As a leading relocation agency that specializes in bringing foreign employees to Germany for startups, we understand the unique challenges and complexities of the visa and immigration process. The relocation of international professionals to Germany can be challenging, eating away time and resources. Our goal is to provide seamless and comprehensive support to ensure a smooth and successful relocation for both the new hire and the HR team. Here is a detailed step-by-step process of our relocation support services:

Step-by-step process

1. Introduce New Hire to Startcon: As part of your onboarding process, you’ll introduce your new hire to us. We provide a warm welcome and explain the relocation process, including the role of the personal visa specialist who will be assigned to support the new hire and guide the HR team throughout the process.
2. Assignment of Personal Visa Specialist: Startcon assigns a dedicated personal visa specialist (VS) to the new hire and the HR team. The VS serves as the main point of contact and provides expert guidance and support at every step of the visa and immigration process. The VS also works in tandem with your HR team to ensure a coordinated approach. After a first call, your new hire and their VS first get to meet each other and get the chance to discuss first questions and the following steps.
3. Document Collection: The VS reaches out to the new hire and requests the first set of documents, which typically include the CV, passport, work contract, and university degree (if applicable). These documents are essential for initiating the visa application process and determining the most appropriate visa option for the new hire.
4. Visa Options Discussion: Based on the information provided by official government websites, we evaluate visa possibilities together with the candidate. The VS engages in a detailed discussion with the new hire to understand their qualifications and background. Based on this information, the VS discusses various visa options, such as the Blue Card, which is applicable for highly skilled professionals, or the IT Specialist visa, which may be suitable for those without a university degree. If the new hire’s degree is obtained from a foreign country, the VS also advises if it needs to be evaluated by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) for recognition in Germany.
5. Visa Application Planning: Once the appropriate visa option is identified, the VS plans the visa application route and shares an estimated timeline with the new hire and the HR team. This includes outlining the required documents, processing times, and potential challenges. The VS keeps the HR team informed about all the steps during the process and updates them in case of any unforeseen events or changes in the timeline.
6. Relocation Software: Our relocation process is supported by our state-of-the-art relocation software, “RelocationOnline.” This comprehensive platform provides a chat function for seamless communication, a secure document exchange function for efficient document management, and other features that streamline the visa and immigration process. Also, it helps you monitor the whole process of relocation of international professionals to Germany within your company.
7. Ongoing Support: Throughout the visa and immigration process, the VS provides continuous support to the new hire and the HR team. This includes addressing any questions or concerns, communicating with the authorities on their behalf, and ensuring that all requirements are met in a timely and efficient manner.
8. Visa Issuance and Entry: Once the visa is issued and the new hire arrives in Germany, they can start working. This milestone marks the successful completion of the initial phase of the relocation process.
9. Address registration: After arrival to Germany, we support with the next crucial step in the relocation process: booking an appointment for address registration (“Anmeldung”) and accompanying our candidates to their first appointment in Germany. We take care to support with this as early as possible, so the candidate will receive their tax ID in time and can open a bank account to receive their first salary.
10. Application with the local Immigration Office: After we guided your employee and your HR department through all the steps, we submit the new hire’s complete application for their final residence permit (Blue Card, skilled worker permit) with the local immigration Office and secure an appointment. We accompany in person to the appointment to facilitate communication with the caseworker and make sure all goes smoothly.

Finally, the residence permit is ordered, and your relocation of international professionals to Germany is complete! Our dedication and expertise come from 10 years of professional relocation experience and from personal histories of moving countries and building new lives abroad. We draw from a rich cross-cultural experience and combine this with detailed knowledge of the German immigration system. We offer support Germany-wide. From inception to completion, our team of experts will demystify the intricacies of the process, saving you valuable time and resources.

Interested? We are just a message away. Please contact us at info@startcon.berlin and we are happy to connect 🙂

Our consultation does not include legal advice or legally binding information. If questions remain or arise, please contact the responsible authority directly or consult a legal expert in this field. Thank you for your understanding!