Working

EU citizens do not need a work permit.

Non-EU citizens need a residence title in order to legally work — the procedure and ease will depend on your country of residence/origin and your education/experience/profession. Some professions, especially technical ones, are highly sought after and, therefore, the government is willing to speed up the bureaucratic process. To make it even more attractive, under certain circumstances, your spouse/partner will also automatically be granted a work permit.

Blue Card - The EU Blue Card is meant to attract highly educated persons into the EU. If you have a binding job offer or valid work contract within the EU, you can apply for a Blue Card.

The work day normally starts around 8 am and ends at 5:00 pm or later, depending on the position.

The work week is generally between 38 and 41 hours for a full-time position.

You can expect at least 20 and up to 30+ paid vacation days a year if you work full time.

Newspapers, the Internet and word of mouth are three major sources for information about job openings. The local daily newspapers have longer job listings on Saturdays. The Federal Employment Agency as well as other government organizations list jobs on-line (see Helpful Links).

The German resume is conservative and includes your age, marital status and a recent photo along with a complete education and work experience summary. Photocopies of education diplomas, transcripts, letters of recommendation and anything else you think might help you land the job should also be added. The cover letter should be short and concise and provide information as to why you are qualified for the job.  The Federal Employment Agency has downloadable templates. Many companies have moved this online.

The job interview is formal and should be taken seriously. Often a first interview is carried out online.

Once hired, a probationary period of three to six months allows either party to cancel the working contract without negative consequences.

Look in our Etiquette section for everday tips.  Here are some other observations:

• If you are new at the job, don't expect your new colleagues to introduce themselves -  it's up to you to introduce yourself - or the boss may take you around and introduce you to the important people.
• When starting a new job, leaving the job or when it is your birthday, it is common to celebrate with your colleagues. This can be just coffee and cake or more extravagant, depending on the circumstances. Ask a co-worker or someone in an administrative role what the normal procedure at your place of work is, and if they have tips where to purchase said cake if you are not a baker.
• When at work, expect to work hard and concentrated. Long lunch breaks and breaks in-between are the exception, rather than the rule.
• In the workplace, do not be expect positive feedback or praise for your work.
• Most large companies offer subsidized meals for their employees and provide a hearty three-course lunch - many employees consider it to be their major meal of the day. This causes drowsiness in the afternoon, but siestas are not part of the workday in Germany.
• Many Germans keep private life and work separate. There are always exceptions - generally the younger the crowd, the more likely you will be to socialize outside of work with your colleagues.

• You may need to have your professional qualifications officially recognized - an excellent source of how to do this can be found here.
• In most cases, if you have a higher professional degree (Masters, Doctorate etc.), you may use it without problems as long as the issuing institution is accredited. In some cases, the issuing institution must also be mentioned, for example:  If you, John Smith, have a Doctor of Philosophy from the Victoria University of Wellington, you would write John Smith, Ph.D. /Victoria University of Wellington.  You may use the degree without stating the issuing university if the institution is within the EU — there are other exceptions as well. Education is under the control of the individual states, therefore the procedures are different from state to state and if you move be sure to find out what they are. 
• In extreme cases, it is against the law to use an academic title which has not been approved by the respective German government agency.

Income Taxes

• If you reside and work in Germany, you pay taxes in Germany (Lohnsteuer). Taxes are also levied on income such as investments, rental property, gifts, inheritance etc. (Einkommensteuer).
• For most of you, your employer sends the appropriate tax directly to the government (Finanzamt). The amount - as a percentage (14 to 42%) of your income - depends on how much you earn and your taxation class (Lohnsteuerklassen 1-6). During the following calendar year, when you file a tax return, adjustments are made if you paid too little or too much in taxes.
• It gets more complicated if you are self-employed. Depending on how much you earn, you may have to pay taxes in advance, estimating your potential earnings per quarter. Most Germans who are self-employed have a tax accountant - as do self-employed expats.
• You may also be liable for taxes in your home country, although Germany has signed agreements with many countries to avoid double taxation.
• In general, if you feel that your income tax situation is complicated, find a good tax accountant. They know best what deductions you are eligible to take. Even though you have to pay for the service, the amount you might get as a refund makes it worthwhile — not to mention the time saved - and the service is tax-deductible.

Finanzamt

The Finanzamt Service Center can provide you with forms, answer questions, hand out information etc.  If you have specific questions, bring a form of ID with you as well as your SteuerID-Nr. or Steuernummer.

How to File

File electronically using the free software ELSTER. (https://www.elster.de/eportal/start).

Deductions

Some helpful deductions are:

• Children under the age of 18
• Charitable donations to German entities (up to a certain limit)
• Moving expenses for professional reasons, such as from abroad

Keep copies of your receipts of income and expenses related to work! It helps to keep these in some orderly fashion to make filing your tax return easier.

Important Numbers

Steuernummer (Tax number) - is a 13 digit number the Finanzamt uses to identify you. The first 4 digits refer to the Finanzamt responsible for you. This number will appear on all correspondence with the Finanzamt. This number can change if you change professions or if you move to another region of Germany.

Steuer-Identifikationsnummer (Tax ID) - is an 11 digit randomly generated number assigned to each person who is liable for taxation. This number stays with you forever, regardless of where you are living. This number is sent to you by the Bundeszentralamt für Steuer and should be on your wage and tax statement.

eTIN - was a number introduced when the electronic ELSTER system was introduced and is no longer used.

• Make-it-in-Germany is an excellent website collaboration of three government agencies taking you step by step through the procedure of applying for a visa and finding a job.

http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/

• The Federal Employment Agency has job listings for all of Germany (be sure to change the language to English at the top of the page). They also provide general information about working in Germany (click on For job seekers).

https://jobboerse.arbeitsagentur.de/

• The European Job Mobility Portal has job listings for all of Europe.

https://europa.eu/eures/portal/jv-se/home?lang=en

• For those working at KIT, the Dual Career Service may be of interest if a spouse or partner is moving with you and would also like to work in their field of interest. They cannot find you a job, but are helpful with contacts.

https://www.sek.kit.edu/english/dualcareer.php