Everything You Need to Know About the Experienced Employee Visa for IT and Non-IT Workers in Germany
Germany's Qualified Employment Permits are designed to attract skilled workers from non-European Economic Area (EEA) countries, addressing labor shortages across various sectors.
One of its types is the Experienced Employee (IT/non-IT) visa, a pathway for skilled professionals with substantial work experience to work in Germany in non-regulated professions. Below are the detailed requirements, processes, and benefits associated with this visa category:
Eligibility Requirements
Here’s a summary table explaining the requirements for this kind of visa. Get a free eligibilty check with Germany pre-hiring check tool.
| Requirement | Details |
| 1. Professional Experience | Applicants must have at least two years of qualified professional experience within the last five years. |
| 2. Qualifications | - A recognized academic degree or vocational qualification is required.
- Vocational qualifications must involve at least two years of formal training, recognized by Germany’s Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).
- For IT specialists, a university degree is not mandatory, provided the applicant meets the professional experience criteria. |
| 3. Job Offer | The applicant must have a job offer in a non-regulated profession (e.g., IT, marketing, finance). Non-regulated professions do not require additional licensing. |
| 4. Salary Thresholds | - Minimum gross annual salary: €43,470 for general roles (2025 figure)
- For applicants aged over 45 years, the threshold increases to €53,130. |
| 5. Language Skills | - German language proficiency is not mandatory, but may be beneficial, especially for non-IT roles.
- For IT specialists this requirement is waived by law due to high demand in the sector. |
| 6. Approval from Federal Employment Agency (BA) | - The BA must confirm that conditions of the employment fulfil minimum requirements of the German labor market and the experience of the applicant is relevant and sufficient.
- The employer must submit a “Declaration of Employment” form as part of the application process |
Send to my email
Need this information in your email? read it for later, get information directly in your inbox
Download now
IT vs non-IT: how the requirements differ
The Experienced Employee permit covers two distinct groups — IT professionals and non-IT professionals — and the requirements are meaningfully different. Understanding which category applies to you determines your salary threshold, language requirements, and how strictly your experience will be assessed.
| Requirement |
IT Professionals |
Non-IT Professionals |
| Minimum Experience |
2 years in the last 5 years |
2 years in the last 5 years |
| University Degree Required? |
No — experience alone is sufficient |
No — but a recognised degree or vocational qualification strengthens the application significantly |
| Minimum Gross Annual Salary (2026) |
€45,552 |
€43,470 (€53,130 if over 45) |
| German Language Requirement |
Waived by law |
May be required depending on role — check with the Ausländerbehörde |
| Federal Employment Agency Approval |
Required — verifies salary and working conditions
|
Required — also verifies that the role matches the applicant’s experience profile
|
| Regulated Profession Check |
Most IT roles are non-regulated — no licence required
|
Must verify if the profession requires a licence (e.g., engineering, healthcare)
|
Important: Job title alone does not determine eligibility the Federal Employment Agency reviews the actual duties described in the contract. A "project manager" with no technical duties may not qualify, while a "business analyst" with strong technical responsibilities may. Align your job contract description carefully with your experience profile.
What counts as proof of professional experience?
This is the most common sticking point for Experienced Employee permit applications. Unlike a degree or vocational certificate, work experience has no single official document - you need to build a picture from multiple sources. The Federal Employment Agency and the German embassy will assess the totality of your evidence, not just one document.
| Evidence Type |
What to Include |
Weight |
| Employment Reference Letters |
On company letterhead, signed by a manager or HR director. Must include
role, employment dates, and key responsibilities. Generic letters are
often insufficient — specificity is essential.
|
High |
| Employment Contracts |
Signed contracts for each relevant role, showing job title, start/end
dates, and employer details. Certified translations are required if not
in German or English.
|
High |
| Payslips or Tax Records |
3–6 months of payslips per role, or annual tax filings showing income.
Used to verify employment authenticity and activity.
|
Medium |
| LinkedIn Profile / Portfolio |
Not a standalone document, but useful supporting evidence for project
history and skill set. Reviewers may independently verify this.
|
Supporting |
| Certificates of Completion |
Professional certifications (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, PMP) that support
experience claims — especially valuable for IT applicants without a degree.
|
Medium |
| Client Testimonials / Project Letters |
For freelancers or contractors: signed letters from clients confirming
scope and duration of work. Must be on official client letterhead.
|
Medium |
For employers: sponsoring an experienced professional from outside the EU
If you are hiring a professional with strong experience but no formally recognised degree — common in IT, digital marketing, product, and finance roles — the Experienced Employee permit is your primary route. Here is what you are responsible for as the sponsoring employer.
| Employer Obligation |
What It Means in Practice |
| Issue a Detailed Job Contract |
The contract must clearly describe actual duties — not just a job title.
The Federal Employment Agency (BA) cross-checks the contract against the
candidate’s experience profile. Vague contracts are a leading cause of rejection.
|
| Complete the Declaration of Employment Form |
Download and complete the Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis
from the Federal Employment Agency and submit it with the visa application.
Without this document, the BA cannot process the case.
|
| Meet the Salary Threshold |
€45,552/year for IT roles and €43,470/year for other roles. The salary must
be clearly stated in the contract and must exactly match the Declaration of
Employment. Any discrepancies can delay processing.
|
| Confirm the Role is Non-Regulated |
Most roles in technology, finance, and marketing are non-regulated and do
not require additional licences. For engineering or healthcare-related roles,
confirm requirements with the relevant authority before proceeding.
|
| Support the Experience Documentation |
Provide the candidate with a detailed reference letter on company letterhead.
If the candidate has previously worked with your company (e.g., contractor or
remote role), this strengthens the application significantly.
|
Benefits
- Access to work in Germany’s thriving economy across various sectors like IT, finance, and marketing.
- No requirement for a recognized or German degree
- No requirement for existence of a degree in IT roles if professional experience suffices
- Opportunity to transition to permanent residency after consistent employment and contributions to social security systems.
Special Considerations for IT Specialists
- IT professionals benefit from relaxed requirements compared to other professions:
- Only two years of proven experience are necessary.
- Lower salary thresholds (€45,552 annually).
- Waived language proficiency requirements.
Application Process
Key steps in applying for this permit type.
| 1 Qualification Recognition | - Applicants must verify their qualifications through ZAB or check recognition via the Anabin database.
- If qualifications are not recognized, applicants may need to undergo additional training or certification. |
| 2 Document Submission | - Completed visa application form
- Valid passport
- Job offer letter or a contract specifying salary and role details
- Proof of qualifications and work experience
- Declaration of Employment form from the employer
- Proof of health insurance coverage |
| 3 Visa Application | - Submit the application at the German embassy/consulate in your home country.
- The application is forwarded to the BA for approval. |
| 4 Visa Issuance | Once approved, applicants receive their visa, typically valid for one year and extendable by applying for a residence permit based on employment status. |
Send to my email
Need this information in your email? read it for later, get information directly in your inbox
Download now
Conclusion
The Experienced Employee visa (under Qualified Employment Permits) offers flexibility and opportunities for skilled workers with substantial professional experience to contribute to Germany’s economy. It is particularly advantageous for IT specialists due to relaxed qualification and salary requirements. Applicants should ensure their qualifications are confirmed by German authorities and meet salary thresholds while securing approval from the Federal Employment Agency.
.svg)
.svg)
