Job offer
Start by checking your residence and free-movement rights, including any rights as a non-EU family member. Then look at the practical steps for work.
13 guides
Plan for deadlines and what you need first
- Before your intended start date, check your contract, whether your profession needs recognition, and your route to work and residence. A signed offer does not by itself give you permission to start work.
- EU free-movement rights can also cover a qualifying non-EU family member. The Blue Card and other residence routes are different options, not a sequence everyone has to follow.
- Arrange insurance, address registration and payroll information while you work through the permission process that applies to you. Follow the deadlines in the guides rather than waiting until you've read the whole list.
Your next steps
These guides can help you plan, but the right order depends on your deadlines and what you need to do first.
- Employment contracts, dismissal and workers’ rightsRead your contract and act promptly after a dismissal.Kündigung
- Working in a shortage occupationExplore jobs in shortage occupations, check recognition and work permission, and find official help with your search.Engpassberuf
- Recognition of foreign qualificationsRecognition compares a qualification earned abroad with a German one. The process and responsible office depend on your profession, and university degrees follow a different route.Anerkennung
- EU, EEA, and Swiss citizensEU and EEA citizens can have free-movement rights for work, job search or other qualifying grounds. Worker rights can continue after work stops. Swiss citizens use a separate agreement.Freizügigkeit
- Residence permits, in outlineCheck whether you need a permit and find your route.Aufenthaltstitel
- Residence permits for skilled workCompare the main residence routes for qualified employment, practical experience and professional recognition. Check the separate licence and visa requirements.Fachkraft
- The EU Blue CardThe EU Blue Card is a residence permit for qualified work. In 2026, the standard minimum salary is 50,700 euros a year; a lower threshold of 45,934.20 euros applies in some cases with Federal Employment Agency approval.Blaue Karte EU
- Register your addressRegister the home you move into with your local registration office.Anmeldung
- Sick leave and sick payLearn what to do when you are too ill to work, how continued pay and Krankengeld work, and how to prepare before sick pay ends.Krankengeld
- Salary and tax classYour tax class affects how much wage tax your employer withholds each month. It does not determine your final income tax for the year.Steuerklasse
- Health insuranceWho needs cover, the statutory scheme, and start and end dates.Krankenversicherung
- Get your tax identification numberReceiving your tax ID and finding it again when needed.Steuer-ID
- File the income-tax returnWage tax withheld from your pay is not always your final income tax. Find out when an employee must file a return, when filing is voluntary and which deadlines generally apply.Steuererklärung