Onboarding & Integration

In order to quickly find your way around your new place of residence, it makes sense to compile information material that lists shopping facilities, pharmacies, doctors, cultural institutions, etc. Experience has shown that a personal contact person who can quickly clarify any questions and uncertainties that arise is also very helpful. Flexible working hours are also a valuable support for foreign employees, especially in the early days, e.g. for dealing with the authorities. Information and a template for a welcome folder can be found here can be found here.

The following steps must be taken by the foreign skilled worker in the first few days:

• After moving into the accommodation, they must register with the registration office within two weeks. This requires a landlord's confirmation of residence.

• She may also need to contact the immigration office to clarify residence law issues.

• She must also register with a health insurance company if she has not already done so from abroad.

• She will need a German bank account.

The following steps may also need to be taken:

• Registering the children in kindergarten or school.

• Registration with the contribution service (here possible online).

• Re-registering the driver's license.

• The re-registration of the motor vehicle.

Bureaucracy in a new country can be a major hurdle. Companies can make it easier to get started by providing support with applications or understanding official documents. A clear guide to the most important legal and organizational requirements can save new employees a lot of stress.

Even before entering the country, foreign skilled workers should be reminded to take all personal documents with them. These may be necessary for the issuing of residence permits, for example. Important documents include a birth certificate, school leaving certificates and qualifications, a driving license or marriage certificate. The skilled worker should also check the validity of their passport and have it extended if necessary. The residence permit may only be issued for the maximum period of time for which the passport is valid.

After entering the country, the foreign skilled worker must ensure that they apply for a residence permit in good time. The national visa authorizing entry is usually valid for 12 months. A residence permit must be applied for within this period in order to be allowed to stay in Germany. It should be borne in mind that processing at the foreigners authority takes some time. The residence permit can be applied for online here can be applied for online.

NOTE: Non-EU citizens who are allowed to enter the country without a visa also require a residence permit that allows them to work.

If you are a skilled worker from the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, you must ensure that you always have a valid passport document. They do not require a permit for employment from the immigration authorities.

One of the biggest challenges is often the language barrier. Companies can help by offering language courses or employing mentors to help employees learn the local language. This helps new employees to settle into everyday working life more quickly, improve their communication and feel more confident.

It is particularly advisable to use simple language at the beginning, i.e. simple words and short sentences. Abbreviations, idioms and irony should be avoided. High German should also be used wherever possible.

As there are not always "perfect" translations for technical vocabulary, this should be paraphrased to avoid misunderstandings. Picture dictionaries may also be helpful.

Overall, an environment conducive to learning should be created. This also includes making other employees aware of what it means to not yet have a perfect command of the language.

Organizing your own job-related German courses in the company or enabling participation in courses are further options for ensuring that language integration is successful as quickly as possible.

Support in this context is offered by the IQ Network's Vocational German Office here. The brochure published by the Netzwerk Unternehmen integrieren Flüchtlinge also contains numerous suggestions on the topic of German in everyday working life. You can download it here .

However, arriving goes beyond learning the language. A better understanding of the culture of the host country and the specific company values can prevent misunderstandings and promote a pleasant working atmosphere. Intercultural training for all employees can help to create understanding and respect for cultural differences. Such training not only helps foreign employees, but also local employees to better understand cultural differences.

Social events and team-building activities are other ways to promote integration. They offer foreign employees a relaxed opportunity to get to know their colleagues better and familiarize themselves with the corporate culture. Companies can organize regular meetings or informal events such as joint lunches, after-work activities or cultural events that strengthen the exchange and understanding among colleagues.

The Competence Center for Securing Skilled Workers has compiled a series of tips for onboarding new employees. These are here can be found here.

Companies can also seek professional help from outside to support the arrival of foreign specialists. Relocation service providers help to make it as easy as possible for new employees to start their careers in a foreign country. For example, they provide support with immigration and dealing with the authorities, finding suitable accommodation, schools or childcare, they provide local orientation and support integration into the social environment. The Center for Securing Skilled Workers and Good Work (ZEFAS) has compiled an overview of relocation service providers for Saxony. The overview is available here available here.