- Germany lets EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens work without a visa across 31 countries under free movement rules.
- The rule is not a new visa program; it already applies to citizens who can work on arrival.
- Other nationals usually need a residence title, and most must secure a visa before starting employment.
Germany already lets EU/EEA and Swiss citizens live and work without a visa or residence permit. The total is 31 countries.
That rule comes from free movement, not from a new work-visa program. It is not a new door.
The group combines the 27 EU member states with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Four neighbors round it out.
Free toolDS-160 Form Filling Online Helper ToolFor everyone else, Germany still generally requires a residence title. Most nationalities also need a visa before arrival to take up employment. No shortcut there.
The official portal also separates another route for some non-EU nationals under Section 26(1) of the Ordinance on the Employment of Foreigners, plus a separate Western Balkans Regulation. Different tracks, different rules.
Free movement, not a new visa route
The list below is the free-movement group written out country by country. The rule is simple.
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| Austria | EU |
| Belgium | EU |
| Bulgaria | EU |
| Croatia | EU |
| Cyprus | EU |
| Czechia | EU |
| Denmark | EU |
| Estonia | EU |
| Finland | EU |
| France | EU |
| Germany | EU |
| Greece | EU |
| Hungary | EU |
| Iceland | EEA/Swiss |
| Ireland | EU |
| Italy | EU |
| Latvia | EU |
| Liechtenstein | EEA/Swiss |
| Lithuania | EU |
| Luxembourg | EU |
| Malta | EU |
| Netherlands | EU |
| Norway | EEA/Swiss |
| Poland | EU |
| Portugal | EU |
| Romania | EU |
| Slovakia | EU |
| Slovenia | EU |
| Spain | EU |
| Sweden | EU |
| Switzerland | EEA/Swiss |
Citizens in that table can work on arrival. They do not need a work visa first.
Swiss citizens land in the same practical position. That comes from the bilateral arrangement.
Germany keeps separate channels for other workers
The other employment routes are narrower.
| Route | Who it covers | What it allows |
|---|---|---|
| Section 26(1) of the Ordinance on the Employment of Foreigners | Andorra, Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, the United Kingdom, and the USA | Employment in non-regulated professions, auxiliary and semi-skilled activities, without regard to qualification and employer location |
| Western Balkans Regulation | Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia | A separate labor route |
Jobs that need recognition still need recognition. Licensed professions still need a license to practise.
The official portal draws three separate lines: free movement for the 31-country group, Section 26(1) employment for selected nationals in non-regulated jobs, and the Western Balkans route for six countries. They are not the same thing.
