Germany Business Trip Compliance | Risk Assessment
Many companies underestimate the strict legal boundary between permissible business travel activities and productive work in Germany. Especially for non-EU citizens, activities such as installations, customer training, or project management without authorization can be classified as illegal employment. Our tool provides initial guidance on what business travel compliance requires in terms of residence law.
- FREE INITIAL RISK ASSESSMENT
- FOLLOW-UP ADVISORY ON DEMAND
Sending third-country national employees to Germany for short-term assignments requires careful navigation of immigration and labor laws. The legal distinction between permissible business activities and unauthorized ‘productive work’ is narrow and strictly enforced. High-risk activities often trigger requirements for a specific visa (e.g. a Vander Elst visa, Schengen visa allowing gainful activity) or notifications under the Posted Worker Directive.
HR departments are required to assess three key questions in advance:
- Does your employee’s nationality require a visa even just to enter Germany?
- Is the intended activity covered by visa-free travel or a standard business visa?
If not covered – what is the correct legal pathway?
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