Job Seeker Visa Germany: An ultimate guide for International Students

Germany is generally known for its vibrant culture, marvelous architecture, free education, and science and technology. This makes the country the top choice for skilled employees across the world to study and work in Germany. Around 2.19 million migrants are living in Germany. The current unemployment rate in Germany is 5.8% which showcases a strong recovery of the country from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Also, different industries in the country are sharing stable growth opportunities, resulting in encouraging professionals from different sectors to come and work in Germany.  Germany is the only country in the world, that has a portal enabling people from other countries to find a job in Germany while staying in their home country.  The following blog will help provide details information regarding the job seeker visa in Germany, its cost, process, and eligibility.

What is a German Job Seeker Visa

The German job seeker Visa has been introduced by the government of Germany to invite qualified and skilled immigrants from different parts of the world into the country and settle there to work for a long period.  The German work Visa allows candidates to stay in Germany for six months and find a job. After getting a job writing the next six months, the candidates will be provided with a German work permit and a German work Visa allowing them to live and work in Germany. 

The cost required for getting a job seeker Visa in Germany

The cost of applying for a German work Visa is around 6200 INR and the document verification fee will cost INR 30000. 

Time required for German job seeker visa

The time required for processing a German job seeker visa is around 4-6 months. However, the time required for processing the work visa application depends on how quickly the candidate is submitting all the documents required for the process. 

Eligibility criteria for applying for a German Job seeker visa

• Many different criteria are required to be met when applying for a German job seeker visa.
• Holding a master/bachelor Visa from any German University or any other equivalent foreign degree. 
• Having a minimum of 5 years of work experience in the field of study. 
• Showing proof that the candidate has enough financial resources to cover the entire stay in Germany. 
• Having a medical or travel experience for the entire stay in Germany, unless the candidate has a work permit.

Documents required for German Job seeker Visa

To get a German Job seeker visa it is important to submit the required documents along with the application process. The checklist of different documents required for a German job seeker Visa is:

• Valid Passport
• Copy of passport data page 
• 3 passport photos with biometric data
• A cover letter containing the objective of the visit, the process for looking for a job, and other alternative plans in case the candidate fails to find a job. 
• Proof of academic qualification
• Certificate of work experience 
• Your detailed Bio-data or CV,
• Accommodation proof in Germany
• Proof of financial ability to cover the cost of a stay in Germany by submitting a bank account statement.
• Proof of personal status such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, and others. 
• Health insurance proof.

Process of applying for a German Job seeker visa

After collecting the required documents, the students are required to fill out the application form available from the German embassy for the job seeker application visa. The candidate may also be required to fill out the application fees during the process. The background verification, application form, document submitted and interview play an important role in the allotment of the German Job seeker Visa to the candidate.

Questions likely to be asked during the German Job seeker visa 

Some of the common questions asked during the German job seeker Visa interview are:

• Why do you want to get employed in Germany?
• How much experience do you have in the job role you are thinking of applying for in Germany?
• Are you planning back to return to your home country after 2-3 years?
• Do you have a known person staying in Germany?
• Do you have the required financial resources to live for 6 months in Germany without a job?
• What are the reasons behind selecting this course?

Can the German Job seeker Visa be extended?

No, the German job seeker visa cannot be extended. Therefore in case the candidate fails to get a job in six months under this visa, the candidate is required to return to their home country. However, in case the candidates find a job the next step is applying for a residence permit or working visa for employment. However, the students can also re-apply for the Visa following the same process.  

Also, the students need to note that the candidates are not allowed to join the job with a job seeker Visa. The job seeker Visa only allows for searching for a job. After getting the job it is important to apply for a residence permit for employment. 

The success rate of finding a job through a Job seeker visa

As the unemployment rate in Germany is around 3.8% and a large number of opportunities for skilled employees there are very few chances of getting a job in six months. To further increase the chances of getting a job in Germany, the candidates can learn the German language, especially in fields of engineering. Also, the candidates can take the help of professionals for the preparation of resumes and cover letters.  The team of experts in Theobrain can be a great help to candidates looking to write a descriptive cover letter and resume for getting a German Job Seeker Visa.