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BELGIUM • UNITED KINGDOM • ITALY • IRELAND

GERMANY

Work permits: old style work permit • Greencard scheme • Van der elst visa

The gap between the demand for IT staff and supply of local talent is huge in Germany. The German Information Technology Association estimates a 25% gap between the jobs created and jobs filled. Considering Germany along with United Kingdom account for half of Europe's total IT production, IT profeesionals are the largest beneficiaries of c75,000 work permits each year.
Recognising the IT skill shortage, the German chancellor introduced the Green Card scheme, under which work permits and visas are granted quickly to such profesionals. The fastest option however is going through Van der elst visa.

The new greencard scheme aims at processing and approving all application within a weeks time. This target is not achieved all the time, but once the governmental procedures are optimised this could well become a reality. However in order to avoid uneccesay delays address peripheral issues at the outset and fall papers must be submitted in German.

Work permits and green card application can only be made by the employer. There are two types of companies that can apply for work permits.
1. German
2. EEA companies who provide service to German clients.
The second category does not qualify for work permits and green cards. This category operate through the Van der elst visa.
As a candidate, which category do you qualify for?

Work permits - old style work permit

The old style work permit
There are no specific requirments for this category. But the candidate must be a skilled professional with a good amount of experience behing him. The salsry being offered to him must be the same as his German counterpart. If the candidate is not an Australian, Canadian, Israel, Japan, Newzealand and U.S.A citizen, you have to show that his skills are necessary for the organisation. A good idea is to obtain a letter of support from a credible third party source like the chamber of commerce. The procedures for the old style work permit differs region to region.

Work permits - Greencard scheme

Under this scheme, a candidate qualifies when his employer is willing to pay him DM 100,000 + per annum. If however, the employer fails to do so, candidates from IT and telecom subject area must possess the relevant degree.

Work permits - Van der elst visa

Candidates with 12 months of work experience in an EEA company qualifies for this visa. You can apply for this visa to the German embassy in your own country.

Indian Embassies: Berlin • Frankfurt • Hamburg • Stuttgart

Important numbers:

• Some important numbers you must carry with you at all times.
• Ambulance: 112
• Airport Munich: 089 97500
• Airport Frankfurt: 069 6901
• Directory Information: 12 for France; 00 33 12 + country code for International
• Fire: 112
• Highway Information Centre ADAC: 0180 5101112
• Lost and Found Munich: 089 089 233-1
• Lost American Express Card: 089 62425112
• Lost Diner's Club Card: 069 260354
• Lost Eurocard/Mastercard: 069 79331910
• Lost Visa Card: 069 740987
• National Railroad Information: 01805 996633
• Munich Tourist Information: 089 554459
• Police: 110
• Munich public transport MVV: 089 210330
• Telephone Complaints, Repairs: 01113
• Information Tel.numbers national: 11833
• Information Tel.numbers international: 11834
• Wake up calls 01141

Maps:

• Detailed map of Germany
• Berlin
• Dusseldorf
• Frankfurt
• Hamburg

Little India: Indian restaurant • Indian grocery shop • places of worship/ Indian association • Banks