Seasonal work in Germany

As a seasonal worker, you are an important source of support for many businesses and organisations in Germany. German law regulates the conditions according to which you are able to work in Germany. You are also legally protected against (financial) disadvantages.

You are currently allowed to carry out seasonal work in Germany if you are a citizen of one of the following countries:

• Georgia
• Republic of Moldova
• Member state of the European Union
• EFTA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland)

It is best to inform yourself of your rights as a seasonal worker in Germany before you enter the country. The information on this page will help you.

If you work in Germany, you are generally covered by social insurance. In Germany, social insurance is intended to protect employees against the consequences of illness and accidents, amongst other things. Everyone who works in Germany is required to pay part of their salary into the social insurance system.

Further information can be found in the section on your nationality.

You do not need a work permit. If you are gainfully employed in your country of residence and wish to carry out seasonal work in Germany, the legal regulations in your country of residence shall apply to your employment in Germany. You have to submit the relevant information with the A1 certificate.

You can request this certificate from the responsible authority in your country of residence. You then send the A1 certificate to your employer in Germany. With the A1 certificate, you provide proof that the social insurance law in your country of residence applies when you work as a seasonal worker in Germany.

If you do not have an A1 certificate, you can complete the questionnaire to determine whether you are subject to compulsory insurance/exempt from compulsory insurance instead.

You then send the completed questionnaire to your employer in Germany.
 

If you would like to work as a seasonal worker in Germany, it is necessary for the Federal Employment Agency to check whether your work fulfils the criteria for seasonal employment. If this is the case and there is no reason to prevent you from entering Germany, you will receive a work permit.

Your work in Germany is considered seasonal work if it fulfils the following criteria:

• You work a maximum of 90 days within a period of 180 days.
• You regularly work at least 30 hours a week.
• The precise period during which you are authorised to work as a seasonal worker is specified on the work permit.

You may not work longer than specified, even if you have started work later than planned. You are also not allowed to start work earlier than stated.

You can also obtain a work permit without having to apply for a visa. If your job fulfils the criteria for seasonal work, you can work in Germany without a visa.

If you have decided to work as a seasonal worker in Germany, please complete the  registration form for seasonal employment.

This form is also available in English, Georgian, Romanian and Ukrainian in the leaflets and forms section.

Send your completed form to the Federal Employment Agency.

Further information is available on the website of the German Trade Union Confederation. You can also download a brochure on your rights as a seasonal worker in Germany from that website. The brochure is available in German, Romanian, Georgian and Russian.
 

The following applies to citizens of the Republic of Moldova and Georgia: As a seasonal worker, you are generally subject to social insurance. As an exception, you may be employed without social insurance. Clarify with your employer whether an exemption from social insurance is possible. If yes: Please complete the questionnaire to determine whether you are subject to compulsory insurance/exempt from compulsory insurance.

The form is available in German/Georgian and German/Romanian in the forms and leaflets section.

You then send the completed questionnaire to your employer in Germany.

If you are employed in Germany without social insurance and do not have international health insurance, your employer will take out private health insurance for you. This is also known as health insurance for harvest workers.

Wichtig:Important: Please clarify in advance with your employer who will cover the costs of your health insurance for harvest workers.

You can also seek advice locally in Germany – at one of the advice centres run by the German Trade Union Confederation. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) funds this advice. Further information is available on the website of the Ministry in the report “Fair mobility”.

Further information is available online from the German Trade Union Confederation on its seasonal workers in agriculture web page. The page is available in several languages.