You are planning to start working in Germany and would like to get comprehensive information on your target country? The Federal Employment Agency's (Bundesagentur für Arbeit - BA) International Placement Services (Zentrale Auslands- und Fachvermittlung - ZAV) offer a comprehensive range of information with advice on the required residence title, the obligation to obtain a work permit, legal bases as well as links for further reading and publications.

Granting of a work permit / residence title: In general, nationals of EU member states do not need a work permit. Exception: Transitional regulations for an obligatory work permit still apply to nationals of the EU member states of Romania and Bulgaria.

Third-country nationals require a residence title to take up employment – applications can be filed with the representation of the Federal Republic of Germany abroad or within Germany with an aliens' authority – and usually approval of the Federal Employment Agency.

Special regulations: Nationals from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, and the United States of America can also obtain the required residence title after entry from the competent aliens' authority in Germany. Attention should be paid to the fact that you can only engage in your intended employment after having obtained the adequate residence title.

The International Placement Services (ZAV) with its regional headquarters is the responsible authority for granting work permits and accepting residence titles. Employees and employers can find detailed information on work permits and applications in the bulletins. The employees of the ZAV can be contacted for direct counselling by calling 0228/713-2000 from Monday to Thursday 08:00 am to 4:30 pm and Friday 08:00 am to 2:00 pm.

General information on the subject of "Living and Working in Germany" and related questions like approval of degrees, work opportunities, social insurance and more can be found at the internet platform of the International Placement Services www.zav-auslandsvermittlung.de/deutschland as well as at the EURES portal (European Employment Services) http://ec.europa.eu/eures.

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