Welcome
Professional Driver
General Information
All information regarding the scheduling of appointments can be found here .
| Visa Category | |
| National Visa | Fee |
| Regular | 75,- € |
| Reduced | 37,50,- € |
Visa fees must be paid either by international credit card (Visa / Mastercard) or in cash in RWF at the current exchange rate.
The duration of the entire visa process varies significantly: it can take from a few working days to several months. We cannot guarantee a specific processing time, as domestic German authorities must be involved during the process, and the German Embass in Kigali has no influence over their processing times. The final review and decision by the German Embassy can only take place after the feedback from Germany has been received. Please plan for a processing time of approximately three months. In individual cases, it may take longer.
The Embassy in Kigali reviews and decides on your application. In doing so, the legal requirements are always examined on a case-by-case basis based on the submitted application documents. Depending on the purpose of the stay, this review may take from a few working days to several months. The processing time increases if documents require more intensive scrutiny or if further research regarding the applicant or the actual purpose of the stay is necessary.
Regarding inquiries: For data protection reasons, detailed information can only be provided to the applicant, their legal representative, or a representative with written power of attorney. Other inquiries from third parties unfortunately cannot be answered. We ask for your understanding that the visa section is not reachable by telephone due to capacity constraints. However, you may send us a message at visa@kiga.diplo.de.
Exception: For applicants participating in the accelerated procedure for skilled workers, the processing time is generally three weeks after the application has been submitted. The processing time may be extended if additional documents are requested or if further questions must be clarified.
As a general rule, you must collect your passport in person.
Once a decision has been made on your application, you will be informed about the collection either via an email through the Consular Services Portal or by telephone.
Please check the website for information regarding public holidays on which the Embassy is closed.
Upon receiving your passport, please check that all details on the visa label are correct. Please notify us immediately of any errors so that we can issue a new visa. With a national visa, you may travel within the Schengen area. Everyone residing in Germany must be registered. You should do this at the residents' registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt) or citizens' office (Bürgeramt) no later than two weeks after moving in. Please contact the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) in your place of residence in Germany well before your visa expires to apply for your residence permit.
If your visa application has been rejected, this may be for various reasons. These reasons will be stated in the notice of refusal.
Your guide to arriving in Germany: Make it in Germany
The overview of required documents indicates whether you must provide a language certificate. Currently recognized providers of language certificates are:
- Language certificates from the Goethe-Institut e.V.
- Language certificates from telc Gmbh
- Language certificates from the Austrian Language Diploma (ÖSD)
- “TestDaF” from the TestDaF-Institut e.V. (Institute of the FernUniversität in Hagen and the Ruhr-University Bochum, examination level from B2 CEFR onwards)
- Language certificates from the ECL Examination Centre
The certificate must not be older than 12 months at the time of application. If you have taken the examination in various modules/partial exams, all modules must have been completed with the same provider. Evidence of different exam parts from different providers is not sufficient.
The Embassy is aware of cases where language certificates have been issued or obtained fraudulently. The Embassy reserves the right to verify your German language skills. Insufficient German language proficiency may be a ground for the refusal of a visa application.
Information on this Visa Category
- If you have a completed German or recognized foreign qualified vocational training as a professional driver, you may be granted a visa for employment as a skilled worker with vocational training. The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) must give its approval. The equivalence of the foreign qualification must be proven by a notice from IHK Fosa. Further information can be found in the article “Visa for skilled workers with vocational training”.
- If you do not have a recognized vocational qualification, you may be able to work as a professional driver in Germany if you hold a driver's license of classes C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, or DE for freight and/or passenger transport.
- The requirements for employment as a professional driver in freight or passenger transport in Germany according to § 24a of the Employment Regulation (Beschäftigungsverordnung – BeschV) are:
- Possession of a corresponding EU/EEA driver's license, and
- The basic qualification according to Directive 2003/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15.07.2003 or basic qualification according to § 2 of the Professional Driver Qualification Act (Berufskraftfahrerqualifikationsgesetz – BKrFQG) and/or further training according to § 5 BKrFQG.
If you possess the necessary EU/EEA basic qualification but not an EU/EEA driver's license, you may apply for a visa as a professional driver according to § 24a Para. 2 BeschV. In these cases, the German employer must confirm that the German driver's license will be obtained within six months of establishing residence in Germany. (Alternative 2A see below)
If you possess neither an EU/EEA driver's license nor the necessary basic qualification, you may apply for a visa to undergo a corresponding qualification measure with a German employer according to § 24a Para. 2 BeschV. (Alternative 2B see below)
- According to § 24a Para. 2 BeschV, the Federal Employment Agency may grant approval for other employment that does not require an EU or EEA driver's license or basic qualification, provided that:
- the employment contract obliges you to participate in measures to acquire the required German driver's license and qualifications,
- the working conditions are designed such that the German driver's license and qualifications (including the issuance of documents) can be acquired within 15 months alongside the employment,
- there is a concrete job offer for employment as a professional driver in freight or passenger transport with buses from the same employer for the period after obtaining the German driver's license and qualifications, and
- you can prove that you hold the relevant driver's license for employment as a professional driver in your country of origin.
| Application | Required Financial Means |
| Students | 11.904,- € / monthly payment: 992,- € |
| Applicants for studies | 9.819,- € / monthly payment: 1.091,- € |
| Vocational training | 1.048,- € (per month / gross) |
| EU Blue Card | |
| Academics with professional experience | 50.700,- € (per year) |
| Shortage occupations | 45.934,20 € (per year) |
| Recent graduates (within 3 years of university graduation) | 45.934,20 € (per year) |
| IT specialists | 45.934,20 € (per year) |
| Applicants over 45 years of age | |
| Skilled workers who do not meet the requirements for an EU Blue Card and have reached the age of 45 at the time of application must either prove a gross annual salary of at least 55% of the annual contribution assessment ceiling for the general pension insurance. Alternatively, adequate old-age provision must be proven (e.g., real estate, securities, insurance, etc.), unless a justified exceptional case exists. | 55.770,- € (per year) |
| Scientists and Researchers | |
| If your minimum salary for a 40-hour work week reaches this amount, your livelihood is considered secured. In this case, no further evidence is required. | 2.410,- € (per month, gross) |
| If remuneration of this amount is not available, the security of the livelihood must be proven by appropriate evidence, e.g., a scholarship or a blocked account. | 1.091,- € (per month, net) |
| IT specialists without formally recognized qualifications | |
| The gross annual salary must exceed this amount. Exception: Your employer is bound by a collective agreement and employs you according to the applicable collective bargaining conditions. | 45.630,- € (per year) |
| Au Pair | |
| The livelihood is considered secured if the au pair has this amount available, plus free health and long-term care insurance. This amount consists of pocket money (280 EUR per month) and a subsidy for a German language course (at least 70 EUR per month). | 350,- € (per month) |
| Voluntary Service | |
| The livelihood is considered secured if the volunteer has this amount available, plus free health and long-term care insurance. This amount consists of 380 EUR for housing costs, 173 EUR for meals, and 302 EUR for pocket money. A combination of cash and benefits in kind (e.g., free accommodation) is possible. | 855,- € (per month) |
| Internship | 992.- € (per month) |
| Language Course | 1.091.- € (per month) |
Required Documents
Please submit all necessary documents (see below). If an original document is available, it must be presented in addition to the required simple copy. Originals will be returned to you once the processing is complete. All documents not issued in German, English, or French must be submitted together with a translation. Missing documents or evidence may lead to the rejection of the application.
In your application form, please provide all information regarding your entry into and stay in Germany. Please complete this form in full, print it, and sign it yourself.
Link to the “VIDEX” form.
Two current biometric passport photos (45mm x 35mm). Information on biometric passport photos can be found here.
Please paste only one passport photo onto the application form and attach the second one separately.
The document must have at least two blank pages (in the event of a positive decision, your visa will be pasted here).
Proof of sufficient health insurance coverage for entry, valid from the requested date of entry and for a duration of at least three months.
If you are subject to compulsory statutory health insurance as an employee, please note that this only takes effect upon establishing residence in Germany and commencing employment. Since this does not apply immediately upon entry, additional private health insurance must be taken out until the employment begins and enrollment in the statutory health insurance is possible. Travel health insurance policies may exclude coverage in their terms and conditions if a long-term or permanent stay is planned. So-called “incoming insurance” may also contain such exclusions.
A tabular and complete CV, specifically outlining your previous education and, if applicable, professional experience.
The “Declaration of Employment ” form must be completed in full and submitted by the future employer.
If your employer has already obtained approval from the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) or the competent immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany before the start of the visa process, the processing time at the diplomatic mission will be significantly shortened. The pre-approval must be submitted as an original. If the visa application is submitted via the accelerated procedure for skilled workers or if an AZR number is specified on the pre-approval, a copy is sufficient. In individual cases, it may be necessary for us to request further documents from you to complete the final review of your application.
If your family members wish to apply for a visa together with you, you will find an overview of the visa categories and the required documents in the “Family” section of the visa page .
Applicants who have reached the age of 45 at the start of their employment must either prove a gross annual salary of at least 55% of the annual contribution assessment ceiling for the general pension insurance or provide evidence of adequate old-age provision (e.g., real estate, securities, insurance, etc.), unless a justified exceptional case exists. The applicable rates can be found further up in the article under the section “Salary thresholds and necessary financial requirements.”
The requirement to prove adequate old-age provision may be waived if there is a public, particularly regional, economic, or labor market policy interest in the employment. Additionally, the requirement may be waived if the salary threshold is only slightly missed or the age limit is only slightly exceeded. As a general rule, a deviation of more than 5% below the salary threshold or more than 2 years above the age limit is no longer considered slight.
- Completed Supplementary Sheet C (“Zusatzblatt C”) to the Declaration of Employment. In this declaration, your employer confirms which driver's license you hold, which basic qualification you possess, and the further steps leading up to your deployment in commercial freight transport.
- Driver's license of classes C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, or DE
- Confirmation from the employer that you are obligated to have your driver's license converted within 6 months of establishing residence in Germany
- Completed Supplementar Sheet C (“Zusatzblatt C”) to the Declaration of Employment. In this declaration, your employer confirms which driver's license you hold, which basic qualification you possess, and the further steps leading up to your deployment in commercial freight transport.
- Driver's license of classes C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, or DE
- Declaration of Employment for other employment during the qualification measure (not older than 6 months): completed in full (every point) and signed by the employer. The employer is recommended to inquire about the local and industry-standard wage levels at the Federal Employment Agency in Germany before concluding the contract.
- Declaration of Employment for the employment after completion of the qualification measure or receipt of the German driver's license (not older than 6 months): completed in full (every point) and signed by the employer. The employer is recommended to inquire about the local and industry-standard wage levels at the Federal Employment Agency in Germany before concluding the contract.
- Completed Supplementary Sheet C to the Declaration of Employment. In this declaration, your employer confirms which driver's license you hold, which basic qualification you possess, and the further steps leading up to your deployment in commercial freight transport.
- Evidence of the planned measures to acquire the driver's license and the qualifications required according to § 24a Para. 1 BeschV, e.g., registration confirmation for a course or a training contract with a driving school in Germany.