Working in Germany

Legal ways to work there

• Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte): up to a year to look for work; a qualification recognised in Tanzania, German A1 or English B2, at least 6 points, and at least €1,091 a month in funds. You may work up to 20 hours a week and take trial jobs of up to two weeks.
• EU Blue Card: a degree and a job offer paying at least €50,700 a year in 2026, or €45,934.20 in shortage jobs such as IT and for graduates of the last three years. IT specialists without a degree can qualify with three years of IT experience.
• Skilled worker visa with a recognised vocational or university qualification and a job offer.
• Experience route: a qualification recognised in Tanzania, two years of experience in the last five, and a job offer paying at least €45,630 a year (2026) or from an employer bound by a collective agreement.

Your rights

• The statutory minimum wage applies to all workers in Germany, whatever their nationality.
• On the Opportunity Card you may work up to 20 hours a week while you search.

Pay floor

Minimum wage: €13.90 an hour from 1 January 2026, rising to €14.60 on 1 January 2027.

Red flags

• Anyone asking you to pay for a job, a "visa slot" or a medical test booking before you have a real written offer.
• An offer without an interview, or a contract sent only by WhatsApp.
• An agent who is not registered with TaESA, or who asks to keep your passport.
• Agents charging for "guaranteed" recognition or job placements.

Where to get help

• Make it in Germany, the government portal, including qualification recognition.
• Faire Integration counselling centres for foreign workers' rights.
• The Tanzanian embassy in Berlin.

Tanzanian embassy contacts

From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (official list) and each mission's own website, checked 5 November 2026. Call before you visit.