Traveling with a work visa

A so-called work visa is the prerequisite for taking up regular employment as a foreigner in a country requiring a visa. For example, if your employer sends you abroad to work in a branch office or you go to a foreign university as a visiting professor, you will need such a visa for your work stay. If, on the other hand, you only have an appointment for business negotiations or are an exhibitor at a trade fair, a business visa is usually sufficient. The situation is different if you are planning to establish a new foothold in the destination country - independent of a previous employer.

Perhaps you have always dreamed of living and working in a foreign country for a while to get to know the people and culture there? Emerging economies such as China, India and Russia offer many opportunities for a career change. A tourist visa may be sufficient to gain an initial overview of the labor market and infrastructure abroad. However, if you have already signed a contract with an employer, you will need a visa for work purposes. For particularly qualified specialists, a so-called expert visa may be an option.

The requirements to be met for a work and residence permit are country-specific. You will usually only receive a visa if you are able to prove your qualifications for the job. The application form, a passport with enough free pages for the visa entry and a passport photo are among the standard documents required to apply for a work visa.

Example for China: In addition to the above-mentioned documents, the Chinese embassy requires, among other things, the submission of an official work permit. Your employer must apply for this locally at the relevant authority (Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing). It is often necessary to have certificates notarized by the diplomatic missions in Germany in order to apply for a work visa. If you are not sure how this process works, we will be happy to help you and take care of this step for you.

As with most other types of visa, you need an official invitation, also known as a visa support letter or invitation letter, for work stays. It is often a time-consuming process for the foreign employer to issue an invitation. Administrative procedures and long queues are hurdles on the way to a visa.

If you have problems organizing a business invitation for Russia, we can help you apply for the letter through us.

Important note for work visas: A copy of the employment contract is not a substitute for an invitation letter.
You will find out whether a criminal record certificate, medical examination and health insurance are required and whether additional documents are needed when you choose your destination country.

The period of validity of work visas varies from country to country and depends on your invitation. A permit can be valid for one (half) year, but also for several years. For the type Z visa, which is required to work in China, there is an initial limit of 3 months.

The traveler is responsible for converting the visa into a residence permit at the latest 30 days after arrival. This is usually valid for one year. However, an unbureaucratic extension of the permit is usually possible if you continue your employment relationship. In most cases, a work visa entitles you to enter and leave the country several times.