Information for Employees
Residence / Registration requirements
As a citizen of the EU, you have the right to enter and reside in Germany (or Saxony). You do not need a residence permit or a visa. All you need is a personal ID card or passport.
Every citizen of the EU has the unrestricted right to reside in another EU Member State for an initial 3-month period.
If you stay longer than 3 months, the following provisions apply:
Employed and self-employed persons have an unrestricted right to reside in Germany.
Individuals seeking employment are permitted to stay in Germany for more than 6 months as long as they continue to look for employment in Germany (or Saxony) and have reasonable prospects of finding work.
In any event, you are entitled to remain in Germany (or Saxony) as an unemployed citizen of the EU for an unlimited period of time, provided you have sufficient resources to cover your living expenses and are covered by health insurance.
Caution! Regardless of the above, you are required to register in Germany. If you stay in Germany or move into a house or apartment, you must register with the local community administration within 14 days.
Further information on this topic is provided at:
Citizens of countries outside the EU ordinarily require a visa. If you have a visa, you may enter Germany and your visa will be converted locally into a residence permit in accordance with the purpose of your stay in Germany. An exception to this rule applies to citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand and the USA. They are entitled to enter Germany without a visa and apply for a residence permit before starting work. You may apply to the immigration authority in your city for a residence period immediately after entering Germany only if you are a citizen of one of these countries.