Documents Required For Work Visa

Just like citizens from countries other than United States of America, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland and the Republic of Korea, the citizens of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan will need a visa. If you have a valid job offer from an employer or you are in a process to get the one in coming days. This is the best time to start preparing your documents.  

What documents you will need to submit your work visa application in Embassy? 

This is the question which people ask when they get the job offer. Unfortunately, the list of documents is not as clear on the official website. The German Mission in Pakistan categorize Job Seeker or Work Visa under Services > Visa For Germany > Long Term Visa > Job Seeker or Work Visa. 

The list of required documents for a work visa is a bit generic. The list is the same for both types of visa options e.g. you have a valid job offer or you are interested in going to Germany to look for a job. 

Let us split the list of required documents for both work visa options. 

List of required documents (if you already have a job offer)

1. Application Form //can be downloaded from the German Embassy website.  
2. Job Offer Letter // you employer will share the job offer later. 
3. Your all educational degrees and certificates. 
1. Matriculation 
2. Intermediate
3. Bachelor Degree and Transcript
4. Masters or any other degree (if you have any)
4. Photos //with a white background, having 80% face, and no software editing.  
5. Your Passport Copies // first page and second page where you have your signatures.  
1. A copy of visa (if you have any on your passport) 
6. Application Declaration Form // can be downloaded from the German Embassy Website.  
7. Your Updated Resume. 
8. Your prior job appointment letters, experience letters from all employers. 
9. ZAB Certificate // What is ZAB? See the details at the bottom of this blog  
10. Health Insurance Document // it must be of three months starting from the day you plan your travel.  
11. Your Computerized Birth Certificate.  
12. Visa Fee 🙂  

The most of documents are clear from the heading. Let us see some in detail. Feel free to write in blog comments section if you have any question. 

2) Job Offer Letter  

Once you get the job offer from a German employer, your employer will send an offer letter to you. If you do not have it, ask the employer to issue it. Because this is the proof that you get a job under what conditions.

Normally the job offer document comes in both German and English languages. It usually contains the job responsibilities in details; the number of working hours, salary, vacations and other benefits. It could be a long 20 to 30 pages document. It is important to go through with this document in detail. 

Ask the question to your employer if you have in your mind…. hye hye wait. Go through with the questions which you should ask your employer. There are some questions which you do not need to ask.   

3) Education Certificates 

It will be required to bring copies of your all certificates starting from matriculation to your highest degree. Let suppose your highest degree is bachelor so you will need copies of your Matric, Intermediate, Bachelor Degree and Bachelor Degree Transcript. Alternatively, if your highest degree is masters. You will need the copies of Matric, Intermediate, Bachelor, Master Degree Transcript, and Master Degree. 

Please note you will need copies of your all attested degrees/ certificates in the whole process…. NOT ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. 

Make sure your all certificates and degrees are attested from issuing authorities before you make copies. For example, your matric and intermediate certificates must be attested from Board Office (BISE) and your bachelor and any other higher degrees will be attested from Pakistan Higher Education Commission (HEC).   

The only trick here is; board offices in Pakistan do not stamp on your original certificates. They only attested copies of your Matric and Intermediate certificates. There is another authority named IBCC. It stamps on your original certificates. Get your Matric and Intermediate certificates attested from BISE and IBCC both. 

Our recommendation is to get your original certificates and degrees attested along with at least one copy. You will need one attested copy of each educational certificate while applying for ZAB Certificate. What is the ZAB certificate? Let us discuss it.  

9) ZAB Certificate 

ZAB certificate is an equivalence certificate of your highest educational degree. If you have a bachelor degree in Pakistan. The ZAB certificate will tell your bachelor degree in Pakistan is equals to xyz degree in Germany. 
  

This is an important certificate. The visa officer will ask for it and you will need it here in Germany as well at the time to apply for Blue Card. It is okay if you do not know how to apply for Blue Card. Do not worry we will discuss this in detail.  

After preparing all documents look for an appointment and get ready for the interview. Go through with ‘[My day in Embassy]’ to get the feel what you will be going to enjoy in the embassy on the day of your interview.