Work in Germany | Prospects.ac.uk (2023)

FAQs

Can I get a job in Germany from UK? ›

The job market

There are plenty of opportunities for UK graduates to experience life in Germany, whether by starting or developing their careers in the country, teaching English, or taking part in a volunteering programme or study scheme.

UK qualifications are almost always comparable to their German counterparts, and will therefore be recognised by employers. However, professionals of one of Germany's 60-plus regulated professions, such as doctors and lawyers, will need their qualifications recognised in Germany before they can begin work.

Germany is the largest country in the EU and has the strongest economy. At the same time, the British capital London is a truly global city with many opportunities for expats looking for a good job.

Although it's possible to find a job in Germany with only speaking English, knowing German will skyrocket your chances. Of course, there are plenty of international job positions that only require the English language, but these tend to be more competitive, so speaking at least some German is a huge asset.

UK nationals arriving in Germany for long term stays, such as study or work, do not need a visa. However, after entry into Germany you will have to apply for a residence permit from your local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde).

Getting a job in Germany after Masters is very easy for an Engineer. Germany is the hub of the automobile industry and many students can look forward to working there.

In short: yes, there are English-speaking jobs in Germany.

Foreigners who look for jobs in tech startups or digital departments have a higher chance of finding work in Germany without speaking German.

For comparison, Our World in Data shows that Germany has 210.97 daily confirmed cases per million people, while the UK has 29.9.

Work-life balance in Germany is vastly superior to the UK. Germans value their leisure time and tend to compartmentalise work time and free time.

Is it cheaper to live in Germany or UK? ›

Germany is ranked the 10th highest in terms of cost of living, making it cheaper to live in Germany than it is in the UK, Denmark, Norway, France, or the Netherlands.

Germany. Basic rates of tax are around the same as in Britain (ranging from 19% to a top rate of 45%), but workers have to pay an extra 10% for state pensions, 8% for health, 1.5% for unemployment cover and 1% for care insurance.

According to the StepStone Salary Report 2021 (Stepstone Gehaltsreport 2021), the average gross salary in Germany amounts to €56,985. But most Germans consider a salary ranging between €64,253 and €81,503 a good salary.

There's no doubt that you can survive in Germany without knowing German. Every German usually studies English from the age of 5 and especially the younger generation watches British or American series.

All in all, Germany is a country where you can find both the fast city life or the quiet sub-urban experience, all from a position of safety, security and stability. In short, the country's safety, highly developed infrastructure and robust economy allow Germany to offer you a very stable reason to move to the country.

If you have the citizenship of an EU Member State in addition to your British citizenship, you can continue to live and work in Germany without a residence title thanks to the right to freedom of movement. This regulation applies to all non-EU citizens with another citizenship of an EU Member State.

For US citizens, the Schengen Visa is not required. This lack of Schengen Visa requirement means that you can move to Germany and you can stay there for 90 days until you get your residence permit. Since you are moving to Germany from the US, you will need a residence permit.

On average, to cover your living expenses in Germany you will need around 934 euros per month (around $906 US dollars) or 11,208 euros per year (around $10,876 US dollars). The prices for food, accommodation, bills, clothes and entertainment are basically in line with the EU average.

British citizens require a visa and/or residence permit for any stay beyond 90 days within any 180-day period. British citizens may apply to the local immigration office (“Ausländerbehörde”) for their residence permits after arrival in Germany and do not need to have obtained a visa prior to travelling to Germany.

Does Germany have free healthcare? ›

Yes, all Germans and legal residents of Germany are entitled to free “medically necessary” public healthcare, which is funded by social security contributions. However, citizens must still have either state or private health insurance, covering at least hospital and outpatient medical treatment and pregnancy.

With an unemployment rate of only 3.1%, Germany provides an average salary of 76,000-103,000 EUR/year (INR 66,27,743 to 89,82,336 per year) for master graduates.

According to Statista, in 2021, the average gross annual salary in Germany was 47.700 euros a year, or 3.975 euros a month. The numbers above are for all of Germany. However, the average gross salary will depend greatly on your location, professional experience, education, size of the company, and gender.

Exempt for 90 days in 180 days

For more than 90 days you need a long-term work permit from the first day of work. If you have an EU intra-company transfer permit (EU ICT) from another country you can work in Germany for 90 days in a 180-day period.

Can you live in Germany without knowing German? It is just about possible to live in Germany without knowing much German. But in order to find employment and to fully integrate into society, you will need to be able to speak and read German to a good standard, especially if you live outside the major cities.

Germany is not considered to be one of the most welcoming countries or the friendliest with foreigners. In fact, the country was ranked as one of the world's worst countries to make friends. This is why it's important to have expert help as you find a place to live and get to know your new home.

The UK is surrounded by water and is in the path of the Gulfstream which brings warm water from the tropical Atlantic. Being surrounded by warm (for the latitude) water keeps the UK warmer than Germany, which is mostly surrounded by land.

Work Life in Germany

They are regulated strictly by the law, meaning you're daily working hours must not exceed eight hours and the weekly working time is restricted to 48 hours. To summarize this, most employees in Germany work seven or eight hours a day, with a lunch break between 30 minutes and one hour.

Is Berlin better than London? ›

If you're planning to move, Berlin would be a fantastic choice even though some travelers claim London is more exciting. The average salary in the two cities is similar, although Berlin boasts a higher quality of life than London.

Switzerland tops many lists of best countries to live in thanks to its excellent quality of life, picturesque countryside and excellent education and health care systems that apply to expats and locals alike.

Particularly, big cities in Germany abound with bars, clubs, restaurants, museums and plenty of festivals and social events. So there is always something to do and there is no chance of getting bored. You can enjoy the famous beer fests, carnivals, film festivals, Halloween parties and so on.

What is the average cost of rent in Germany? Average rent costs in Germany range from €300 to €800 per calendar month for a room in shared accommodation and from €500 to €1,346 for a one-bedroom flat. The overall average rental price is €750 for a one-bedroom apartment.

In 2022 moving to Germany from the UK will require a visa or you will be restricted to a maximum stay of 90 days in any 180 day period. It will also become more complicated to gain resident status and to be able to work in Germany after Brexit you will need a work visa or resident status.

It's a progressive tax: if you earn more, you pay a bigger percentage of your income. If you earn less than 10,347€ per year, you don't pay income tax. The median income tax rate is around 18%. The maximum income tax rate is 45%¹.

Denmark (55.9 percent), France (55.4 percent), and Austria (55 percent) had the highest top statutory personal income tax rates among European OECD countries in 2021. Hungary (15 percent), Estonia (20 percent), and the Czech Republic (23 percent) had the lowest personal income top rates.

Out of all major European nations, the UK has only the 17th highest top income bracket at 45%. Most nations vary between 45% and 55% for their highest tax bracket, with Denmark having the highest at 55.89%.

Bermuda, Monaco, the Bahamas, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are four countries that do not have personal income taxes.

Exempt for 90 days in 180 days

For more than 90 days you need a long-term work permit from the first day of work. If you have an EU intra-company transfer permit (EU ICT) from another country you can work in Germany for 90 days in a 180-day period.

Are UK qualifications Recognised in Germany? ›

Degrees awarded by recognized British universities can still be recognized in Germany. Their formal status is that of a third-country academic degree.

British citizens may apply for their residence permits with the local immigration office (“Ausländerbehörde”) after arrival in Germany and without having obtained a visa prior to travelling to Germany.

With a huge range of professional opportunities and roles throughout Germany, securing a job isn't as hard as it may be in other countries around the world.

If you have the citizenship of an EU Member State in addition to your British citizenship, you can continue to live and work in Germany without a residence title thanks to the right to freedom of movement. This regulation applies to all non-EU citizens with another citizenship of an EU Member State.

You can be resident in both the UK and another country ('dual resident'). You'll need to check the other country's residence rules and when the tax year starts and ends. HMRC has guidance for how to claim double-taxation relief if you're a dual resident.

Working out if you need to pay

If you're not UK resident, you will not have to pay UK tax on your foreign income. If you're UK resident, you'll normally pay tax on your foreign income. But you may not have to if your permanent home ('domicile') is abroad.

UK degrees are recognised in many countries around the world, and there are a number of agreements between different countries that support this. Some of these are not related to the European Union which means that after the UK leaves the EU, most academic qualifications will still be recognised.

International students prefer UK degrees over those from other countries because these degrees are recognised and respected worldwide.

The EU Directive on Professional Qualifications allows EU and UK citizens to have professional qualifications mutually recognised.

The processing time for a German long-stay work visa may take from one to three months from the application day. The processing time also depends on the number of applications the embassy is receiving at the time, as well as your situation.

What is the minimum salary to get work permit in Germany? ›

If you apply for a Blue Card, your salary must be at least 56,400€ per year (before taxes). If there is a shortage of skilled workers in your field, your salary must be at least 43,992€ per year. This list shows which fields have a shortage of skilled workers. If you can, find a job before you come to Germany.

Companies in Germany do not sponsor visas like in other countries, there is no such a term here. Companies either hire non-EU candidates or not.

A recent survey by American research institute Gallup has revealed that 40 percent of people working in Germany have been feeling stressed recently. For the “State of the Global Workplace 2022” report, more than 105.000 employees from 146 different countries were asked about their working life.

According to the StepStone Salary Report 2021 (Stepstone Gehaltsreport 2021), the average gross salary in Germany amounts to €56,985. But most Germans consider a salary ranging between €64,253 and €81,503 a good salary.