Germany is one of Europe's best countries to develop your career and gain international work experience. Maybe due to the pandemic-induced consequences, the unemployment rate as at August 2022 is 3.0%. However, it is still low in comparison to other European Union countries. So, if you wish to join the promising German labor market, note that depending on your nationality, different conditions will apply. EU/EEA nationals are eligible to enter or stay in Germany for work purposes without a work visa. In contrast, nationals of other countries must hold a valid work visa to enter Germany for employment. In this article, we will explore the work visa conditions and regulations currently applying for expats-to-be wishing to start their work life in Germany, alone or accompanied by family members. To work in Germany, EU and EEA citizens do not need to apply for a work visa to enter or remain in the country as employees. However, there are mandatory administrative procedures to undertake once in the country in order to legalise their status in Germany and distinguish themselves from visitors and tourists. Hence, if you are an EU citizen or a citizen of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland, you need to register with the citizens' office (Bürgeramt) in your area as soon as possible after you arrive in Germany. The registration will include information about your permanent address in Germany (you should provide your lease), marital status, and reason for being in Germany. Once you obtain a copy (Meldebescheinigung) of your original registration certificate (Anmeldebestätigung), other bureaucratic activities such as opening a bank account in Germany, accessing the German healthcare system, and registering with the German tax authorities will run smoother. If you move to a new house or change city within Germany, you must re-register with the citizens' office. In addition, when you leave the country permanently, you will have to give notice of departure at the local citizens' office. This is an essential and mandatory step, as failing to de-register may result in high fees. To move to Germany for work, non-European citizens must have first received a job offer from a recognised employer in Germany and then apply for a work visa at the German embassy or consulate in their home country before entering Germany. Nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and the United States may enter Germany without a visa for up to 90 days on a valid passport and apply for the work residence permit after arrival in Germany at the local Foreigners' Registration Office. Not all residence permits allow labour market activities, meaning that having a residence permit is not by default sufficient to commence employment in Germany.  To prepare your work visa application for Germany, you should contact the German consulate or embassy in your home country after you have obtained a job offer or contract from a German employer and have consulted with them about the visa procedures. The most common documents that you will have to submit for your work visa are a signed employment contract, university degrees and other qualifications, a bank statement, a health insurance plan, and of course, the visa application form as per the embassy or consulate's guidance. To increase your chances of a successful visa application, your future employer can compose a letter arguing that you are the best candidate for the job you have been offered and there's a lack of your skills among German citizens. The time for a work visa application processing can be anything between one to three months, depending on the efficiency and workload of your home country's German consulate or embassy. Therefore, as it is your responsibility to organise your visa application and not your employer's, you should start the process as soon as possible and keep your employer in Germany up to date with the progress of your application. Since you meet the visa requirements and your visa is issued, it will be valid for the duration of your employment contract. Yet, it is possible to renew your visa as many times as your contract.