How To Work In Germany As A Foreigner

Germany. Deutschland. Alemania. No matter what you call this country, it’s a great place to live. 

Expats make up almost 15% of Germany. This is clearly an indication of the attraction of job opportunities in Germany for expats.

This could be due to the fact that Germany is one of the safest countries in the world. Or because of its blending of the ultra-modern with the traditional.

While currently Germany has an exceptionally low unemployment rate, the population is ageing. It is predicted that there may be a shortage of up to 16 million workers in 2060 if immigration policies are curbed.

Currently banks and insurance companies are in need of skilled workers, as well as healthcare companies. In other words, these industries are sure to have job openings in Germany for foreigners.

Why TEFL is best for Germany job opportunities

English language education is in high demand in Germany. 

Speaking English is a skill held in high regard in Germany, which means there are definitely jobs in Germany for foreigners as English teachers. 

Teaching positions are available in language centres, bilingual private schools, summer camps and private lessons, as well as Volkshochschulen, or community colleges.

Read more: 6 Of The Best Gap Year Jobs To Work Abroad

Most TEFL jobs are freelance or contract positions rather than full-time or permanent posts. 

Teaching in Germany is great experience for your CV as there is a big focus on career development. 

Read more: Teach English In Germany

Requirements to work abroad in Germany

Citizens from the EU and EEA regions – as well as Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – don’t need a visa to work in Germany, but other nationalities do. 

Some nationalities, such as Americans, Australians and Japanese, can enter Germany without a visa for the purposes of finding work but need a Work Visa to undertake employment.

Other nationalities require a Work Visa before entering Germany.

A Bachelor’s degree is usually needed to get a Work Visa, but years of relevant work experience can be accepted as a substitute. You also need a well-recognised TEFL qualification. Most importantly, you need an offer of employment letter from a German employer.

Australians, Kiwis, Taiwanese, Argentinians, South Koreans, Chileans and some other nationalities can apply for a Working Holiday Visa until they are 31 years old (or 36 for Canadians).

The best cities to live in Germany

Berlin is the obvious choice for expats because it offers the highest percentage of jobs in Germany for foreigners.

Munich is another popular option for expat jobs in Germany, but it actually has a higher cost of living than Berlin. 

Hamburg is a budget-friendly city which still offers top-notch public transport, easy travel opportunities, and interesting cultural events and activities.

Do you need to speak German to work in Germany?

Germany has a high proficiency level of English. In fact, more than half of the population speak English fluently. Because of this, fluency in German is not a pre-requisite for employment opportunities in Germany. 

Of course some jobs may require a certain level of German but there are numerous work opportunities for English-speakers in Germany in different professions – especially teaching English! These positions don’t require German as the workforce already communicates in English or the position is in an international company which deals with foreign offices. 

Read more: How Can I Teach English Abroad Without Speaking The Local Language?

Salaries, benefits and cost of living in Germany

Germans have a strong work ethic. Employees are allowed to work 48 hours a week. 

Employees in Germany who work a 5-day week get 20 days’ annual leave. Many companies go above and beyond this and offer employees up to 30 days’ leave. Paid sick leave is given for up to six weeks.

Parents can take up to 24 months’ paid leave within 3 years of giving birth.

Employees in Germany are entitled to health insurance and a pension.

What types of jobs are popular in Germany?

Germany relies on four main sectors: automotive, chemical engineering, chemical and electrical manufacturing. As a result, job opportunities in Germany relate to chemicals, electronics, machinery, and vehicle production. 

STEM graduates are in demand in the country, especially scientists, mathematicians, engineers and IT specialists.

In the summer, short-term and casual job opportunities in Germany open up in the tourism industry. Jobs available include work in bars, restaurants and theme parks – especially during April to November. 

English teacher

English teaching vacancies account for a large percentage of work opportunities in Germany for English-speakers. Jobs for English teachers are mostly in Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt.

If you’re not an EU citizen, living and working in Germany can be challenging when it comes to bureaucracy so it helps to speak German or have a German friend or colleague who can translate official documents for you.

In Germany, many TEFL teachers start out on a Working Holiday Visa or similar but then move onto a Freelance visa. Freelance TEFL teachers commonly find teaching hours in different language schools around their city.

Web and development

Germany is considered one of the most innovative countries in the world. The IT industry is thriving, and IT specialists are in high demand. 

Positions in demand in the IT industry in Germany include:

• Software development
• Application support
• IT security
• Data science

Digital nomad

While Germany doesn’t have a visa specifically for digital nomads, there is a Freiberufler or Freelance Visa. You first apply for a Freelancer Entry Visa to Germany in your home country, but once you are in the country you convert that to a Freelancer Residence Permit. This visa is valid for one year.

Lucky for those of you from the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand or South Korea, you won’t need to apply for an entry visa. 

To qualify as a freelancer, you need to be in a creative, advisory, medical, teaching or technical professions.

Another alternative is a Selbständiger or Self-employed Visa. This visa is valid for 3 years.

For both visas you need to prove savings of at least €11,000 ($12,000). 

Read more: The Digital Nomad Visa: A Ticket To Your Best Life

Ready to work abroad in Germany?

With a strong economy, a high standard of living and a good work-life balance, working in Germany is a great idea for foreigners looking for jobs abroad.

If you think teaching English as a Foreign Language sounds like a piece of Apfelkuchen, check out our TEFL courses to see how we can help you get there.