Visa for professional drivers

General information

If you have completed German or recognized foreign qualified vocational training as a professional driver, you can be issued a visa to work as a skilled worker with vocational training qualification in accordance with Section 18a of the Residence Act (“AufenthG”). Please note our relevant checklist.

Professional drivers who do not have recognized vocational training can be issued a visa with the approval of the Federal Employment Agency under the conditions of Section 19c Paragraph 1 AufenthG in conjunction with Section 24a of the Ordinance on the Employment of Foreigners (“BeschV”).

Section 24a BeschV distinguishes between drivers who

- are already in possession of an EU/EEA driving license of classes C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D or DE and can provide evidence of their (accelerated) EU or EEA initial qualification to drive certain vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers (paragraph 1)

or

- can earn both by successfully completing qualification measures in Germany (paragraph 2). However, you must already have a driving license that entitles you to work as a professional driver or bus driver in your country of origin.

Basic information

• If you want to have an appointment to apply for a professional driver visa, you need to register on the appointment waiting list of the German Embassy Nairobi and mention “professional drivers” as purpose of stay
• All application documents must be submitted in original with 1 copy.
• Please sort the documents in the order listed below.
• Documents not in the German or English language must be submitted with a certified German or English translation.
• The Embassy reserves the right to request additional documents in individual cases.
• Incomplete application forms as well as applications with incomplete documents will delay processing and may lead to rejection of the application.
• Processing time is as a rule ca. 1 to 2 months but can take longer in individual cases.
• Please do not contact the mission abroad to check the status of your application during the normal processing period. Such inquiries are extremely time-consuming for the visa section and can thus not be answered.

For your application we require the following documents:

1. Passport and 1 copy of the data page. If you are a foreigner residing in Kenya, Burundi, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan or the Seychelles, you have to show a valid residence permit for the country of residence.

1. 1 completed and duly signed application form including information provided to applicants pursuant to Section 54 of the Residence Act

A digital application form to be completed online can be found on https://videx-national.diplo.de

1. 2 current, identical biometric passport photos with a white background

1. Curriculum vitae in German or English, gapless

1. EU/EEA Driving license of classes C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D or DE and/or driving license that entitles you to work as a professional driver or bus driver in your country of origin. If available: Proof of EU/EEA basic qualification

1. If you apply for a visa to take up work directly in accordance with Section 24a Paragraph 1 BeschV:

Completed form signed by your employer: “Declaration regarding a contract of employment”

The form must not be older than six months.

1. If you apply for a visa to carry out a qualification measure in accordance with Section 24a Paragraph 2 BeschV:

- Completed form signed by your employer: “Declaration regarding a contract of employment” for other employment during the qualification measure and

- Completed form signed by your employer: “Declaration regarding a contract of employment” for employment after completion of the qualification measure or receipt of the German driving license

The form must not be older than six months.

1. Supplementary sheet C to the declaration regarding a contract of employment completed and signed by the employer

In this declaration, your employer confirms which driving license you have, what basic qualifications you have and, if applicable, which qualification measures you will take part in

1. Signed information pursuant to section 18 (2) no. 4a of the Residence Act (AufenthG) – Requirement to have a concrete job offer

1. From the age of 45: Proof of a sufficient level of previously earned pension provision (only if you do not earn more than 49,830.00 EUR gross per year)

1. Proof of incoming health insurance coverage, valid for one year beginning with the date of entry to Germany

1. If applicable: preliminary approval to the visa according to Section 81a AufenthG (“Fast-track procedure for skilled workers”) issued by the Foreigners Authority or preliminary approval to the employment according to Section 36 BeschV issued by the Federal Employment Agency

1. Visa fee in the amount 75 Euros, payable in Kenyan Shillings

This fact sheet reflects the legal situation at the time of drafting it. It is regularly updated but makes no claim to be complete. Authoritative version of the fact sheet is the German version.