Your successful path
to living in Germany
Book a free discovery call
Ask Carl is a modern, easy-to-understand platform for expats and globetrotters, reducing the cost and complexities of immigration, relocation, residency and more.
Journey's in progress
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Who is Ask Carl for?
Planning or have started the process of moving to Germany.
Need guidance on residency matters, finances, insurance, and more.
Looking to work or study in Germany, or changing jobs.
How it works
We review your needs & explore your options
After your call, you’ll get immediate access to your personal immigration portal, additional tools, information, access to deals, and on-demand professional help at the push of a button.
Learn more about the platform here.
Specialist Consultation
If you have any specific immigration, relocation or residency questions that you cannot find the answers to, book a consultation with our top specialist. We use this time to learn about your requirements and how to best achieve them. After the call, we will provide steps to follow to guide you on your way.
Services
Select now and pay later
Specialist Consultation
Our Personalized Immigration Consultation Session offers expert advice and guidance from experienced immigration specialists
Employment Package
Blue Card, General Employment Visa, IT Specialist, Specialist, etc
Qualification Recognition
To be able to apply for an employment visa, your qualifications/educational background needs to be recognized and approved
Join Spouse / Family Reunification Package
Marriage, Joining Spouse, Joining Parent, etc
Study Visa Package
Student Visa, Student Internship, Language Course, etc
Visa or Permit Change
Study to Work, Jobseeker to Work Visa, Employment Visa to Blue Card, IT Specialist to General Work Visa
Visa or Permit Extension
Residence permits are usually issued for a set amount of time
Pricing can differ depending on your needs. This will be determined after your discovery call.
Select a service on the left to see more
What people are saying about us
Olivia Howarth 🇿🇦
GERMANY EMPLOYMENT VISA"Extremely helpful and wonderful service. For a process that felt overwhelming, they made it simple and removed the stress during the process. I highly recommend Ask Carl."
Francine Godoy 🇳🇱
Human Resources at Van Asten Group - Netherlands + Germany"Ian and his team helped us bring 7 employees across to Germany without any hassle. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a hands on and stress-free process."
James Pain 🇿🇦
GERMANY SPECIALIST VISA"We are grateful for all the help, advice and guidance received with our national visa for Germany. Friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable group of experts."
Ask Carl was created for immigrants, by immigrants.
Long time friends, Johann and Ian, despite living on different continents, discovered that we shared common challenges: exorbitant legal fees, stress and extensive time spent gathering information.
Our mission is to help individuals achieve their immigration goals through efficient and cost-effective methods. Combining our experience with innovative software to streamline the entire process, we hope to find the simplest and quickest way to a successful transition.
“We believe everyone should have the opportunity to understand immigration laws and the opportunity to achieve their immigration goals.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you help with health insurance?
Absolutely. Navigating health insurance in Germany can be confusing and we certainly want to make sure you choose the best option based on your age, income, needs, family, status, etc. Not only short term but long term too. This is included in the free onboarding call.
Is your service free?
Our introduction call is for free. We take this time to learn about your needs and try our best to empower you to continue your journey from there onwards. In many cases, it can be overwhelming and complex and if you, the customer, prefers that we guide you and take over each process, this is paid for. Our rates are extremely competitve as we believe that cost alone shouldn't be the biggest barrier in moving to another country.
What does the onboarding call consist of?
The onboarding call is a free intorduction call to figure out which route or steps you need to take going forward. We normally offer a brief roadmap with steps to follow however, some cases are more complex and that is when we get a specialist to either spend 30 minutes on a call with you or if you prefer, take over the entire visa or residency case. You have complete control over the process and and we are extremely transparent with any service we may charge for way upfront.
Can I apply for visas on my own?
Yes of course. Most visas and processes can be done by yourself however in certain cases, we advise getting one of our specialists involved, even if it is to clarify one or two things.
How long will my visa take?
It is difficult to estimate how much time will pass before the visa is issued. A number of factors are relevant here. The first step in applying for a work visa is to make an appointment at the relevant German embassy. Some embassies have appointments as early as four weeks, while others can take much longer. All documents submitted to the relevant German embassy are sent to the Federal Employment Agency for approval. There they are closely examined. The focus is on the job description, the employment contract (if available), training certificates, the curriculum vitae and previous work experience. Based on the data, the agency checks its database to determine whether it is necessary to fill a position with a foreign candidate or whether someone in Germany with the same qualifications is seeking employment. If no suitable domestic candidate is available, the clearance is sent to the relevant German embassy. Typically, the process takes two weeks. A prior application for work permit approval in Germany, will be sent to you by express courier and thus the process can be expedited. Once the German Embassy has received the confirmation, the applicant will be notified. The consulate, or embassy is the highest authority and decides whether or not to issue a visa. After that a date for the application of the visa will be given.
Do I need a visa to start working in Germany immediately?
Yes, a visa for employment is mandatory for taking up a job in Germany and enables you to start working immediately.
What is the difference between a visa and a residence permit?
A visa is valid for entry into Germany. Its application is made at the embassy or consulate abroad. A visa can be valid for up to 12 months and allows e.g. immediate work or study and is purpose-bound. A residence permit is applied for a longer stay and specific purpose of stay in Germany. With a settlement permit, the purpose of stay is cancelled. The residence permit is applied for at the specific foreigners authority in Germany.
Can Ask Carl help with qualification / education recognition?
Yes absolutely. We submit your qualifications to the Federal Agency for Employment. This can takes between a few days up to 2/3 weeks depending on how busy the authorities are. You can find pricing on our site for this service.
Does Ask Carl help with moving and logistics?
We oversee the process and help with any relevant questions that arise pertaining to visa start dates, when you are allowed to travel, etc. We have a network of third party providers such as logistics companies, shipping companies and travel agents that assist with processes.
What else can Ask Carl help with?
We can essentially help with any visa and residency-related tasks and advice. If we don't offer the service in-house, we pass you on to thrid party providers, however we keep a close eye on your progress as time goes by and we are always available to answer tricky questions if you run into a roadblock.
Can I pay by credit card and / or bank transfer?
For all direct services our site allows various payment methods, mainly credit card. If you would prefer to pay for a visa case via bank transfer, we accept this too.