Changing employer in Germany (Zustimmung)

Have you found a better job in Germany and want to change employer? In many cases this cannot be done straight away.

If your residence permit is tied to a particular employer or position, you need to obtain approval from the competent German authorities, the so-called Zustimmung, before you start working for a new employer. Starting work without the required approval can have serious consequences for your residence status.

At the Visa Center we provide complete support throughout the entire procedure, from assessing whether you need a Zustimmung at all, through preparing the documentation, to communicating with the competent institutions and monitoring the procedure up to the decision.

Important!

One of the most common misconceptions is that no approval is needed for a Minijob when changing employer. That is not correct. If your right to work is restricted by the conditions of your residence permit, a Zustimmung may also be required for a Minijob, as well as for other changes in your employment. That is why it is important to check whether you need approval before accepting any new job.

When is a Zustimmung required?

Whether approval is required depends on the type of your residence permit, the conditions under which it was issued and how long you have been living and working in Germany. In many cases a Zustimmung is required when you:

change employer
move to a different position
change occupation or job description
wish to take up additional employment, including a Minijob
wish to start working for a new employer while your residence permit is still tied to the previous one

Every case is different, which is why it is important to check whether approval is actually required before changing jobs.

What does the procedure look like?

The procedure usually begins with an application to the competent immigration office (Ausländerbehörde), which where necessary obtains the approval of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit).

At that point it is examined whether the new employment meets the statutory requirements, including an appropriate salary, working hours and other working conditions.

Only after the required approval has been granted is it lawful to start working for the new employer.

How can the Visa Center help you?

We analyse every case individually and check whether a Zustimmung is required for the planned change of employment. Our support includes:

analysing your current residence permit and your right to work
assessing whether you meet the requirements for changing employer
reviewing the employment contract and the remaining documentation
preparing and filing the application
communication with the Ausländerbehörde, the Federal Employment Agency and other competent institutions
monitoring the procedure up to the final decision

Where necessary we also work with your new employer in order to gather all the required documents and speed up the procedure.

From our practice

Clients often come to us having already accepted a new job offer, or even resigned from their current employer, without knowing that prior approval was required for the change of employment. Such situations can lead to unnecessary complications and delays.

That is why we advise checking whether a Zustimmung is required in your particular case before signing a new contract or starting work. Checking in good time can often prevent serious problems.

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Are you planning to change employer in Germany?

If you are not sure whether you need approval for this, contact the Visa Center. We will analyse your situation, answer all your questions and help you carry out the procedure properly, efficiently and in line with the applicable regulations.

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