Definition and classification
Work permit and Residence permit are the official authorizations a foreign national needs in order to live and work lawfully in Germany. The residence permit allows the stay; whether and to what extent they may work follows from the work permit it contains.
Nationals of the EU and the EEA enjoy freedom of movement for workers – they need no separate permit. For third-country nationals, by contrast, employment depends on the particular permit and its conditions.
What should client companies watch for?
What matters is not only whether a permit exists, but whether it covers the specific activity and scope and is still valid. On longer assignments in particular, permits expire during the employment – without an early warning that often only comes to light in an inspection. A VMS with deadline monitoring reports expiring documents automatically, so that the assignment stays lawful throughout.