Transferring a professional footballer (soccer player) from outside the European Union to a German club almost always runs on a tight schedule. There are often only a few weeks between signing the contract and the player becoming eligible to play, and every immigration formality, from the visa to the residence permit, has to be completed in that time. Clubs, players, and their agents therefore need to establish early which visa and residence permit apply, and how to plan the process so the player is available for the start of preseason training or before the transfer window closes. Transfer negotiations usually have to remain confidential until the official announcement, so the visa process also needs to be handled discreetly.
At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, our immigration lawyers represent several Bundesliga clubs and regularly manage the visa and residence procedures that player transfers require, from the initial eligibility assessment through to the issuance of the residence permit. We work with clubs in Germany as well as with players and their representatives abroad, and our lawyers are familiar with how the football industry operates from our ongoing advisory work.
Do Foreign Footballers Need a Visa to Play in Germany?
Not all of them. Whether a player needs a visa and a residence permit depends on their nationality. Nationals of an EU member state, a European Economic Area (EEA) country (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), or Switzerland have freedom of movement and need neither. They only have to register their address with the local registration office after arriving. This step is known as Anmeldung (address registration) and applies to everyone who lives in Germany.
Players of all other nationalities, referred to in German law as third-country nationals, generally have to apply for a national visa for employment before entering Germany. The visa is then converted into a residence permit after arrival. Section 6(3) of the German Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG) sets out the requirement for this national visa.
Nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom (which, since Brexit, no longer benefits from EU freedom of movement), and the United States are an exception. They may enter Germany without a visa and apply for their residence permit from within the country, provided they do so within 90 days of arrival, under Section 41 of the Residence Ordinance (Aufenthaltsverordnung, AufenthV). Nationals of many other countries, including Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, can visit Germany without a visa for short stays, but this does not extend to employment. Players from these countries still need a visa before entry.
The rules by nationality at a glance:
| Nationality | Visa before entry | Residence permit | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU, EEA, and Switzerland | Not required | Not required; address registration (Anmeldung) only | Local registration office |
| Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States | Not required | Required; apply within 90 days of arrival | Foreigners authority responsible for the player’s place of residence |
| All other nationalities, including countries whose nationals can visit Germany visa-free for short stays, such as Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico | Required: national visa (Type D) for employment | Required; the visa is converted after arrival | German embassy or consulate, then the foreigners authority in Germany |
Players who already live in Germany on a different residence permit, for example, after studying here, generally need a residence permit issued specifically for professional sport before they can sign as professionals. Our immigration lawyers assess which procedure applies to each player. The same legal framework also applies to professional athletes in other sports and to coaches.
Which Residence Permit Applies to Professional Footballers?
Professional footballers from outside the EU, the EEA, and Switzerland receive a residence permit for employment under Section 19c(1) AufenthG in conjunction with Section 22 No. 4 BeschV, the Employment Ordinance (Beschäftigungsverordnung). Section 19c(1) allows a residence permit for employment to be issued regardless of whether the person qualifies as a skilled worker, provided the Employment Ordinance permits that type of employment. Section 22 No. 4 BeschV does so for professional athletes and coaches.
Germany does not issue a separate work permit. The residence permit itself states whether the holder may work (Section 4a AufenthG). The main practical advantage of this permit is that, if the requirements are met, the employment does not need approval from the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit). The local foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde) can therefore process the application without that additional step, which makes the procedure noticeably faster than for most other types of employment. The foreigners authority can also give its advance approval (Vorabzustimmung) before the visa is decided, which usually shortens the procedure at the German embassy or consulate. The embassy or consulate still makes the final decision on the visa.
Requirements for Players and Clubs
The residence permit under Section 22 No. 4 BeschV, without Federal Employment Agency approval, requires the following:
- A planned position with a German sports club or a comparable organization that takes part in competitive sport, usually evidenced by the employment contract.
- A gross salary, paid by the club, of at least 50 percent of the contribution assessment ceiling (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze) for the statutory pension insurance. The threshold is adjusted every January. For 2026, for example, it is €4,225 gross per month.
- Confirmation from the relevant German sports federation, issued in agreement with the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), of the player’s sporting qualification or, for coaches, their professional suitability. For football, this is the German Football Association (DFB).
- The general requirements under Section 5 AufenthG, in particular a valid passport and secure means of subsistence, including adequate health insurance coverage.
- A minimum age of 16.
Our immigration lawyers assess whether a player meets the requirements of Section 22 No. 4 BeschV before the contract is signed, and we prepare the necessary evidence. Two factors often decide whether the procedure can go ahead without Federal Employment Agency approval, and therefore how quickly it can be completed: the salary threshold and obtaining the DFB qualification confirmation in good time. We recommend having the requirements for a planned transfer checked at an early stage.
How Does the Visa Process Work for a Transfer to Germany?
From contract signing to eligibility to play, a transfer usually goes through five steps:
- Preparation: Checking whether the agreed salary meets the threshold under Section 22 No. 4 BeschV, and obtaining the DFB qualification confirmation in good time.
- Visa application: The player applies for a national visa (Type D) for employment at the competent German embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence. Players who can enter visa-free under Section 41 AufenthV skip this step and apply for the residence permit after arriving in Germany.
- Entry and registration: Once the visa has been issued, the player enters Germany and completes the Anmeldung with the local registration office.
- Conversion into a residence permit: The foreigners authority responsible for the player’s place of residence converts the visa into a temporary residence permit for employment. This is not necessarily the authority where the club is based. A player who lives in a neighboring town or district deals with the foreigners authority there.
- Eligibility to play: The club can only apply to the relevant football associations for the player’s registration once the player holds a valid residence title. This registration is separate from the immigration procedure. For players moving from a foreign association, it also requires the International Transfer Certificate (ITC) issued through FIFA’s system.
Trial Training and Short Visits
A player who comes to Germany only for a short trial, without being paid by the German club, may in some cases be able to enter on a Schengen visa. This changes as soon as the player signs an employment contract with a German club. From that point, a visa for employment is required, unless the player is eligible to apply from within Germany under Section 41 AufenthV.
Clubs should not bring a player to Germany on a short-stay entry and then apply for the residence permit afterward. A missing visa can only be remedied after entry in narrowly defined exceptional cases (Section 5(2) sentence 2 AufenthG), and foreigners authorities apply this exception restrictively where employment is concerned. The visa procedure should always be completed before the player enters Germany.
How Can Clubs Avoid Delays During the Transfer Window?
The most effective step is to start the immigration procedure alongside contract negotiations rather than after the contract is signed. Transfer windows are short, so the speed of the visa procedure often decides whether a player is available in time. In practice, delays mainly come from two sources: appointment availability at German embassies and consulates, and processing times at foreigners authorities. Waiting times for embassy appointments vary considerably from country to country. When the documents are ready before signing, no time is lost once the deal is done.
In our experience, clubs that have visa and qualification documents prepared during negotiations are affected by embassy appointment delays far less often. The contract itself can also protect clubs against delays in the procedure, for example through a condition precedent, which means the contract only takes effect once the residence permit has been granted.
Bringing a Player’s Family to Germany
If a player moves to Germany with their family, their spouse and unmarried minor children can also receive a residence permit through family reunification (Familiennachzug). The applications are usually submitted around the same time as the player’s visa application, so that the family can ideally enter Germany together. Family members can also join a player who is already living in Germany at a later date. Family reunification for a spouse comes with its own evidence requirements, for example, proof of secure means of subsistence and adequate living space. Civil status documents issued abroad, such as marriage and birth certificates, often need to be legalized or carry an apostille, and may need a German translation by a sworn translator. Our immigration lawyers coordinate the timing of these applications with the player’s visa procedure.
Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte: Immigration Support for Professional Footballers and Their Clubs
At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, our immigration lawyers support football clubs from the initial assessment of the immigration requirements through to the issuance of the residence permit, and we assist the player and their family throughout the process. We advise clubs across Germany as well as players and their representatives abroad. We can handle the entire procedure remotely, and all communication with our team can take place in English. Having the immigration requirements of a planned transfer checked early helps ensure that avoidable delays do not stand between contract signing and eligibility to play.
Outside professional sport, we also advise companies on international employee assignments.
An Overview: Frequently Asked Questions about Visas and Residence Permits for Professional Footballers in Germany
It depends on the player’s nationality. Players from the EU, the EEA, and Switzerland can enter Germany without a visa or residence permit and only need to register their address. Nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States can enter without a visa but must apply for a residence permit in Germany within 90 days of arrival. Players of all other nationalities need to complete the full visa and residence permit procedure. We check this in advance for every transfer.
That depends mainly on two factors: appointment availability at the competent German embassy or consulate, and processing times at the foreigners authority. The sooner all documents are complete, the more likely it is that the procedure can be finished within the transfer window.
Not automatically. A new employment contract generally means the foreigners authority has to review the requirements under Section 22 No. 4 BeschV again. We support both the new club and the former club through this step.
Ideally alongside contract negotiations, not after the contract has been signed. Embassy appointment availability and foreigners authority processing times are the biggest risks to the timeline, so preparing the documents and the qualification confirmation before the contract is signed is the most effective way to avoid delays.
Yes. Spouses and unmarried minor children can also receive a residence permit through family reunification. We coordinate the timing of their applications with the player’s visa procedure so that the family can ideally enter Germany together.
Practice Group: Our German Immigration Lawyers
Practice Group:
Our German Immigration Lawyers
