Expat Law
All information on the applicable law for expats in Germany
Expat Law Germany
Expat law refers to the law applicable to foreign skilled workers, students, and young professionals. While the same regulations generally apply to expats as to Germans, there are numerous special features in the actual application of these legal regulations, as expat law must always be considered in conjunction with immigration law. In many cases, expat law thus operates at the interface between general legal areas (e.g., labor law) and immigration law . On this page, you'll learn everything you need to know about the most important areas of expat law in practice.
Expat Law: Employment law basics for international professionals
Expat law refers to legal regulations that are specifically relevant to expats – people who live and work temporarily or permanently outside their country of origin . This area of law includes, in particular, labor law, residence law, insurance law, tax law, and family law. However, labor law and immigration law are of most practical importance, as they directly affect the legal framework for the employment and residence of expats. Companies and international professionals often face complex challenges in this area, as national regulations and international mobility must be reconciled.
A particular focus is on employment law aspects that apply specifically to expats. These include legal questions about the salary of foreign nationals , permissible working hours and vacation entitlement , employment contracts , protection against dismissal , and the prohibition of discrimination . Changing employers and access to social security for expats are also key topics. It is essential for companies to be familiar with this legal framework and implement it correctly in order to act legally and retain international talent in the long term. Anyone who works as an expat in Germany or employs expats as an employer should familiarize themselves comprehensively with applicable expat law to avoid legal risks.
