If you have experience working in kitchens or the culinary industry, Germany wants your skills in 2025. Due to a national hospitality staff shortage, restaurants, hotels, and catering companies across the country are urgently hiring foreign chefs, cooks, and kitchen workers with free accommodation, visa sponsorship, and monthly earnings of up to €3,500 or more.
Advertisements
Whether you’re a professional chef, a line cook, or someone with basic food prep experience, this opportunity opens the door to legal migration, financial security, and career growth in one of Europe’s most organized and structured economies.
Why Germany Is Hiring Foreign Kitchen Staff and Chefs
The German hospitality industry is bouncing back — and expanding rapidly. Tourism is increasing, more restaurants are opening, and the demand for skilled food service workers has exploded.
But there’s a major shortage of local workers. Restaurants and hotels simply cannot find enough qualified or willing staff.
Here’s why Germany is hiring from abroad:
- German chefs and kitchen staff are aging or leaving the industry
- Young people in Germany are opting for tech or academic careers
- Over 40,000 hospitality jobs remained vacant in 2024
- Immigration laws now support foreign hiring in essential roles
- The government is encouraging international recruitment to keep businesses running
That means more entry points for foreigners who want to start a career in Germany’s culinary industry legally, with support.
Who Can Apply for Chef and Kitchen Jobs in Germany?
Whether you’re a seasoned chef or just someone with kitchen experience, Germany offers a range of roles for foreigners, including:
- Professional chefs (with or without certifications)
- Sous chefs, line cooks, and commis chefs
- Bakers and pastry chefs
- Dishwashers, stewards, and cleaning staff
- Food prep workers and kitchen assistants
- Catering assistants and butchers
Basic requirements:
- Previous kitchen experience (formal or informal)
- Passport from a non-EU country
- Willingness to work full time and relocate
- Basic English or German language skills (A2 preferred)
- Physically fit and able to work on your feet
You do not need a university degree. What matters is your reliability, work ethic, and ability to follow kitchen routines.
Available Job Roles and Salaries
Professional Chefs
- Manage food preparation, plating, hygiene, and kitchen staff
- Often work in hotels, cruise ships, or upscale restaurants
Salary: €3,000 – €4,500/month
Perks: Free accommodation, visa support, bonuses
Cooks and Line Cooks
- Prepare meals based on menu or chef instructions
- Work in diners, hotels, fast food, or industrial kitchens
Salary: €2,400 – €3,200/month
Free housing and meals are commonly included
Bakers / Pastry Cooks
- Prepare breads, cakes, pastries, and baked goods
- High demand in cafes, bakeries, and hotels
Salary: €2,800 – €3,500/month
Kitchen Assistants / Helpers
- Clean utensils, prep ingredients, wash produce, maintain hygiene
- Entry-level roles, perfect for candidates without formal experience
Salary: €2,000 – €2,600/month
Often includes full meals and accommodation
Dishwashers and Stewards
- Responsible for cleaning dishes, pots, pans, and kitchen areas
- No formal qualifications needed
Salary: €1,800 – €2,400/month
Free room and meals typically offered
Benefits You Can Expect
Most employers hiring foreign kitchen staff provide comprehensive relocation packages. These may include:
- Visa sponsorship and guidance through the application
- Free accommodation (shared apartment or staff quarters)
- Daily meals or food allowances
- Airport pick-up and orientation
- Access to language classes or assistance with integration
- Health insurance and tax registration
- Support with paperwork and legal requirements
This drastically reduces your cost of moving and settling in.
Visa Options for Culinary Workers
Thanks to Germany’s updated Skilled Immigration Act, you can legally work and stay in Germany through one of the following pathways:
- Skilled Worker Visa (Fachkraftvisum)
- For those with vocational training or proven experience
- Contract with a German employer required
- Renewable 4-year visa with a path to permanent residency
- Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
- New in 2024: For people with skills but no job offer yet
- You can travel to Germany and search for work for up to 1 year
- Requires points for age, experience, education, and language skills
- Temporary Work Visa
- Employer-sponsored for contract jobs
- Usually valid for 6 months to 2 years, with renewal options
- Ideal for seasonal or urgent hires in hospitality
Where to Find These Jobs
Here are the best places to apply for chef and kitchen jobs in Germany:
- MakeItInGermany.com – Official job portal for international workers
- Stepstone.de – Search “Koch visa sponsorship” or “Küchenhilfe mit Unterkunft”
- Indeed.de – Use English or German keywords and filter by city
- Gastrojobs.de – Focused on food, beverage, and kitchen jobs
- Hotel chains and cruise line websites – Many have direct hiring portals
- Recruitment agencies like TTA Personal, Walter-Fach-Kraft, EURES Germany
Required Documents for Application
To apply, you’ll typically need the following:
- Valid international passport
- CV/resume (European format preferred)
- Experience letters or references
- Motivation letter (why you want the job)
- Language certificate (A2 German or English optional but preferred)
- Police clearance
- Medical fitness certificate
- Passport photos
Some employers may assist you with translations and document verification.
Is German Language Required?
While not mandatory for all positions, basic German gives you a competitive edge — especially in customer-facing roles or supervisory positions.
Many employers provide:
- Free or subsidized language classes
- On-the-job German training
- Language integration support through government-funded programs
Even a basic A2 level can significantly improve your job prospects.
What’s Life Like Working in Germany’s Kitchen Industry?
Working in Germany’s kitchen and hospitality industry can be:
- Structured and respectful – Schedules are well-managed, and labor rights are strong
- Diverse – You’ll work with international teams
- Rewarding – Opportunities to climb to senior chef positions
- Stable – Long-term contracts with pension and health insurance
- Career-advancing – Build a future in the EU food and beverage sector
You may also gain access to permanent residency after a few years of legal employment — and eventually even German citizenship.