Tech companies that sponsor visas in Germany and Austria (2026)

If you live outside the EU, the first question about any job is simple: will this employer hire me from abroad? This page lists companies in Germany and Austria that have publicly said they support visas for new hires. It also explains what “visa sponsorship” means in these two countries, because it may not mean what you expect.

Companies that sponsor visas

Live data from the jobs and companies on this board, as of 27 September 2026.

For current openings, see visa sponsorship jobs and jobs you can apply for from abroad.

How a company gets on this list

We list a company here only when we have a public link that shows it supports visas. For example, a careers page that says “we sponsor visas” or “we support relocation and work permits”, or a job ad with the same promise. We save that link as evidence.

• Verified means we have that link. Only verified companies appear in the list above.
• If a company has never said it either way, we mark it as “unknown” and leave it out of this list. Many of these companies still hire from abroad. It is worth asking.
• Each job is also checked on its own. A company that usually sponsors can still post a job that is open only to people who already live in the EU.

What “visa sponsorship” means in Germany

In Germany, the residence title is granted to you, based on your qualifications and your job offer. The conditions for the EU Blue Card in § 18g of the Residence Act are about you and the job, not about a licence held by the employer. In practice, “sponsorship” means the employer does some or all of the following.

1. Signs a contract that meets the rules

For the EU Blue Card, the contract or job offer must be for at least six months and meet the salary threshold for the year (§ 18g Residence Act). Our Blue Card guide has the 2026 figures.

2. Fills in the employment declaration

For routes that need approval from the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), the employer completes the form “Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis” (declaration of employment relationship). It describes the job, the salary and the working conditions. The agency uses it to check that you are employed on the same terms as local staff. Its approval counts as given if the agency does not respond within two weeks (§ 36 Employment Ordinance).

3. Uses the accelerated skilled worker procedure (optional)

An employer can start the accelerated skilled worker procedure (beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren) at the immigration office in Germany on your behalf (§ 81a Residence Act). The fee is €411 (§ 47 Residence Ordinance). In return, the deadlines are shorter:

• The Federal Employment Agency has one week instead of two to respond (§ 36 Employment Ordinance).
• The embassy offers a visa appointment within three weeks once it has the pre-approval, and usually decides within three weeks of a complete application (§ 31a Residence Ordinance).

When a company says it “sponsors visas”, this is often what it pays for. The procedure can also cover your spouse and minor children if they apply at the same time (§ 81a(4)).

4. Helps with relocation (sometimes)

Relocation help is separate from visa support. It can include flights, temporary housing, a relocation agent or help with the first registration steps. Ask what is included. We flag relocation support separately on each job.

What “visa sponsorship” means in Austria

In Austria, the employer can play a direct part in the application. For the EU Blue Card and the Red-White-Red Card, you can apply yourself at the Austrian embassy or consulate, or your future employer can apply for you at the residence authority in Austria (migration.gv.at). When an Austrian employer says it sponsors visas, ask whether it will file this application for you.

The employer also has to meet the pay conditions. For the EU Blue Card in 2026 that means at least €55,678 gross a year, including special payments (migration.gv.at). The application fee is €218 (migration.gv.at), and the process takes about eight weeks (migration.gv.at FAQ). See the Austria section of the EU Blue Card guide for all routes.

Questions to ask an employer

• “Have you hired people from outside the EU before?”
• “Which permit do you usually use: the EU Blue Card or another route?”
• “Will you use the accelerated skilled worker procedure, and who pays the fee?”
• “Do you pay for relocation, and what does that include?”
• “Can my partner and children come at the same time?”

If a company is not on the list

The list only shows companies with public evidence. Many others hire from abroad without saying so on their website. If a job looks right and your profile meets the EU Blue Card requirements, apply and ask. A clear sentence in your cover letter helps, for example: “I qualify for the EU Blue Card and I am ready to relocate.”

For English-speaking employers in general, see companies that hire English speakers.

Frequently asked questions

Do German employers need a licence to sponsor a visa?

No. In Germany the residence title is granted to you, based on your qualifications and your job offer. The EU Blue Card conditions are about you and the job, not about a licence held by the employer. Sponsorship means the employer helps: a qualifying contract, the employment declaration and sometimes the accelerated skilled worker procedure.

Who pays for the accelerated skilled worker procedure?

That depends on the employer, so ask. The fee is €411, and when a company says it sponsors visas, this procedure is often what it pays for. In return for the fee, the deadlines are shorter: the Federal Employment Agency has one week instead of two, and the embassy offers an appointment within three weeks.

Can my family come with me when an employer sponsors my visa?

Often, yes. In Germany, the accelerated skilled worker procedure can also cover your spouse and minor children if they apply at the same time. Ask the employer early whether your partner and children can come at the same time, and check what its relocation help includes, because that is separate from visa support.

Should I apply to companies that don’t mention visa sponsorship?

Yes, if the job looks right and your profile meets the EU Blue Card requirements. Many companies hire from abroad without saying so on their website, so our list can’t include them. Add a clear line to your cover letter: “I qualify for the EU Blue Card and I am ready to relocate.”

How long does a sponsored work permit take in Austria?

About eight weeks for the whole process, according to the Austrian government’s migration portal. You can apply yourself at the Austrian embassy or consulate, or your employer can apply for you at the residence authority in Austria. The application fee is €218, and the EU Blue Card needs at least €55,678 gross a year in 2026.

Is relocation help the same as visa sponsorship?

No. Relocation help is separate from visa support. It can include flights, temporary housing, a relocation agent or help with the first registration steps, and each employer decides what it offers. Ask exactly what is included before you accept. On this board, we flag relocation support separately on each job, next to the visa signal.