Completed form signed by your Employer: Declaration of employment + 2 copies

There is Minimum salary requirement for the EU Blue Card which is set once a year by the Federal Ministry of the Interior. In 2020, the Minimum salary requirements were:

• 43,056€ for scientists, mathematicians, engineers, doctors and IT-specialists (so-called STEM occupations)
• 55,200€ for all other occupations

Proof of recognition of the qualification:

• Two printout from the on the qualification and of the institution

OR if the qualification is not assessed as “entspricht” (=comparable) or “gleichwertig” (=equivalent) and/or the Institution is not classified as “H+”

• Statement of Comparability by the + 2 copies

OR in the case of regulated professions in which permissions is required to exercise the Profession, e.g doctors, engineers etc (complete list is available from the or the )

• Permission to exercise the Profession issued by the authority responsible for recognising qualifications or assurance of permission to exercise a Profession + 2 copies (for example in the medical Profession)

More Information on recognition of professional qualifications: www.anerkennung-in-Deutschland.de

Proof of adequate health insurance cover

If as an employee you are subject to mandatory health insurance, you must bear in mind that this insurance can only begin once you take up residence in Germany and enter into employment. If you enter Germany beforehand, private health insurance must be taken out prior to the beginning of the employment. In its terms and conditions, travel health insurances can exclude protection if a long-term or permanent stay is planned.

Signed Research Agreement or relevant contract with a German Research Institute  +2 copies

The Research Agreement/ relevant contract needs to contain certain Information. You can find a specimen HERE

Proof of adequate financial means

To stay in Germany, the applicant must have at their disposal at least 947€ per month if they are not entering into a contract of employment. Proof of these financial means can be provided through the Admission Agreement/ relevant contract. If a contract of employment is planned, proof of the statutory minimum wage of at least 9,50€ per month must be provided. When submitting an application, proof of financial means must be provided for the entire duration of the stay.

In the case of financing in the form of a blocked bank account: Open the blocked bank account in good time before applying for your visa. When applying for a visa, only the official confirmation of the bank account including Information on the amount paid in and the amount available per month will be accepted. A confirmation which does not include this Information is not sufficient.

Proof of adequate health insurance cover

If as an employee you are subject to mandatory health insurance, you must bear in mind that this insurance can only begin once you take up residence in Germany and enter into employment. If you enter Germany beforehand, private health insurance must be taken out prior to the beginning of the employment. In its terms and conditions, travel health insurances can exclude protection if a long-term or permanent stay is planned.

From the Age of 45: Proof of adequate provision for old age +2 copies

Only if salary does not amount to at least 55% of the annual contribution assessment ceiling for the General Pension insurance scheme (2020: 45,540€ gorss per annum)

Proof of recognition of the qualification:

• Two printout from the on the qualification and of the institution

OR if the qualification is not assessed as “entspricht” (=comparable) or “gleichwertig” (=equivalent) and/or the Institution is not classified as “H+”

• Statement of Comparability by the + 2 copies

OR in the case of regulated professions in which permissions is required to exercise the Profession, e.g doctors, engineers etc (complete list is available from the or the )

• Permission to exercise the Profession issued by the authority responsible for recognising qualifications or assurance of permission to exercise a Profession + 2 copies (for example in the medical Profession)

More Information on recognition of professional qualifications: www.anerkennung-in-Deutschland.de

Proof of adequate health insurance cover

If as an employee you are subject to mandatory health insurance, you must bear in mind that this insurance can only begin once you take up residence in Germany and enter into employment. If you enter Germany beforehand, private health insurance must be taken out prior to the beginning of the employment. In its terms and conditions, travel health insurances can exclude protection if a long-term or permanent stay is planned.

Proof of recognition of foreign qualification

In the case of skilled worker with vocational training:

• Notification of recognition of foreign vocational training. Written notification of the agency in Germany responsible for recognition of vocational Training + 2 copies

In the case of skilled workers holding a university degree:

• Two printouts from the Anabin database on the qualification and on the Institution

or if the qualification is not assessed as “entspricht” (comparable) or “gleichwertig” (equivalent) and/ or the institution is not classified as “H+”

• Statement of Comparability by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) + 2 copies

or in the case of regulated professions in which permission is required to exercise the Profession, e.g medical doctors, engineers etc. A complete list is available from the Federal Employment Agency or the European Union. 

• Permission to exercise a Profession issued by the authority responsible for recognising qualifications or assurance of permission to exercise a Profession + 2 copies

Proof of adequate financial means

To stay in Germany, the applicant must have at their disposal at least 947€ per month if they are not entering into a contract of employment. Proof of these financial means can be provided through the Admission Agreement/ relevant contract. If a contract of employment is planned, proof of the statutory minimum wage of at least 9,50€ per month must be provided. When submitting an application, proof of financial means must be provided for the entire duration of the stay.

In the case of financing in the form of a blocked bank account: Open the blocked bank account in good time before applying for your visa. When applying for a visa, only the official confirmation of the bank account including Information on the amount paid in and the amount available per month will be accepted. A confirmation which does not include this Information is not sufficient.

Proof of German language skills (at least B2 for qualified vocational Training, otherwise at least A1

or

Proof of Registration for a preparatory intensive language course 

Sufficient to prove your language skills is submitting a language certificate which has been acquired on the Basis of the Standards of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE Standard).

These ALTE Standards apply to certificates issued by any Goethe Institute (GI) for the A1 language examination “Start Deutsch 1” (or a higher certificate of the Goethe Institute)

Certificates from other language Schools not meeting the ALTE Standard cannot be accepted.

As there is currently no Goethe Institute or certified Institute in Zambia or Malawi  to take specific language tests., we suggest to contact the Goethe Institute in the neighboring countries:

Harare/ Zimbabwe

Johannesburg/ South Africa

Windhoek/ Namibia

Additionally, you may consider online courses or self-learn language courses and apps, books etc.

Proof of adequate financial means

 Proof of financing of at least 752€ net/ 939€  per month for the first year. If an unpaid preparatory language course is being completed or if the Trainee wage is lower, provn of the monthly shortfall of funds must be taken separately, for examply in the form of a blocked  bank account.

Where applicable, authorisation to take up employment issed by the Federal Employment Agency/ Central Placement Office of the Federal Employment Agency (ZAV)

Note: German employers can apply for the authorisation needed for the visa application directly from the Federal Employment Agency/ ZAV by presenting the Training contract. If this authorisation is presented with the visa application the visa section can process the application quicker.

Proof of adequate health insurance cover

If as an employee you are subject to mandatory health insurance, you must bear in mind that this insurance can only begin once you take up residence in Germany and enter into employment. If you enter Germany beforehand, private health insurance must be taken out prior to the beginning of the employment. In its terms and conditions, travel health insurances can exclude protection if a long-term or permanent stay is planned.