Information portal for the recruitment of international professionals

• The Cologne Education Portal advises foreigners on topics such as school-leaving qualifications, career choices, vocational qualifications and further education. (only in German)
• The adult education centre offers a wide range of (further) education courses. (only in German)
• The Cologne Chamber of Industry and Commerce offers training opportunities for companies and their employees. An overview of the courses on offer can be found on this website. (only in German)

Are you a foreigner living in Germany and your partner wants to come to Germany? Then you can apply for a residence permit for family reunification.

• The application form and information on how to apply can be found on the website of the City of Cologne.
• Make it in Germany provides a good overview of what you need to consider when applying for family reunification, with specific information on the reunification of spouses and children.

• The portal of the City of Cologne provides information on relevant topics concerning life in Cologne.
• You can find the contact details of the Immigration Office on the website of the city of Cologne.
• Flyers, checklists and further assistance on various topics can be found in the Make it in Germany download area.
• You can check your immigration options with Make it in Germany's Quick Check.
• Information on legal advice centres for refugees can be found on the platform of the Cologne Refugee Council. (only in German)
• The Competence Centre for Skilled Workers (KoFa) offers a wide range of useful information on the successful integration of foreign skilled workers. (only in German)

• The Federal Foreign Office has a list of all the addresses of German missions abroad.
• A world map with German missions abroad can be found at Make it in Germany.

The VHS Köln offers a wide range of language and integration courses. (only in German)

• The Make it in Germany Job Portal offers a wide range of job and training vacancies, which can be filtered by job title, company, federal state or industry.
• The Federal Employment Agency offers the largest public database of jobs.
• The Competence Centre for Skilled Workers provides a comparison of the largest job exchanges. (only in German)

The permanent settlement permit is a permanent residence permit and entitles you to take up gainful employment.

• On the website of the City of Cologne you can find the requirements and all relevant information about the permanent settlement permit.

You can have your foreign qualifications recognised in Germany if they are considered equivalent.  The competent body may be an authority, an office or a chamber. 

• The German government's Recognition Portal provides employers and professionals with information on the recognition process.
• The German government's Recognition Finder helps you find out how to get your qualification recognised.
• The Central Office for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications is aimed at skilled workers who live abroad and apply for recognition from there.
• The German government's ProRecognition project provides on-the-spot advice on the recognition of qualifications in ten countries.

• How the recognition process works is explained on the Make it in Germany information page.

• Information on foreign vocational qualifications, including specific country and occupational profiles, can be found on the BQ-Portal.

• The Cologne Chamber of Industry and Commerce provides support and individual advice on the recognition of foreign qualifications. (only in German)

If you are from a non-EU country and want to work in Germany, you will need a residence permit.

• On the website of the city of Cologne you will find the requirements and all relevant information on how to apply for a residence permit.

If you have moved to Cologne, you must register with the City of Cologne.

• On this website by the City of Cologne you can make an appointment online at a customer centre of your choice.
• The City of Cologne provides an overview of registration law in Germany in 15 different languages on its information page.

• With this portal you can search for and reserve kindergarten places in Cologne.

• On Kitanetz you can find information about nurseries in Cologne. (only in German)

• The online search engine will provide you with the addresses of nurseries and day care centres in North Rhine-Westphalia. (only in German)

On the following pages you will find interesting tips on events, leisure activities and offers in Cologne:

• rausgegangen.de provides an overview of a wide range of concerts, cultural activities and events. (only in German)
• At Mit Vergnügen Köln you will find lists of restaurants, the most beautiful places in Cologne and much more. (only in German)
• The City of Cologne lists the top events and highlights in Cologne on its website. (only in German)

The new Skilled Immigration Act, which will gradually come into force, is designed to shorten the time it takes for a foreign skilled worker to enter Germany.

• Make it in Germany has put together the most relevant information about the new Skilled Immigration Act.

• Make it in Germany gives a brief overview of who needs a visa to work in Germany.
• This table from Make it in Germany shows which German language skills are required for each visa category.
• The government's overview shows in detail the visa and entry procedures for different entry purposes.
• The Central Office for Skilled Migration can help you meet the legal residence requirements for a visa. (only in German)