Jobs in Germany for Foreigners: Where to Look and How to Apply

Germany needs workers, but that doesn't mean every application from abroad gets an answer. Employers look for the right qualification, some German and documents in the format they're used to, and most rejections come down to one of those three.

This guide shows where the shortages really are, how to search official job boards, what a German-style CV looks like and how to get your qualification recognised. Everything is based on Federal Employment Agency, Destatis and German government sources, checked in September 2026.

Where the jobs are

The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, or BA) publishes a yearly skilled worker shortage analysis. It scores around 1,200 occupations on six indicators, including how long vacancies stay open, the unemployment rate in the occupation and how pay is developing.

The 2025 analysis found shortages in 157 occupations, down from 163 the year before and 183 in 2023. The strongest shortages were in:

• Nursing and care, and other medical professions
• Construction and skilled trades
• Chefs and cooks
• Professional drivers
• Childcare educators

Surveying technicians and social workers were new to the list. Software development, IT sales and metal-cutting jobs no longer showed a shortage.

The BA also says there's no evidence of a general labour shortage. In many occupations there are more candidates than vacancies, so being in a shortage field makes a real difference.

If health care is your field, our guide to healthcare worker shortages compares demand across countries. For trades, see high-paying trade jobs for immigrants.

How much German you need

This is the question people most want a simple answer to, and there isn't one. It depends on the job and the employer.

The BA is direct about it. Many companies expect at least basic German, and English alone is often not enough. In the BA's advice for applicants abroad, it recommends waiting until you reach B1 or B2 before sending applications, because applications without enough German are often screened out faster.

German levels follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which runs from A1 (beginner) to C2 (near native). German immigration law uses the same scale:

For regulated professions, German isn't just helpful. Germany has more than 400 regulated professions, including doctors, nurses and educators, and the law sets the language level you need.

Getting your qualification recognised

In Germany, recognition means an official body compares your foreign qualification with a German one, called the reference occupation. Whether you need it depends on your job.

Regulated or not?

If your profession is regulated, you must have recognition, and often a licence, before you can work in it. If it isn't regulated, you may not need recognition to work, but it can still matter for your visa and for pay and promotion.

The federal portal Anerkennung in Deutschland ("recognition in Germany") has a free Recognition Finder. Enter your profession and where you want to work, and it tells you whether the job is regulated, which authority handles your case and which documents to send.

How the process works

1. Get free advice from a recognition counselling centre before you apply.
2. Send your application and documents to the competent authority.
3. The authority confirms receipt within a month and tells you if anything is missing.
4. Once your file is complete, you should get a decision within three to four months, although a skills analysis can take longer.

The result can be full recognition, partial recognition or no recognition. If there are gaps, you can often close them with an adaptation course or an exam.

University degrees: anabin and the ZAB

For degrees, employers and embassies usually check anabin, a database run by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). Your degree should be listed as equivalent, and your university should be rated "H+". If it isn't, you can ask the ZAB for a statement of comparability for your degree.

Recognition costs money, and the amount varies by profession and state. Ask your counselling centre about fees and possible financial support before you apply.

How to search for jobs

Start with official sources. They're free and the vacancies come from real employers.

• Make it in Germany job listings. This is the federal government's portal for skilled workers from abroad. Its vacancies come from the BA's job board, and the employers have agreed to receive applications from abroad. Most ads are in German.
• The BA's job search (Jobsuche). This is the BA's public job board, in German only.
• Federal Employment Agency advice (ZAV). The BA's international placement service gives free advice on job searching, application documents and visas.
• BA programmes for specific countries. Some programmes cover language courses or recognition costs, but only for certain occupations and countries.
• Company websites. Many German employers post roles on their own careers pages. You apply directly, usually by email or an online form.

Apply for several jobs at the same time. The BA points out that German employers take their time reviewing applications, and some never reply.

Writing a German-style CV

German employers expect a particular format, and the BA says simply translating your CV isn't enough. Here's what its guidance for applicants abroad recommends.

The Lebenslauf

• Tabular layout, no longer than two pages.
• Most recent first in each section, with start and end dates in month and year.
• Contact details at the top, including your country dialling code, plus your name, date and place of birth and address.
• Work experience with employer, job title and three to five bullet points on your tasks.
• Education, where your highest qualification is enough.
• Certificates and languages, listing your highest language certificate.
• A date and your signature at the end.

A photo isn't required, but the BA says most employers still expect one. Marital status and religion aren't needed. Only list qualifications and experience you can prove.

Cover letter and interviews

Write a new cover letter (Anschreiben) for each job. Explain why you want this role at this company and how you meet the requirements. Explain any gaps in your CV here or at the interview.

The first interview may be online or in person. Larger companies may use an assessment centre, which is a structured day of group tasks, tests and presentations.

What jobs pay: official figures

Destatis, Germany's Federal Statistical Office, put the median gross annual pay of full-time employees at €54,066 in 2025, including bonuses. Pay varies a lot by sector. These are Destatis averages for full-time employees in sectors with shortage occupations:

Averages sit above what most people earn, so treat them as context, not a promise. The BA's online Entgeltatlas (pay atlas) shows median pay for individual occupations by region.

The statutory minimum wage is €13.90 an hour from 1 January 2026. For tax, social insurance, rent and take-home pay, see our Germany salary and cost of living guide.

Visa salary thresholds for 2026

Some visas set a minimum gross salary. The German Embassy in Belgrade lists these 2026 figures:

• EU Blue Card: €50,700 a year, or €45,934.20 for shortage occupations and recent graduates.
• Experience-based route: €45,630 a year, unless the employer pays under a collective agreement.
• First skilled worker permit at age 45 or over: €55,770 a year, unless you can show adequate pension provision.

Which visa fits your situation

Your job offer and qualification decide your visa. Here's a quick overview:

Step by step: from search to first day

1. Check your profession in the Recognition Finder to see whether it's regulated.
2. Start German early and book a recognised exam once you're ready.
3. Start recognition or check your degree in anabin.
4. Rebuild your CV in the German format and draft a cover letter template.
5. Search official job boards and apply to several matching vacancies.
6. Prepare for online interviews, including questions about your German and your move.
7. Get a written contract or binding job offer before you apply for a visa.
8. Apply for the right visa at the German mission responsible for where you live.

Costs and money to plan for

Moving for a job costs money before your first salary arrives. Budget for:

• Recognition fees, certified translations and copies, which vary by authority.
• Language courses and exams. The BA notes you usually pay for your own course.
• The visa fee. A German national visa costs €75 under federal fee rules.
• Health insurance from your first day in Germany.
• A rental deposit and first month's rent.
• A German bank account, so your employer can pay your salary.

If you'll support family at home, compare the full cost of each transfer, including the exchange rate margin, not just the advertised fee.

Job scams to avoid

Fake job offers target people who want to move to Germany. The BA's advice is clear:

• Don't pay if you have any doubts about an offer.
• Don't sign a contract if nobody has checked your suitability or interviewed you.
• Check the contact details against the company's official website.
• Don't share personal data until you know who you're dealing with.

Be wary of anyone who sells "guaranteed" jobs, visa appointments or recognition. Embassy forms and information sheets are free, and the BA's own advice is free of charge.

Your job search checklist

• Check whether your profession is regulated in the Recognition Finder.
• Look up your degree and university in anabin, or plan for a ZAB statement.
• Reach at least B1 German if you can, and get a recognised certificate.
• Rewrite your CV in the German tabular format, two pages or less.
• Search the Make it in Germany job listings and the BA job search.
• Contact the BA's international placement service for free advice.
• Check typical pay for your occupation in the Entgeltatlas.
• Confirm your salary meets any visa threshold that applies to you.
• Never pay for a job offer.

Germany rewards preparation more than speed. Get your recognition and German moving first, and your applications will stand a far better chance.