General information

The issuance of a visa for an employment category not otherwise listed on the embassy’s website is only possible if the requirements of Section 19c Paragraph 1 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) in conjunction with a provision of the Employment Ordinance (BeschV) are met.

Basic information

• If you want to have an appointment to apply for a visa for other employment purposes, you need to register on the appointment waiting list of the German Embassy Nairobi and mention “other employment” as purpose of stay
• All application documents must be submitted in original with 1 copy. Please sort the documents in the order listed below then.
• 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. 2 months but can take longer in individual cases. If the Foreigners authority issues a so-called preliminary approval to the visa according to Section 81a of the Residence Act (“Fast-track procedure for skilled workers”), the processing time is ca. 2 weeks.
• 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 or the Seychelles, you have to show a valid residence permit for the country of residence.

2. 1 completed and duly signed application form including information provided to applicants pursuant to Section 54 (2) no. 8 in conjunction with Section 53 AufenthG

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

3. 2 current, identical biometric passport photos with a white background
4. Signed information pursuant to section 18 (2) no. 4a of the Residence Act (AufenthG) – Requirement to have a concrete job offer
5. Curriculum vitae in German or English, gapless
6. Completed form signed by your employer: “Declaration regarding a contract of employment”
7. Work contract signed by you and the employer

8. Proof of qualification

   Secondary school qualification (in Kenya: KCSE), if available: vocational school and/or university qualification

9. Proof of previous professional experience

   Please submit reference letters from your former employers or other documents proving your previous professional experience (employment contract, salary slips, etc.)

10. If necessary: Permission to exercise a profession issued by the authority responsible for recognising qualifications or assurance of permission to exercise a profession (for example for medical professions)
    
    More information on recognition: www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de
11. Proof of incoming health insurance coverage, valid for three months beginning with date of entry to Germany
12. If applicable: preliminary approval to the visa according to Section 81a of the Residence Act (“Fast-track procedure for skilled workers”) issued by the Foreigners Authority or preliminary approval issued by the Federal Employment Agency for your employment
13. 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.