Obtaining a work permit for seasonal employment for foreign nationals

If you would like to employ a seasonal worker but do not yet know any, you can ask the Federal Employment Agency to find you a seasonal worker (currently from Georgia and the Republic of Moldova):

• Go to the application page of the Federal Employment Agency, fill out the order confirmation and employer's declaration and submit them to your responsible employer service.
• The information sheet will inform you about further requirements and the next steps.
• Please sign the order confirmation and send it to the Employer Service of your local employment agency. This order confirmation also serves as an application for a work permit.
• The Federal Employment Agency will check your application and ask you to submit proof of pay, working hours and other working conditions.

If you already know seasonal workers from Georgia or Moldova and want to employ them, the following procedure applies to you:

• Go to the application page of the Federal Employment Agency, please fill out the form to request seasonal workers by name.
• The Federal Employment Agency will check your application and ask you to submit proof of pay, working hours and other working conditions.

If your application is approved, you will receive a work permit for the seasonal worker from the Federal Employment Agency.

In order to obtain a work permit, you must be able to prove that the seasonal workers you wish to employ

• have adequate health insurance,
• have suitable accommodation,
• have a concrete job offer or a valid employment contract,
• the employment lasts a maximum of 90 days per 180-day period and
• will work at least 30 hours per week.

The work permit will not be issued if

• the foreign national is already residing in the federal territory, unless
  • the person has entered the country to take up the seasonal employment for which the work permit is being applied for, or
  • the work permit is applied for for seasonal employment that follows on from previous seasonal employment.
• the seasonal worker has submitted an application for asylum or
• the seasonal worker has not fulfilled the obligations of a previous seasonal employment or
• the seasonal worker has already worked or is to work as a seasonal worker for 90 days within a period of 180 days, or
• the seasonal employee works less than 30 hours per week or
• your company is in insolvency proceedings or
• your company is not (or no longer) in business.

If you would like to employ a seasonal worker but do not yet know any, the following documents are required:

• Proof of pay, working hours and other working conditions for your seasonal workers, for example employment contracts or an entry in the order confirmation and employer's declaration application form
• Informal notification of health insurance cover
• Information on accommodation for your seasonal workers on the order confirmation and employer's declaration form
• Copies of the seasonal workers' travel documents, e.g. passports

If you already know seasonal workers from Georgia or Moldova, the following documents are required:

• "Application form for the request by name of seasonal agricultural workers from third countries"
• Proof of sufficient health insurance for the seasonal worker
• Copies of the travel documents of the seasonal workers, e.g. passports

You must provide information on pay, working hours and other working conditions for your seasonal workers immediately after being requested to do so by the Federal Employment Agency.

• § Section 15a (1) no. 1 Ordinance on the Employment of Foreign Nationals (Employment Ordinance - BeschV)
• § Section 39 Act on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Territory (Residence Act - AufenthG)

• Appeal. Detailed information on how to lodge an appeal can be found in the notification of your application.
• Social court action

Forms available: Yes
Written form required: Yes
Informal application possible: No
Personal appearance necessary: No
Online services available: No

20.04.2023