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Germany Residence Permit for Skilled Workers

According to the new German Immigration Act, which was introduced as of 1 January 2005, foreigners need only obtain a German residence permit, which gives them the right to work, rather than separate residence and work permits.
Citizens of the EU, United States of America, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland may apply for a residency permit after entering Germany without a visa.
Citizens of other countries are required to apply and obtain a visa prior to entry (an option also open to US citizens) at a German embassy or consulate in their country of residence.
People working in Germany and residing outside the country (frontier workers) should apply for a residency permit at the local authority of their place of employment.
Process of German Residence permit application
The residence permit application process (which also provides access to the labour market) for the candidate is received by the German embassy in the country where the candidate lives. The Embassy passes the application to the immigration office in the place where the job is to take place for initial approval. The immigration office, in cooperation with the local employment office that issues the permission, makes its decision. If the candidate's application has been approved, the Embassy provides an entry visa to the candidate. Upon arriving in Germany, the foreign national and any accompanying family members must apply for their work and residence permits at the local foreigners authority.
The following documents have to be produced when applying for a residence permit to Germany.

1. A valid Passport
2. Passport photograph
3. Proof of health insurance
4. Proof of residence registration
5. Proof of means of support (usually a letter from the employer)or - in case of students or non-employed -
   of adequate financial resources. The self-employed do not have to prove their financial situation.
6. A Certificate of Health for Residence Permit, which can be obtained from any German doctor or local health office.
7. A Certificate of good conduct, which can be obtained from the home county's embassy or consulate

Requirements for German work permit

1. The applicant and the German company who issues the work permit,
   should meet the following basic requirements to qualify for a German work permit.
2. The potential employee 'Applicant' has to be employed on equal terms as a German employee.
3. German or other European nationals are not available to fill the position.
4. Applicant must have a university degree or comparable qualification and for some positions there are special requirements.
5. The German company must be registered at the Labor Authorities in Germany and apply for a Corporate Registration Number.

Self-employed immigrants
Applicants who are self-employed have a good chance under the new law, provided an investment of one million euro and ten new German jobs are created.
Germany is a member of the Schengen Agreement and with a Schengen Visa one can entry one Schengen country and travel to other Schengen visa countries freely. The new Immigration Act has replaced the former German Green Card Initiative, which made it easier for foreign IT specialists to work in Germany. It is generally agreed that the Green Card was unsuccessful, in that it did not succeed in bringing about the additional IT workers as was expected. This new provision of the Immigration Act is not limited to IT specialists.
Family members
Family members of the highly skilled workers, who enter Germany with visa status, or the family members who join them later in Germany, can obtain the right to work in Germany as well, and this factor will make it easier for families to decide to move to Germany.

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