The document pack to bring (originals + scans)
| Document | Why you need it | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Passport (valid for the whole visa period, ideally 12+ months) | Visa, Anmeldung, bank, permit | Renew before leaving if it expires within 18 months |
| National visa (Type D) | Entry for long stays | Shows the purpose (§ number) — it must match what you will do |
| Employment contract / admission letter | Visa, permit, flat search | Signed copy |
| Degree certificates + transcripts | Blue Card, recognition | Check anabin; for unlisted degrees get a ZAB Zeugnisbewertung (statement of comparability) |
| Birth certificate, marriage certificate | Family reunification, Kindergeld, name questions | Usually with apostille or legalisation, plus a translation by a sworn translator (vereidigter Übersetzer) |
| Children's vaccination records | Kita/school require measles vaccination proof (Masernschutzgesetz) | Bring the international vaccination book |
| Driving licence (+ certified translation) | Driving for the first 6 months | See Chapter 32 for conversion |
| Proof of health insurance | Visa requirement until you start a job | Travel/incoming insurance only bridges the gap until statutory insurance starts |
| Employment references / payslips | Experience routes, recognition, tax | Ask for letters stating role, dates and hours |
| Biometric photos (35×45 mm) | Permits | Germany increasingly requires digitally transmitted photos — ask the office |
Visa appointment and timing
- Apply at the German embassy or consulate for your place of residence. Many missions now accept applications through the Auslandsportal (digital visa application). Waiting times range from days to several months, so start as soon as you have the contract.
- For skilled workers, the employer can apply for the fast-track procedure (§81a AufenthG) at the local Ausländerbehörde. It costs €411 and leads to a visa appointment within about 3 weeks.
- The visa is usually valid for 3–12 months. You convert it into a residence permit in Germany before it expires (Chapter 10).
Accommodation for arrival — the critical detail
You need a landlord's Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (housing-provider confirmation) to register your address. Hotels and many short-term rentals will not provide it. Book temporary furnished housing (for example via Wunderflats, HousingAnywhere or a company relocation flat) and confirm in writing that the provider will give you a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung.
Pre-arrival checklist
- ☐ Apostilles and sworn translations done for civil-status documents.
- ☐ Degree checked in anabin, or ZAB statement requested.
- ☐ Temporary flat booked with registration possible.
- ☐ Health insurance covering the gap before employment.
- ☐ Money transfer route tested; €3,000–6,000 available for the first weeks (Chapter 3).
- ☐ Scans of everything stored in an encrypted cloud folder.
Official sources: auswaertiges-amt.de · digital.diplo.de (Auslandsportal) · anabin.kmk.org · kmk.org/zab