At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, family reunification law is an area our immigration lawyers provide specialist service. Moving to a new country, especially in times of conflict, is incredibly challenging, and reuniting with family members can provide an extra layer of security. Our immigration law team offers full-service support for those looking to join with their spouse, children (including adult children), children who may be studying at university and other relatives in Germany. By engaging with our services, our lawyers will explain the German family reunification law guidelines, examine your situation closely, and then provide tailored legal services.

Our articles on family reunification provide the legal outline of German law, but ultimately the support of experienced professionals can make the most significant difference. The lawyers at Schlun & Elseven are ready to support clients regarding employment migration to Germany.

The Intra-Corporate Transfer Card (ICT Card) allows companies a more straightforward means of transferring non-EU employees from one part of their business to another. This Card is available as a means to bring specialists and managers to subsidiaries and branches in the EU (including Germany). An ICT Card can be valid for up to three years for managers and specialists but only for one year for trainees.

There is also the option of the Mobile ICT Card. This residence permit allows employees who are non-EU citizens to move between EU countries easily should their company send them to a branch of the business in another country.

The German permanent residence permit is an unlimited residence title granted to a foreigner to consolidate their residence in Germany. A permanent residence permit means that its holder can continue to live and work in Germany without restrictions. Although not available immediately in most cases, it is something for Ukrainian workers to consider when coming to Germany. German permanent residency grants its holder freedom of movement, whereby they can enter and leave the country without the restrictions that are in place for other visas and residence permits.

There are several routes to German permanent residency. The EU Blue Card, for example, allows for permanent residency after 33 months in Germany, and this can be reduced to 21 months should the necessary German language skills be demonstrated by the applicant (B1 standard German). However, there are other routes to permanent residency, including with the Skilled Immigration Act, self-employment (whereby the applicant can apply for permanent residency after three years under § 21(4) German Residence Act) and for highly-qualified specialists (under § 18c German Residence Act). Therefore, the means to apply for German permanent residency is based on the visa the person has and their personal situation.

If you are considering German permanent residency, consult with our experienced German immigration lawyers and allow them to outline your options. Once the route has been determined, our lawyers will use their considerable expertise to oversee your application.

Coming to Germany to start a business may be a preferable option. As someone with entrepreneurial experience, bringing that knowledge to Germany may lead to founding a successful company. At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, our lawyers will oversee applications for the self-employment visa that is available under § 21 German Residence Act. This visa allows an entrepreneur to bring their idea to Germany if the enterprise meets an economic interest or regional need, has a positive impact on the economy and is financed by equity capital or a loan commitment. Our lawyers have worked with entrepreneurs worldwide in pursuing this visa and have extensive experience of fulfilling the requirements to gain it. Utilise our insight to give yourself the best chance of gaining the German self-employment visa.

Once the visa has been obtained, our law firm is ready to support you in establishing the company according to your wishes and in line with your business idea. We can oversee the establishment of your company, and advise you regarding the advantages and disadvantages of of sole proprietorships, partnerships (GbR, OHG, KG, PartnerG) and corporations (UG (haftungsbeschränkt), GmbH or AG) under German law. Upon determining the most suitable business model, our lawyers can then oversee all the legal formalities and allow the enterprise to start trading in the German market.

The EU Blue Card is not the only means by which Ukrainian workers can establish themselves in Germany, as there are also options under the recent Skilled Immigration Act. This piece of legislation allows “skilled workers” from outside of the EU to take up suitable positions in Germany. Skilled workers are defined as those who :

• have completed vocational training in Germany or have a non-German occupational qualification which is equivalent to one acquired in Germany, or
• have a German or a foreign higher education degree recognised or otherwise comparable to a German higher education degree.

Recognition of vocational training allows suitable candidates who may not have university degrees to apply for skilled jobs in Germany. At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, our immigration lawyers can assist you in making the required visa applications.

Should an employee have a position available to them in Germany, it is possible to fast-track the application. This process involves the employer, acting on behalf of the skilled worker living abroad, applying for the initiation of the fast-track procedure at the competent immigration authority. This authority is often the central immigration authority of the respective federal state.