Moving to Germany from another EU country: no visa needed

Citizens of EU countries, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland can live and work in Germany freely. What to do after you arrive, family and benefits.

Last checked: November 1, 2026

No visa, no work permit

If you are a citizen of an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, you can come to Germany and live and work here without a visa or a work permit. A valid passport or ID card is enough.

Anyone who sells you a “German work visa” or a “work permit” is cheating you.

After you arrive

Register your address (Anmeldung) at the citizens’ office within two weeks of moving into a flat.
Your tax ID comes by post after you register. Health insurance is required in Germany.
For some professions, such as doctor, nurse or teacher, your qualification must be recognised before you work in that profession.

Family from outside the EU

Your spouse and children from outside the EU can come with you. Their visa is free, the procedure is simpler, and they do not need a German test. In Germany they get a residence card (Aufenthaltskarte).

Work problems and benefits

If an employer does not pay you, claim the pay in writing quickly: many contracts have short deadlines, often three months.
If you lose your job after working in Germany, you can keep your worker status for a while and may get support.
In the first three months, and if you only came to look for work, there is usually no Grundsicherungsgeld (called Bürgergeld until June 2026).
Faire Mobilität gives free advice in many languages to workers from Central and Eastern Europe.

When a lawyer helps

For a dismissal, unpaid wages, a refused residence card for your family, or refused benefits, a lawyer in Germany can help quickly. To challenge a dismissal in court you have only three weeks.

Questions people ask

Do I need to speak German?

Not to live and work here. It helps a lot with jobs, offices and everyday life.

Can I get child benefit (Kindergeld)?

Often yes, if you live or work in Germany. In the first three months it usually needs income from work in Germany.

When can I stay for good?

After five years of legal residence in Germany you usually get a right of permanent residence.

Official information

General information, not legal advice. Rules change and every case is different: a lawyer checks yours.

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