Work visa to Germany for Polish citizens

Poles do not need a visa or special work permit to work in Germany. They have the right to freely enter the country, reside, find employment, and start their own business under the same conditions as German citizens.

Upon arrival in Germany, Polish citizens must only:

• Register their place of residence (Anmeldung) with the local authorities;
• Obtain a tax number (Steuer-ID);
• Take out health insurance.

No approval from the Federal Employment Agency or the local immigration office is required.

Germany is a country with a strong economy and a high standard of living, which makes it an attractive destination for foreigners seeking employment opportunities. With a population of over 83 million people and a GDP of $4.2 trillion, Germany has a diverse and thriving labor market that offers a range of job opportunities for both German and non-German citizens.

One of the biggest advantages of working in Germany is the country's low unemployment rate, which currently stands at 3.7% (as of March 2021). This means that there are plenty of job opportunities available in a variety of industries, including engineering, IT, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing.

In-demand Professions

Germany has a shortage of skilled workers in certain professions, particularly in the fields of engineering, healthcare, and IT. Some of the most in-demand professions in Germany include:

1. Engineers (mechanical, electrical, software, etc.)
2. IT professionals (programmers, developers, software engineers, etc.)
3. Healthcare workers (nurses, doctors, pharmacists, etc.)
4. Scientists (biologists, chemists, physicists, etc.)
5. Teachers (primary, secondary, and tertiary education)

Job Search Strategies

There are several ways to search for jobs in Germany, including online job portals, recruitment agencies, and networking. Some popular job portals include:

• Indeed.de
• Stepstone.de
• Xing.com
• LinkedIn.com

It's also a good idea to network with people in your industry and attend job fairs and events. Many companies in Germany prefer to hire candidates who have already established a presence in the country and can speak German, so it's important to learn the language and immerse yourself in the culture.

Useful Job Portals

• Indeed.de is a popular job portal that aggregates job postings from across the web. Users can search for jobs by location, salary, and industry, and can create a profile to receive job alerts and save job postings.
• Stepstone.de is another popular job portal that allows users to search for jobs by keyword, location, and industry. The site also features a salary calculator and a company database that provides information on company size, turnover, and employee satisfaction.
• Xing.com is a professional networking site that allows users to connect with other professionals and search for jobs. The site features job postings from a variety of industries, as well as a company database and a salary calculator.
• LinkedIn.com is a professional networking site that allows users to connect with other professionals and search for jobs. The site features job postings from a variety of industries, as well as a company database and a salary calculator.

German labor law clearly defines the maximum weekly working hours, the number of days of annual leave to which each employee is entitled, and the rules for paying sick leave. Here are some of the most important principles of the German Labor Code.

Employee rights in Germany: Minimum wage

The minimum wage is the legally established lowest acceptable level of remuneration. In Germany, the minimum wage is set at an hourly rate. Starting in 2023, the minimum wage will be €12 per hour.

Weekly working hours in Germany

40 hours per week is the full weekly working time

48 hours per week is the statutory maximum weekly working time

In some cases, the German Labor Code allows for 60 hours of work, with a leveling off of up to 48 hours in 6 months.

Daily working hours in Germany

The maximum daily working hours, breaks, work on Sundays and holidays, and time on call are regulated by the German Working Time Act (Arbeitszeitgesetz).

According to the regulations, daily working hours in Germany cannot exceed 10 hours, and weekly working hours cannot exceed 60 hours. In many companies, it is customary to work 8 hours from Monday to Thursday and 7 hours on Friday.

In some industries, the weekly working time is 48 hours, 6 days including Saturday.

10-hour working hours during the peak season

During the peak season, when the company receives an exceptionally large number of orders, daily working hours can be up to 10 hours or 60 hours per week. This is in line with the German code, provided, however, that the working day in a 6-month or 24-week billing period averages 8 hours.

Vacation leave in Germany

As with working hours, the amount of paid annual vacation depends on the regulations contained in collective bargaining agreements. Most often, it is 30 working days per year.

The minimum duration of annual leave is 24 working days per calendar year. More information about annual leave in Germany can be found here.

Sick leave in Germany

In Germany, the employer must be informed immediately of an employee's inability to work due to illness. A sick note (certificate of sickness absence) issued by a doctor must usually be submitted no later than the fourth day. However, it should be borne in mind that, according to the law, the employer may require a medical certificate as early as the first day of absence from work.

WORTH KNOWING:

Only in certain cases (e.g., in the case of a serious infectious disease) may the employer be informed of the type of disease the employee is suffering from. In any other case, information about the disease is subject to medical confidentiality. This means that the doctor who writes the sick note only states how many days the employee is unable to work, but does not disclose what the employee is ill with.

Payments during sickness

According to the regulations, an employer is obliged to pay an employee 100% of his or her average monthly salary for the first 6 weeks of sickness. After this period, the employee must apply for sickness benefits from an insurance company.

IMPORTANT:

In Germany, an employer can dismiss an employee on sick leave. The law allows this.

Termination of an employment contract in Germany

Companies with more than 10 employees are subject to the Protection Against Dismissal Act, which protects pregnant women and women on maternity leave from so-called socially unjustified dismissal.

Detailed information on the German Labor Code is available on the website of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales).

What forms of business can be set up in Germany

The choice of legal form depends on the specific goals of your business and the purpose of establishing a presence in Germany. If you have decided to set up a business in Germany, there are several options for the legal presence of your business:

1. representative office

2. company or subsidiary

3. partnership

Six steps to start a company and what documents are required

• Checking the company name. Preparation and notarization of constituent documents (Articles of Association).
• Opening a bank account. Placement of the authorized capital in a bank account. Providing the notary with evidence of the authorized capital deposit to the account.
• Notarization of the company's records in the commercial register and the "transparent" register (where the data on the ultimate beneficial owners are disclosed).
• Registration with the tax authorities, social insurance authorities, the register of employees, notification of the municipal trade office.
• If necessary, obtain insurance for the company (e.g., business insurance).
• Registration with the relevant chamber (e.g. HWK or IHK) - is carried out automatically by sending data from the Trade Licensing Office.

What about taxes

Here are the taxes that will apply to a business and a representative office in Germany:

• corporate tax
• trade tax
• turnover tax;
• income tax (applicable only to individuals and associations of individuals or partnerships);
• other taxes;
• solidarity surcharge (charged on corporate and personal income tax; amounts to 5.5%).

In Germany, taxation is handled by the following bodies and government agencies

• tax advisors (Steuerberater);
• tax administration (Finanzamt);
• trade administration (Gewerbeamt);
• financial courts (Finanzgerichte).

How to apply for a business visa to Germany?

• Application form for a business visa to Germany.
• Valid passport. It must be valid for at least 6 months before the intended trip to Germany.
• Two identical photos for a visa to Germany.
• Proof of residence in Germany.
• Transport / Book a round trip or route.
• Health insurance in Germany.
• Confirmation of financial capabilities.
• Bank statements of your company. These reports must belong to the period of three previous months.
• Business references. They can be from your employees, customers or other competent persons.
• Invitation letter from a business partner from Germany. This document must be in English or German. It should include your data, dates and purpose of the trip with a detailed schedule of business meetings or trainings (schedule for the day), as well as information about the inviting business partner.
• A company cover letter with a complete trip plan. The letter should state your position, the length of your service, the dates and purpose of the trip, and whether or not your employer is covering your expenses.
• Business license. This is a document that confirms the right of the sending company to conduct business.

• German Embassy.
• German Consulate.
• Visa Center.

1. You will spend fewer days in other Schengen countries than in Germany.
2. You will enter Schengen via Germany, but spend the same number of days in each Schengen country you visit.