Hire workers from India & Asia in Germany
Germany admits non-EU workers mainly through the Skilled Immigration Act, which favours recognised qualifications. For professional drivers there is a specific route — §24a BeschV — that lets a non-EU driver come to Germany, obtain the German C/CE licence and accelerated basic qualification (Code 95) within a fixed window, and work for the sponsoring haulier. Expect 12–20 weeks and a well-prepared employer file.
Talk to Sales12–20 weeks
Typical lead time
§24a BeschV
Driver route
Federal Employment Agency
Approval
up to 15 (+6) months
Qualification window
Permit routes in Germany
Residence permit for employment under the Skilled Immigration Act; a dedicated route for professional drivers under §24a of the Employment Regulation (BeschV).
| Route | Who it's for | Typical time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional driver (§24a BeschV) | Non-EU truck and bus drivers with a valid home licence | 8–16 weeks incl. visa; qualification completed in Germany within 15 months (extendable by 6) | Two variants: direct employment if the licence and qualification are already recognisable, or employment with in-country qualification. The contract must commit the driver to obtaining the German C/CE licence, accelerated basic qualification and language skills, and the employer to making that feasible. |
| Skilled worker with recognised qualification (§18a/18b AufenthG) | Welders, technicians, engineers with a recognised vocational or academic qualification | Recognition 2–4 months, then visa 4–8 weeks | Recognition of the foreign qualification is the critical path; the Federal Employment Agency checks comparable pay and conditions. |
| EU Blue Card | Degree holders above the salary threshold | 4–8 weeks | Fastest route for engineers and managers. |
How hiring in Germany works
Germany is the most demanding of our launch countries and the most rewarding when done properly. Two routes matter for ManBe's sectors.
Professional drivers — §24a BeschV. Since 2023 German hauliers can hire non-EU drivers who do not yet hold an EU licence. The driver enters on a residence permit tied to a contract that obliges them to obtain the German C/CE licence, the accelerated basic qualification (Code 95) and German language skills, and obliges the employer to organise working time so this can be completed within 15 months (extendable once by 6 months, 21 months in total). The Federal Employment Agency must approve the employment and checks that pay and conditions match German drivers'. The main risks are vague contracts and under-planned training, so we work with driving schools near the depot before the driver travels.
Skilled trades and professionals. Welders, mechatronics technicians, engineers and supervisors come in under the Skilled Immigration Act. The foreign qualification must be recognised as equivalent (or the worker uses the experience-based route with two years' relevant experience and a state-recognised qualification of at least two years' training). Recognition is the long pole — we file it before sourcing is finished.
Alternative: posting from Lithuania. For temporary peaks, drivers and trades employed by ManBe's partner entity in Lithuania can be posted to German clients under EU posting rules (the Vander Elst exemption for third-country nationals lawfully employed in another member state). This avoids a German permit but requires strict compliance with German posting law and minimum wage. We confirm eligibility case by case.
Sources: www.noerr.com. Rules change — we verify the current position before every order.
OUR PROCESS
A transparent, four-step journey to the perfect hire:
Brief & Blueprint
We kick off with a detailed intake role specs, culture fit, KPIs.
Search & Shortlist
Our talent network and AI-driven matching deliver a hand-picked shortlist.
Interview & Validate
We coordinate interviews, administer assessments and finalize compliance.
Place & Support
From offer acceptance to relocation logistics, we stay by your side.
Sectors we place in Germany
Truck & Trailer Drivers
Long-haul and regional C+E drivers are the roles ManBe has placed most: over 5,000 drivers have gone to work in Lithuania through our network.
Welders & Metalworkers
MIG/MAG, TIG and stick welders, fitters and fabricators for shipyards, steel structures, pressure equipment and heavy machinery.
Skilled Professionals
Site supervisors, production engineers, maintenance technicians, fleet managers and other mid-level professionals who lead the blue-collar teams we place.
Hiring in Germany — FAQ
- Yes, under §24a of the Employment Regulation: the driver arrives with a valid home licence and a contract committing both sides to complete the German C/CE licence and Code 95 within 15 months (extendable by 6).
- The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) must consent, checking that pay and conditions are comparable to German employees'.
- Typically 12–20 weeks: qualification recognition 2–4 months in parallel with sourcing, then a 4–8 week visa. Welders with an accredited EN ISO 9606 certificate and a formal vocational qualification move fastest.
- Posting workers already employed in Lithuania under EU posting rules can be faster for peaks, subject to German posting-law compliance. We assess this per client.
“ManBe Group helped us hire skilled professionals quickly and without complications. Their screening, compliance and onboarding support was amazing.”
Peter Hangsby
HR Head
HIRING IN GERMANY?
Tell us the roles, headcount and start date. We reply within 24 hours with the Germany permit route, a realistic timeline and a shortlist plan.
- ✓ Reply within 24 hours on working days
- ✓ Walk-in interviews and skills tests in the source country
- ✓ Permits, visas, travel and onboarding handled end-to-end