Is your lifelong dream to work in Germany? I worked there for a year and a half at trivago after finishing my master’s degree in International Media Studies with a DAAD scholarship . Germany has increasingly opened up for qualified people to work in the country. So, qualified Brazilians can work in Germany legally even if they have a European passport. Check out the tips:
Can Anyone work in Germany legally?
In 2022, Germany announced the “opportunity card” (Chancenkarte, in German), which was called the German “green card” by the press . But this visa for foreigners, with some important restrictions and rules, is not the only way to work legally in Germany. In addition to the German green card, you can apply for vacancies to work in Germany from Brazil and if the company likes you, they will hire you even without you having European citizenship.
The work visa bureaucracy in Germany is a bit annoying and you have to go to the German consulate/embassy with your contract/job offer in Germany to “recognize” your graduation diploma in order to get the work visa. After all, they need to be sure that you have the necessary qualifications for the position. The vast majority of Brazilians I met during the time I worked at Trivago applied for vacancies in Germany from Brazil, went through the entire selection process while still in Brazil, were selected, signed a contract and then, yes, went to Germany.
Is it necessary to speak German in order to land a job in Germany?
As I already explained here at Duplichecke.com, living in Germany without knowing German is not for the weak. However, you don’t necessarily need to know German to be hired by a company in Germany. There are many companies that hire people with fluent English, as was the case with the company where I worked. Knowing German or having the slightest desire and determination to learn will make your life there much more pleasant. I usually joke that anyone who goes to Germany without knowing German and who doesn’t work hard to learn ends up not lasting more than three years there because… look… it’s not for amateurs, no.
It’s really funny that I always warn everyone about this before people go and I’m always called EXAGGERATED. After a year, everyone agrees with me. I love Germany very much and living there changed my life, but learning German was essential for my experience to be so good.
For those who don’t know, I worked from September 2015 until March 2017 at trivago, in Düsseldorf, Germany. I was part of the Content Marketing team for Brazil. I started writing for the blog and then became team coordinator. I was hired before I even finished my master’s degree in communications . The funny thing is that I didn’t know anyone at the company and, at the time, I knew little about them. I always wanted to have work experience in Germany and the job there fit like a glove: I would start right after finishing my master’s degree, the position was to work on a subject that I enjoy and doing what I love most: generating information.
How to get a work visa in Germany?
Peoples without European citizenship and with training can obtain a work visa in Germany in different ways. Every visa type comes with its own pros and cons. According to the German Embassy, it is possible to obtain the following work visas in Germany:
Blue Card (or Blaue Karte, in German)
Advantages of Blaue Karte: it is a permanent residence permit for professionals in Europe, it gives the right to the issuance of a residence permit for a spouse without requiring knowledge of German; gives immediate and unlimited permission to accept a job.
Disadvantages: to be able to access a blue card you need to have an employment contract that offers a gross annual salary of at least 56.4 thousand euros. Doctors, qualified workers in the fields of engineering, natural sciences, mathematics and IT need a gross annual salary of 43,900 euros to qualify for this visa.
Work visa for those who have a contract in Germany
Advantages: Your starting annual salary doesn’t have to be that high. For those who studied in Germany, it is not necessary to obtain this visa in Brazil, so you can just apply for a residence permit and complete the process in Germany without having to return to Brazil.
Disadvantages: it is not a fixed residence permit. The visa holder is eligible for permanent residence after a period of time living in Germany which will vary depending on whether you also studied there or not.
Visa for job seekers (for job hunting) in Germany
Advantages: people with higher education diplomas or technical professional training. In the case of technical professions, you must have completed a recognized professional training course lasting at least two years.
Disadvantages: it’s only valid for six months and, as you don’t have a job offer in the country, you need to prove to the German embassy or consulate in Brazil that you have enough money to stay in Germany while you look for a job.
Do you want to live in Germany? Where to start
It’s worth remembering that working life abroad is not easy and is VERY different from living abroad to study or go on exchange, even in a company like the one I worked for, but it’s totally worth it to give that wonderful boost to your CV.