Visa requirements in order to take up gainful employment as a professional driver

Please note that applications must be handed in by the applicant in person. Any matters pertaining to an application will only be discussed with the applicant.

Visa applications may be submitted at this Embassy by appointment only. An online appointment system is available at www.prag.diplo.de/Terminvergabe.

Persons who are in possession of a Blue Card EU of another EU-country for at least 18 months are entitled to file their application directly at the local Alien’s Authority (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany. The application needs to be filed within one month after entry. Taking up employment is allowed only after having received the residence permit.

⬜ 1. 1 Application form

• Comletely filled out, signed by hand
• Link to the VIDEX-form: https://videx-national.diplo.de

⬜ 2. Passport + 1 copy of all relevant sides

• The Applicant’s passport has to have at least two blank pages.

• Please copy the laminated data page and all pages containing visas and stamps.

• Please note, that the validity of the passport must exceed the duration of the visa by at least 3 months.

⬜ 3. Residence permit + 1 copy

• Proof of residence permit for the Czech Republic. Please copy both sides of the residence permit card.

• Please note that the Embassy can only accept visa applications from persons habitually residing in the Czech Republic (for at least 6 months).

  In case of doubt, the submission of further documents, evidence is required (eg. Rent contract, work contract).

⬜ 4. 2 biometric passport photos

• Two recently taken biometric passport photographs (in colour, not older than 6 months, created against white background, with a size of 45 x 35 milimetres).

⬜ 5. Valid driver’s licence as a professional driver + 1 copy

• Valid EU-EEA driving license of categories C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D or DE, in the original and a copy

⬜ 6. Proof of language skills + 1 copy

• Proof of sufficient knowledge of German language, if necessary for the intended employment in Germany. Otherwise proof that another language which the applicant speaks is sufficient.

• The proof of language skills must not be older than one year.

• Recognised language certificates are the language certificates issued by the Goethe Institute, a language school certified by TELC or ECL or the ÖSD-certificate.

⬜ 7. Work contract + 1 copy

• Signed contract of employment in the original with specific details on the job function, salary as well as beginning and duration of employment. Digital signatures cannot be accepted. The names of the signatories have to be mentioned in the employment contract.

⬜ 8. Declaration regarding a contract of employment + 1 copy

• Declaration regarding a contract of employment („Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis“). Your future employer has to fill out the form and sign it. Please note that electronical signatures cannot be accepted. The declaration shall not be older than 6 months.

• Before signing the contract, the employer is advised to inquire about the local and industry-specific wage level from the Federal Employment Agency in Germany.

  Declaration by the employer that you have a valid EU or EEA driving license and the professional driver (basic)qualification.

⬜ 9. Supplementary sheet c to the Declaration of Employment Relationship + 1 copy

• In addition to the Declaration of Employment Relationship filled out and signed by the employer, please submit the supplementary sheet „C“ which also has to be filled out by the employer.

⬜ 10. In case you do not yet have an EU or EEA driving licence:

In the event that you do not yet have an EU or EEA driving licence and /or the professional driver (basic) qualification:

• Employment contract requiring you to take part in trainings necessary to obtain the qualifications required for the exercise of the profession as a professional driver in the carriage of goods or in the transport of passengers by bus and
• which also mentions what kind of work you will be doing during the training until you achieve the requirements for the exercise of the profession as a professional driver in the carriage of goods or in the transport of passengers by bus. The employer must under no. 7.4 of the Declaration of Employment Relationship (see above) confirm, that you will be able to take the qualification measures to acquire the conditions for the exercise of the profession within a period of 15 months .
• In addition: Declaration of Employment Relationship (Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis) in respect of the interim employment while doing the training until you achieve the requirements for the exercise of the profession as a professional driver in the carriage of goods or in the transport of passengers by bus has to be submitted.
• Proof of the registration to the above mentioned additional training (e.g. training contract with driving school, confirmation of registration for the course(es) or examinations for the acquisition of the German dirving licence and /or the basic qualification /accelerated basic qualification)
• In case a language course is first necessary in order to take part in the above mentioned additional training, please submit a proof of the registration to language course. In case of an accelerated basic qualification you will need knowledge of German in the B1-level.

⬜ 11. Extract from the commercial register of the employer

• Extract from the commercial register of the employer. If the signature authority of the person signing on the part of the employer for the submitted employment contract does not result from the extract from the Commercial Register, proof of the signature authority must be provided

⬜ 12. Applicants aged 45 and older: Proof of sufficient retirement provision + 1 copy

Proof of sufficient retirement provision. Proof must be provided by:

• Minimum monthly gross salary of 4.152,50 € (2024) or
• Proof of adequate retirement provision in the original (+ translation into German) + 1 copy (e.g. statutory /private pension insurance claims, life insurance or similar, assets).

⬜ 13. Proof of accomodation + 1copy

• Proof of accommodation during the intended period of stay in Germany (e.g. rental agreement, if already available.
• If not already available, proof of temporary accommodation for at least 4 weeks.

⬜ 14. Proof of health insurance + 1copy

• Proof of health insurance valid from the date of arrival and for the duration of the intended stay in Germany (German Statutory – „gesetzliche Krankenversicherung“ - or private health insurance). During the visa process a letter of the insurance company, confirming that sufficient coverage will be guaranteed in case the visa will be granted, is accepted.

• Please note that a travel health insurance cannot be accepted.

⬜ 15. CV + 1 copy

• Complete curriculum vitae with original signature.

⬜ 16. Visa fee

• The visa fee is 75 €, payable in cash in CZK at current exchange rate or with credit card (Mastercard or Visa). The visa fee is a handling fee. There will be no refund in case the application will be denied or withdrawn.

⬜ 17. Information provided to applicants pursuant to Section 54 (2) no. 8 in conjunction with Section 53 of the Residence Act

⬜ 18. Additional contact and legal representation details

Each visa application is an individual case. The documents to be submitted may therefore differ from case to case. It is possible at any time during the visa procedure that additional documents may be required.