German work permit for a Singaporean

Hi,

I am a Singaporean, new in munich lovely city. I found a company who wants to hire me however having difficulty getting me a work permit in Germany. They mentioned that Singaporean are not prefered in Germany is that true? The labour office look at the nationality to approve work permit? I will like to take this matter to my own hands. Could anyone advise me how is the application procedure like? and what documents do I need to provide? and which department (website or telephone) that I could contact to check more?

Thank you sooo much for your help and advice. Hopefully I could get everything moving. Have a nice week.

cheers

Maybe some of these guys can help you: Malaysian and Singaporeans in Munich

It helps if your job requires a native speaker of English (or at least if your company claims that it does). I presume that as a Singaporean you would qualify for that, whereas most Germans don't.

How would a Singaporean qualify as a native English speaker?

Well, for a start, their whole education system from primary school onwards is in English. And more or less everything else is done in English as well. Never mind the unusual accent, it's still English.

those brits again, spreading their language all around...

Try advertising on TT for an EU wife. Editor Bob might be able to provide a special rate for a long term banner...

I get what your saying Tom. But I have been in Singapore numerous times and I would never count what I have heard spoken as even at the level of the average German with reasonable English abilities let alone native speaker level.

Depends on who you talk to. I've spent nearly a year in Singapore spread out over several visits, and I would say that educated people (i.e. college grads) speak pretty much perfect English, though you do need to get used to their unusual accent and some "Singlish" peculiarities. But you're right, there's lots of less educated people that definitely do not qualify as native speakers.

Well thats probably a fair point because I would not have been mixing with University graduates on my visits there.
But unless you grow up using it in every day life (not just school and commerce) then it really is not the same as a native speaker. But I did mix with Singaporean Grads when I lived in Oz and they definatley did not stand out as being particularly proficient. Native they were not.
And again I would make the comparison with German born English speakers.
In Germany I find that the level at which many people speak English is exceptional.
Anyway this is getting off topic
Sorry to the original poster

I guess the problem they have in Singapore is that they are trying to create a multi-lingual society. So everybody is supposed to speak his "original" language (mainly Chinenese or a Chinese dialect of some sort) and English at the same time. Problem is, a lot of people find it difficult, especially because Chinese is not exactly an easy language to master, and the general level of proficiency in all languages suffers.

Manderderin or Cantononese?
Sorry

that could describe Germans too. IMO well educated Germans probably speak better English (or are more willing to speak it) than well educated people from countries that have a reputation as good English speakers (e.g. Holland and Scandinavia).

English (singlish) is the first language in Singapore, they learned english starting from 7 years old in all subjects (math, science and etc). Therefore, you could find a handful of people can speak good english eventhough they are non-grad...
and I would say majority of the population can speak and understand english. even the bus driver...
IMHO, Their english level is much much better than German...

Hi, I saw this thread and am quite interested in it. I am trying to find more information from this link

http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/www/en/aamt...kat2/index_html

I am a Malaysian married to a Brit and we are moving to Germany in October. I also have queries whether I can get a work permit/resident permit when my husband moves there. He works for a large MNC so they may help to get mine too.

Do I need a work permit if I have a resident permit? Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on this?

Much appreciated
Thanks!

BTW, there are a lot of biaised organizations that will NOT consider Asians as native speaking even though the Asian's English is much better than the others. Trust me, I know as we have lived in many countries.

You can also contact the Singaporean Embassy in Berlin, see their website.

i'll be damned if that is true as that is downright ostracising and dare i say, racist! in this country? i don't think they dare to say this! there are loads of Singaporeans working in Infineon. so i think this "law" can't be true. what i know is, when a company is genuinely willing to hire you i.e. give you a contract, some HR will let you apply the visa on your own. i haven't experienced this myself so i can't give you any concrete answer. would be nice if you share it when you finally got one!

as for Singlish, someone who taught English in Hawaii compared Singlish with the "pidgin" Hawaiian use. it's a language of "endearment". can't explain. maybe it's like Newcastle speaks Geordie (i don't know the spelling to this). i use Singlish only to kid around. i've got French friends living in Singapore who use Singlish a lot more than me! *SHOCK* normally, people asked if i'm American (when they are British) or British (when they are American). me? i dream in English; English is the ONLY language i can express myself in but i am native-less because of my nationality according to the quote below. Conclusion: All those years of British colony failed

Surely you mean "Shiock"...

As to Singlish; alot of brits see US english as a basterdised version of proper English. I would urge them to go to Singapore. Lah.

Regarding the work permit, residence permit, I had to go through hell and high water to to get a residence permit here.

First of all, only if you are from a preferred country (US, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand only) then you can receive a residence permit if the company that is hiring you applies on your behalf. If you do the applying by yourself, you usually get rejected as you are not from a Preferred Country.

Secondly, marrying a German (not the best solution all the time) gives you a 3 year residence permit which you have to renew 2 more times (once every year) until you are given a permanent residence status. After those 7 years residing in Germany, you may apply for citizenship if you want to and if they say ok. Very sticky, but these rules change all the time so beware. they change everytime you see a different officer at the KVR.

With English, Singlish, it´s very difficult for me to say singaporeans speak good English, I for one do, as I am not Chinese, malay or Indian (there are a handful who speak excellent English, few and far between, not that i am being racist but read on). but you do get caught up in the Singlish accent as it can be contagious and if you speak proper english to the locals at the food centres they look at you funny so you end up speaking Singlish in the hopes of being understood. Our government has also made it such that based on your ethnic group, you should be speaking that language majority of the time despite English being the first language in singapore. And it is because of that, that many find Singaporeans speaking less than perfect English.

What is this "preferred country" bit? Can you explain? Just curious.

i asked the KVR that. the officer actually opened up some legal book and showed me which are preferred countries. Only those 5 were listed. She said she didnt make up the rules just read them out to me. so excluding the EU countries, only these 5 countries would be given a residence permit when applying. I had a job offer here before as well but because I was not from a preferred country, they rejected my application. Its a real bummer but what can u do?

I don't know anything about this, but I find it really strange that (e.g.) Switzerland is not on the list of so-called "preferred countries".

Presumably, it's about countries with bilateral agreements of some sort? But then, I have never heard that Germans are preferred in any way in the US, for instance.

Strange.

Those were my thoughts exactly but we dont make these rules and I for one will not try to break them either (typical Singaporean, frightened to break rules). i decided to take their advice slowly and carefully and thankfully, i have a residence permit which allows me to work as well. still looking for a job but happy to be a TAI-TAI!!! but translating documents were a killer and it breaks your bank!!!

Based on my understanding, "preferred countries" are those outside of the EU whose standard of living is comparable to that of Germany. It is assumed that people from these countries will only stay in Germany for a limited amount of time and then go back to their home countries. Whereas it is assumed that people from "not-preferred" countries come from places with sub standard quality of living and will stay in Germany much longer and become a burden on the German tax payer.

Bascially, that explanation makes sense. Except that countries like Switzerland and Singapore aren't really poor and miserable, are they?

WOW! I've to tell my government these that we are still living in "SUB-STANDARD quality of living"! That they are just wasting our money with the best technology, way better than Germany. WOAH! I wish I am a bird, I can migrate!


Some people think that because they are "not Chinese, Malay or Indian", they are superior! I have tonnes of Chinese/Malay/Indian-Singaporean friends who speak PERFECT English, sans accent Singlish! We know when to use Singlish with the hawkers, the taxi drivers and when to use "perfect" English with the prime minister and the angmohs, man!

@ not me honest ...At least we Singaporeans are proud or have the guts to reveal our nationality. Unlike some users.

Om Suasti Astu

Some people think that because they are "not Chinese, Malay or Indian", they are superior! I have tonnes of Chinese/Malay/Indian-Singaporean friends who speak PERFECT English, sans accent Singlish! We know when to use Singlish with the hawkers, the taxi drivers and when to use "perfect" English with the prime minister and the angmohs, man

obviously my post was not read correctly, I am in no way superior however, I also mentioned in my post that we do have Malay, Chinese and Indians who do speak perfect English! I was born, bred and educated in Singapore and am damn proud to be one regardless of how we speak! however, this is not a racist disucssion so dropping it would be best!

@Onpar...

I guess for the EU inorder to be within their preferred country list. Non caucasian like us will have to bleach our skin, dye our hair and match with coloured contact lenses

I didn't say that I agree with that assumption but unfortunately that's the way these people think.

I know a couple of Germans that tried to get jobs in Singapore, but had problems receiving a work permit because the Singaporean government had a "Singaporeans first" policy (doesn't happen with high-profile jobs, but seems quite common in the case of entry level college graduate work). Also, one (also German) guy told me that he wanted to apply for a job at a statutory board (a job that was explicitly open to foreigners of all nationalities), but got dissuaded by his Singaporean friends - they told him that as an angmoh he has no chance, the government prefers Chinese applicants, because they "fit in better".

It cuts both ways, you know...

Well if that german guy had actually try applying for their job instead of listening to rumours then it's too bad. I believe that it is fair for the country to give priority to the local citizen rather than foreigners first.

I have a few german friends who are working in Singapore, they did not get their job title because they are caucasians. Last but not least, one must realise there is no paradise such as here where you work 5 days or perhaps even less than that in Singapore and of course you will be entitled to the super amount of german holidays too.

I've never heard of this but the economy is doing so bad in Singapore, I can imagine this "policy" being implemented. If we have a "swop job" system i.e. for every foreigner, every Singaporean get his job in his country, there will be no Singaporeans left in Singapore!

Well, this forum seems to turn into a schlaegerei! This is TT so maybe we should bring our "grievances" somewhere else.

Hi, came across this while doing a search. whatever happened with your work permit? Please advise

I am in a similar situation now. I have a company willing to hire me but says I have to sort out the work permit issue myself. They will provide me with all documentation though. I am a Malaysian Chinese here on a family visa as my British husband was transferred here. I have already done my registration thingy.

Anyone has any advice on this? Should I go through an agent, solicitor or something?

Cheers!

I got this reply from the Foreign Office in Berlin

Please contact the Aliens Authority (Auslaenderbehoerde) of the German city where you
will take residence as well as the employment office (Arbeitsagentur) which
has to approve a work permit (you should submit the offer of your future
German employer to the Arbeitsagentur).

Anyone can tell me where the above places are in Munich?

Thanks!

Totally out of the track I know..but are u workin at Infineon?

I'm like a year late but I just had to defend Singaporeans that they do speak english. Sure we speak singlish, but we can also speak The English.