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Relocate to Germany from Japan

Japanese professionals relocate to Germany for roles in automotive, engineering, research, and technology. Strong cultural and economic ties between Germany and Japan — both major automotive and manufacturing nations — create steady demand. Under Section 41 of the German Residence Ordinance, Japanese citizens can enter Germany visa-free and apply for their residence permit directly at the local Ausländerbehörde.

Typical timeline: 3–8 weeks after arrival in GermanyVisa-free entry — can apply from within Germany

Visa-free entry for Japanese nationals (Section 41 AufenthV)

Japanese citizens can enter Germany without a visa for up to 90 days under Section 41 AufenthV. During this period, they can apply for a residence permit directly at the local Ausländerbehörde. However, they are not permitted to start working until the permit is granted or a Fiktionsbescheinigung (provisional certificate) explicitly authorising employment has been issued.

Visa options for Japanese professionals

EU Blue Card

For Japanese professionals with a degree and a high-salary job offer. Applied for directly in Germany after visa-free entry. Japanese university degrees are widely recognised.

2–6 weeks (from within Germany)

Skilled Worker Visa (§18b AufenthG)

For qualified Japanese workers with recognised credentials and a job offer. Applied for at the Ausländerbehörde after visa-free entry.

2–8 weeks

Intra-Company Transfer (ICT Card)

For Japanese employees transferred within multinational companies (e.g., Toyota, Sony) to a German branch. Common in the automotive and electronics sectors.

4–8 weeks

Required documents

Documents typically needed for Japanese nationals applying for a German work visa.

Valid Japanese passport
University degree (Japanese degrees are widely recognised)
Employment contract or binding job offer
Proof of health insurance
Biometric passport photos
CV in English or German
Proof of accommodation in Germany
Anmeldung (address registration) — required before applying for your permit

Tips for relocating from Japan

Japanese citizens can enter Germany visa-free and apply for a residence permit on arrival — no embassy appointment needed

Japanese degrees are very well recognised in Germany — most are in the anabin database

Strong bilateral ties: many Japanese companies have German offices and vice versa

Germany has a significant Japanese community, especially in Düsseldorf

Japan and Germany have a social security agreement covering pension contributions

relokate best practice

We review every situation case by case

While this guide provides general information, every relocation is different. Your talent will only be able to start working in Germany once they have received their residence title (Aufenthaltstitel) — or a Fiktionsbescheinigung that explicitly permits employment. Even for visa-free nationalities, this means careful timing. Our immigration experts assess each case individually to find the fastest, most compliant route — so your new hire starts on schedule, not in legal limbo.

Why companies choose relokate

Unlike generic relocation agencies or pure-play software, relokate combines both — so nothing falls through the cracks.

Software + human experts

Most competitors offer either software or service. relokate gives you a real-time dashboard backed by dedicated immigration specialists who handle the actual process.

Germany-deep, not global-wide

We focus exclusively on relocations to Germany. That means deeper expertise in German immigration law, local Ausländerbehörde processes, and the nuances that generalist platforms miss.

Case-by-case assessment

No two relocations are the same. We evaluate each hire's nationality, qualifications, family situation, and timeline to find the fastest compliant path — not a one-size-fits-all template.

Start-date certainty

Your talent can only work once they hold their title. We anticipate bottlenecks and manage timelines proactively, so your team can plan around a realistic start date — not a hopeful one.