Here, we will explain how the International Personnel Exchange programme works in Germany, the eligibility criteria, and the application process. For expert assistance with your immigration matter, contact Reiss Edwards, immigration lawyers and solicitors in London.
In our highly globalised world, being able to transfer staff within the same organisation or group of companies from one country to another is highly advantageous. Doing so can enable a multi-national business to move workers with expertise and senior management experience where they are most needed. If you plan to move staff within your organisation to work in Germany, you have two main options; the intra-company transfer (ICT) permit route and the international exchange programme. Here, we will explain how the International Personnel Exchange programme works in Germany, the eligibility criteria, and the application process.
Unlike the ICT scheme, the International Personnel Exchange involves, as the name suggests, the exchange of employees. This way, a member of staff from a multi-national organisation based in another country can come to work for a branch or subsidiary in Germany, and in exchange, a worker from Germany is posted overseas. The idea of doing so is to enable skills and expertise to be moved where they are needed while simultaneously removing any impact on the German labour market. The ICT route enables the one way flow of staff from overseas to Germany on a temporary basis. For either route, permission is required from the Federal Employment Agency before a person can be transferred to work in Germany.
If you are successful in applying for an International Personnel Exchange permit for Germany, it will be granted for up to three years.
In order for a foreign member of staff to be exchanged with an employee in Germany, the following criteria must be met:
To qualify to use the International Personnel Exchange in Germany, the employer has to:
The employee who will be coming to work in Germany must:
If you are a non-EU/EEA national in Germany on an International Personnel Programme, and you hold either a work permit, temporary residence, permanent residence, or an EU Blue Card for Germany, then your spouse and children will be able to join you. In order for your spouse and dependant children to join you, you will need to prove that you:
There are three main steps:
Your application for a D visa will be made through the German embassy in your home country. The embassy will book a time and date for your appointment and will explain the documents you will need to bring; these may include:
You will also need to pay the application fee for your visa; this is currently EUR75.00 (and EUR37.50 for children). If approved, the German immigration authorities will grant the required visas, at which time you can make arrangements for your travel to Germany.
Having arrived in Germany, you will then need to apply for a residence permit within three months with your local immigration office.
The steps involved in applying for a residence permit are as follows:
Permits under this scheme are valid for up to three years and can’t be extended beyond this period. If you need further information regarding your visa and permit options, speak to an immigration lawyer who will be able to advise you.
Reiss Edwards have the resources and expertise to assist with all aspects of Germany immigration. If you need assistance with applying for an International Personnel Exchange route for Germany or any other immigration matter, feel free to contact our Immigration Solicitor for help.