Professional drivers from non-EU countries can be employed in Germany with the approval of the Federal Employment Agency. Take advantage of this opportunity and find out here which conditions have to be met.

Truck and bus drivers are now well paid in Germany. Every non-EU citizen who has a truck or bus driver's license may, in principle, work as a professional driver in the Federal Republic of Germany. Depending on whether you have an EU/EEA driver's license or a local driver's license from a non-EU country, there are different ways for non-EU citizens to enter the German job market.

1. Entry with an EU/EEA driving license
2. Entry without an EU/EEA driving license
3. Entry only with the accelerated basic qualification for professional drivers

If the skilled workers already have the necessary basic qualifications or an EU or EEA driver's license, you can speed up entry by applying for the accelerated skilled workers' procedure at the responsible foreigners' registration office.

Contact us for more information about the accelerated skilled workers' procedure.

Applicants who do not yet have an EU or EEA driver's license and who do not yet have an (accelerated) EU or EEA basic qualification can be employed in Germany as part of an alternative job, provided they have the opportunity to obtain the required German driver's license and German (accelerated) basic qualification is offered. Entry into Germany to take part in the qualification measures requires proof of German language skills at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

This type of employment is approved by the Employment Agency if the following requirements are met:

1. There is an employment contract which, in addition to a related professional activity in the company (e.g. in a warehouse or similar), provides for the obligation to take part in measures to obtain the German (accelerated) basic qualification for professional drivers and the German driver's license. During this time, the employee is already in Germany and has a job, but employment as a professional driver is only possible after successful further training.
2. The working conditions during the qualification measures are designed in such a way that the German driving license and the German (accelerated) basic qualification can be obtained within 15 months.
3. The employer assures the future employee of a concrete job offer as a professional truck driver in a company after the transfer of the driver's license and the attainment of the (accelerated) basic qualification.
4. Proof of an existing driving license from a third country as a professional driver in the country of origin is available.

If the non-EU citizen has already acquired the (accelerated) basic qualification for professional drivers during previous employment in another EU/EEA state or Switzerland and if this is still valid, he can enter the country even if he does not have an EU/EEA driver's license. The foreign driver's license must then be converted into a German driver's license within six months. A theoretical and practical driving test must be completed.

You can find out from us which documents must be available in such a case for the visa procedure. Please feel free to contact us via email or telephone.