical-insurance policy later in the procedure.”

— Federal Foreign Office of Germany · German diplomatic missions

What you need

You must show a concrete job offer from a Vietnamese specialty restaurant in Germany (employment contract or binding job offer specifying activity, salary, working hours, leave entitlement, and start/end of employment); the Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis (employer's declaration of the employment relationship) filled in by your future employer, in original; a vocational qualification as a cook (at least two years of training at a vocational school in Vietnam with curriculum); proof of at least two years of professional experience as a cook (Vietnamese social-insurance book plus VssID app, supplemented by employer certifications with a copy of the business registration); the full menu of the specialty restaurant in Germany; a tabular CV; a passport; and, if requested, medical-insurance cover. A Vorabzustimmung from the Federal Employment Agency or the responsible foreigners-authority materially shortens processing.

Checklist

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) *

Curriculum vitae

Tabular and complete CV. In particular setting out your prior education and employment *

Job offer and pre-approval

(Optional) Vorabzustimmung. If your employer has already obtained the pre-approval (Vorabzustimmung) 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
Concrete job offer. Employment contract or binding job offer with details of the exact activity, salary, working hours, leave entitlement, and start/end of employment *
Declaration of the employment relationship (Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis) in original. The form must be completely filled in by the future employer *

Specialty-cook qualification

Vocational qualification as a cook. At least two years of training as a cook at a vocational school in Vietnam with proof of the exact training duration and the curriculum. Online training cannot be accepted *
Proof of at least two years of professional experience as a cook: Vietnamese social-insurance book AND social-insurance app. Employer certifications of at least two years of practical activity as a cook (kitchen-help or similar is not sufficient) at qualified businesses in Vietnam, with the employer's full name and current telephone number plus a copy of the business-register extract. The social-insurance app must be shown and the entries verified there *
Menu of the Vietnamese specialty restaurant in Germany. Please attach the complete menu of the restaurant in Germany. Please also note the restaurant's website on the menu if it is not visible on it *

Medical insurance

Optional at application: proof of adequate medical-insurance cover for entry. Valid from your intended entry date until you start work. Because visa applications for specialty cooks have relatively long processing times, the embassy/consulate-general will, if needed, request a (new) medical-insurance policy later