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Original poster

DS wants to work in Germany or Austria

123 replies

Tulipomania · 02/08/2021 18:24

He's just graduated with an excellent degree & wants to improve his German skills, doing a casual job for a few months before he starts on the career ladder.

It seems to be all but impossible post-Brexit, you can't get a work permit without a job offer, and vice versa.

Anyone got any useful advice to offer?

OP posts:
Bromeliad · 02/08/2021 22:23

Sorry, we cross-posted there. The rules do only apply to the children of people born in 2000 onwards (case study of part III in link). My Dad was born and raised here and I was too but we have both now got German passports.

Original poster
Tulipomania · 02/08/2021 22:25

I can't see anything on that link which suggests DS can get German citizenship if neither of his parents is German, Bromeliad.

DH has looked into it and it has taken over 2 years for him to get his German passport, which he hasn't got yet.

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 02/08/2021 22:27

@Bromeliad

Just to clarify, he only needed to be registered within one year if his parents were German citizens who were born abroad and the parent was born after the 31st December 1999 (which I assume doesn't apply here as he's got a degree). There may be other reason's he doesn't qualify though, including the grandparent renouncing German citizenship before the relevant parent was born.

See [[https://uk.diplo.de/uk-en/02/citizenship/acquiring-german-citizenship/2463622]] in particular the case studies, for the clearest explanation.

DH was initially turned dow as he had renounced his citizenship but a really helpful lady at The Embassy said that as he had only been 10 at the time it could be argued that HE actually hadn’t renounced it so after gathering lots of paperwork he did manage to get it back. It was actually another very helpful lady at our local consulate who told us that once DH got dual nationality we should apply for the DC but she said we should do it before Brexit as I think that Germany only allows dual nationality with another EU nation, although I could be wrong with that. We are not sure what will happen when we need to renew. We recently went to another EU country and found a few days before that DS’s passport had expired so we used his German one with no problems at all. We had ours stamped as we had to leave within 90 days but he didn’t
Bromeliad · 02/08/2021 22:39

Ok, it is a bit confusing but effectively your DH has always been German in the view of German citizenship laws. He just didn't have a passport. Your children are too, it only changes for the children of people born after the new millennium.

Put it this way- my Dad got his German passport, a week later I had an appointment at the Embassy, took his new passport, my birth certificate, parents marriage certificate etc. and was given my German passport. It was that simple, far easier than getting his infact!

Bromeliad · 02/08/2021 22:55

@Hoppinggreen my Uncle had exactly the same issue. It took 3 years and sending them a link to the scanned church record of his Grandparent's christenings but he did get there. In contrast my Dad's took 4 weeks - I think it does depend on who you get processing it.

Incidentally Brexit doesn't affect joint nationality by inheritance so you should be fine. My DH is German so now won't apply for British nationality but inherited nationality is treated differently.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 02/08/2021 23:02

OP it might be worth pursing it if DS was born before 2000 as it does seem to say in the Germany Nationality Act that children born abroad before 2000 can acquire German nationality from their parents (apologies I had assumed that he was born after 2000 in the information I provided upthread). Especially once your DH has his passport which will make it easier to do.

Apologies OP this is off-topic , but a question for @Hoppinggreen - were all your family able to use the EU queue at the immigration you had a mix of UK and EU passports?

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 02/08/2021 23:05

However if the dual citizenship is not a goer can your DS get a TEFL qualification and teach in Germany? Language schools like to employ native speakers so they may be willing to sponsor him for a work visa.

FoolsAssassin · 02/08/2021 23:07

My Brother and I have a German parent and Germany Emassies in both our countries have said our DC will be entitled by descent and Brexit doesn’t effect it. Our is slightly more complicated due to it being our Mother and our ages but should be fine, just more paperwork than usual.

AlexaShutUp · 02/08/2021 23:20

Such a depressing read.

I really hope that the OP's DS will somehow end up qualifying for a German passport after all, but how many other young people have now lost the ability to go and work on a casual basis in Europe. We have totally shafted the younger generation, and for what?

AlexaShutUp · 02/08/2021 23:22

@BlackLambAndGreyFalcon

However if the dual citizenship is not a goer can your DS get a TEFL qualification and teach in Germany? Language schools like to employ native speakers so they may be willing to sponsor him for a work visa.
Someone further up the thread has already made the point that the TEFL jobs are now much more likely to recruit Irish citizens who don't need sponsorship.

We have made it very inconvenient for European businesses to employ our young people.

CrazyNeighbour · 02/08/2021 23:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Wbeezer · 02/08/2021 23:26

I know, i feel the same, DS2 fancied doing a Masters in a European uni that is known for his subject, it would have been much cheaper as well as an interesting experience, now it's unaffordable. DS1 will probably miss out on some sporting ops too as visa's make it more complicated for tournament organisers.

Chamonixshoopshoop · 02/08/2021 23:35

It looks like this company takes UK passport holders…
www.workaseason.com/about-us/faqs/ And they recruit for reputable companies like Inghams

purpleme12 · 02/08/2021 23:50

God this is so sad
I hate that we voted out

daisypond · 03/08/2021 07:33

@BlackLambAndGreyFalcon

However if the dual citizenship is not a goer can your DS get a TEFL qualification and teach in Germany? Language schools like to employ native speakers so they may be willing to sponsor him for a work visa.
No, this is generally closed to U.K. passport holders. Schools won’t sponsor visas. They will use Irish citizens instead. And if they were able to sponsor visas, there would be more competition for them, also from Americans, Canadians, Australians.
Nonmaquillee · 03/08/2021 07:35

@Hyperion100

Brexit really has fucked a generation of aspirational young people.
Agree. It’s just awful.
UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 03/08/2021 07:39

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon experienced native apeaker TOEFL teachers who already live in Germany are already two a penny.

Serenissima21 · 03/08/2021 07:43

Such a depressing read.
Agreed. To think that just a few months ago he could have hopped on a train and looked for work with no hassle at all!

daisypond · 03/08/2021 07:46

@CrazyNeighbour

Could he move to Switzerland instead? Different rules there.
Unlikely. Switzerland you can look for work for three months if you are in the EU or EFTA. But if you’re not, there are only a limited number of visas available if you are well qualified - and someone looking for casual work after leaving university won’t fit into this category.
LIZS · 03/08/2021 07:48

@CrazyNeighbour

Could he move to Switzerland instead? Different rules there.
Even more bureaucracy. He won't get a Swiss residence permit without a job in advance. Workaseason were focussing on EU/Irish passport holders when we looked previously, even pre Covid/Brexit. Gone are the days of just rocking up in a mountain resort to get hospitality work.
TillyTopper · 03/08/2021 08:09

I don't know if these help but (1) if he has a study visa (e.g. to do intensive German) he can work there for 120 full days each year or 240 half days so that could balance the cost of the study. (2) Alternatively has he thought of applying to a German Uni to do research as he had an excellent first degree (balancing the cost of study with money from teaching). (3) Do an intensive German course whilst applying to Germany companies. (4) Make it a longer term goal and apply to companies who have offices in Germany that are also in the UK.

UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 03/08/2021 08:20

He needs to either get a study visa which allows some work, or apply to international companies which might send him to Germany (weirdly or not so weirdly the Aldi graduate scheme used to be a good bet for a German placement).

His fixed ideas aren't going to help if what he wants to do isn't realistic or practical.

Original poster
Tulipomania · 03/08/2021 08:49

Thanks for the tremendous amount of advice and support on here.

Bromeliad I'm going to get DH to look again at whether DS may be eligible to get a German passport/citizenship after his comes through, although obvs that would take a long time and he wants to move there as soon as possible.

Studying for a Masters is also something he's considering, but he's missed the chance to apply for this year.

UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme I agree with you but he's a Mathematician and that's the mindset he was born with. No amount of advice from his parents will change it.

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 03/08/2021 08:56

@BlackLambAndGreyFalcon

OP it might be worth pursing it if DS was born before 2000 as it does seem to say in the Germany Nationality Act that children born abroad before 2000 can acquire German nationality from their parents (apologies I had assumed that he was born after 2000 in the information I provided upthread). Especially once your DH has his passport which will make it easier to do.

Apologies OP this is off-topic , but a question for @Hoppinggreen - were all your family able to use the EU queue at the immigration you had a mix of UK and EU passports?

There was only 1 queue as the airports were quiet but we have wondered about that ourselves since going forward everyone may use their German passports to travel (apart from me as I don’t have one). We are ultimately hoping to live in Spain and we think that if we go and “live” in Germany for 3 years (minimum 7 months of the year) then I can get German citizenship via DH - Which will allow me to live in Spain So bloody complicated now!
Hoppinggreen · 03/08/2021 08:59

@Tulipomania

Thanks for the tremendous amount of advice and support on here.

Bromeliad I'm going to get DH to look again at whether DS may be eligible to get a German passport/citizenship after his comes through, although obvs that would take a long time and he wants to move there as soon as possible.

Studying for a Masters is also something he's considering, but he's missed the chance to apply for this year.

UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme I agree with you but he's a Mathematician and that's the mindset he was born with. No amount of advice from his parents will change it.

Once DH got his German passport it was pretty quick and easy to get the dc theirs, his was the tricky one
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