Are you new to Germany and new to Chemnitz? Then this text is just for you! As an international or expat, the first thing you need to do is orientate yourself, build up networks and settle in. After the obligatory visit to the Chemnitz Immigration Office, there is still a lot to do. Find out here what advantages await you in Chemnitz, how you can organise your free time, work and studies here and how you can build a community.
After the 'Ausländerbehörde': These organisations and international companies in Chemnitz are looking forward to meet you
Chemnitz companies are very keen to recruit international skilled workers, including you. The employers usually help with the bureaucracy and with the documents for the Foreigners‘ Registration Office, but also with making connections in the city. To support you, there are many institutions and associations in Chemnitz that help people with an international background to build networks and overcome the bureaucratic hurdles.
Welcome Centre
The Welcome Centre in Chemnitz was set up specifically to help people who want to live and work in Chemnitz. The centre is a central point of contact for skilled workers, returnees, graduates and newcomers. It supports people from Germany and abroad in dealing with the authorities and finding accommodation and work. The service also includes the search for language courses and information on local childcare and leisure activities. The Welcome Centre is also in contact with local companies.
Advice on integration & immigration
FIZU and IBAS are also integrated into the Welcome Centre. The Immigration Information Centre (FIZU) offers a wide range of advice not only for internationals, but also for employers and labour market experts. Here you can get personalised advice on everything you need to know to gain a foothold in Chemnitz. Whether it’s about your entry, your residence permit, the recognition of your qualifications or your prospects in Saxony. At FIZU, you can get free advice in person, by video conference, by phone or by email.
IBAS (Informations- und Beratungsstelle Arbeitsmarkt Sachsen) is all about your qualification. The advice centre will help you with the recognition of foreign qualifications and will look for the necessary further training and funding opportunities for you.
IBAS and FIZU can help you to start a career in Chemnitz and help your future employer to hire you. You can find the full range of services offered by IBAS, FIZU and more at the Welcome Centre (Düsseldorfer Platz 1, 09111 Chemnitz; opening hours Mon+Thu 9am-12pm, Thurs 2pm-5pm) and via Netzwerk IQ Sachsen.
Internationals and companies in Chemnitz
Chemnitz companies are endeavouring to recruit international employees. In our CZA magazine you will find many exciting stories about the successful integration of international skilled workers in Chemnitz and their Chemnitz employers. In this chapter, we will summarise two selected stories, of which there are thousands in Chemnitz.
The story of Jelena Blagojevic shows what determination and ambition are all about. Jelena travelled 1,300 kilometres from Serbia to Chemnitz for her job interview. It was worth it: the company ADC Dr Grube GmbH hired Jelena in 2014, even though the path to employment was fraught with hurdles. Jelena attended a German language school for a year to raise her language level to B2. The German bureaucracy was another hurdle that had to be overcome – her employer ADC helped here. The company supported Jelena in obtaining a work permit, but also in dealing with the authorities, finding accommodation and opening a bank account. ADC also helped her find a daycare centre and a suitable school for her two sons.
‘Most of the support came from my employer – it was a real welcoming culture,’ says Jelena today. She has been a permanent member of the team since 2015 and has even become part of the management team and co-owner of the company. A real success story.
‘Most of the support came from my employer – it was a real welcoming culture,’ says Jelena today. She has been a permanent member of the team since 2015 and has even become part of the management team and co-owner of the company. A real success story.
Jihed Lazibi from Tunisia has been working at the Chemnitz-based IT company SIGMA since August 2023. Jihed came to Chemnitz on the recommendation of a friend to start her career in Germany. The beginning was not easy; it took a while to overcome all the bureaucratic challenges. His colleagues at SIGMA Chemnitz GmbH supported him in obtaining the necessary recognition of his Tunisian qualification. After the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) sent the notification, Jihed immediately signed the contract with SIGMA. Jihed feels at home at SIGMA: ‘There’s always someone here I can ask. It’s a bit like family.’
Studying and working in Chemnitz
The Chemnitz University of Technology is very international and particularly attractive for students from countries outside the EU. Our magazine features several stories about TU Chemnitz graduates who stayed in the city after their studies and found their dream job.
The TU works very closely with the private sector, with many medium-sized companies in Chemnitz offering working student positions. It often happens that students write their final theses directly in the companies where they are doing their compulsory internship or are already working as student trainees, both in technical and social science degree programmes.
In Chemnitz, you will also find the MEDiC model degree programme in human medicine from TU Dresden at Chemnitz Hospital.
You can use our filter function to quickly get an overview of open student jobs and internships. If the company of your choice has not advertised an internship or working student position, it is often worth making an unsolicited application. You can also find more application tips and exciting stories on the CHEMNITZ ZIEHT AN social media profiles on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
With a degree from a university in Germany, it will be much easier for you to gain a foothold in Chemnitz. On the one hand, there is no bureaucratic effort for the work permit, on the other hand, your language and cultural skills will be at a high level after your studies. If it is your wish to live and work in Chemnitz, you will most likely get the help you need. Seek contact with people who work in Chemnitz, in the associations, advice centres and meeting places and actively ask for support, also when communicating with the foreigners authority – it will soon pay off.
Living and working in Chemnitz as an international
Chemnitz is a very good place to live and work. The infrastructure is very well developed and almost everything is easily and conveniently accessible. Rents are the lowest in Germany compared to other major cities. There is a wide range of leisure activities on offer and there are also a number of opportunities to network with the international community.
On our page ‘Living and working in Chemnitz’ (in German) you will find exciting information about Chemnitz and tips on how to find your way around the city.
Making friends in Chemnitz
When do you feel at home in a city? When you’ve made friends, of course. People who are new to the city make friends through colleagues and hobbies. It can be a little difficult at first if there is still a language barrier and uncertainty about cultural differences. You don’t need to be able to hold in-depth conversations in German for many activities. This chapter gives you a few tips on how to make friends in Chemnitz more easily.
The association Start with a Friend e.V. regularly organises events to network and get to know each other. The association is active in 25 German cities, including Chemnitz. You can find the initiative on Instagram at @swaf_chemnitz.
The Club der Kulturen, also known as CdK, is located on the TU Chemnitz campus. The club is also a place for international encounters. Various events take place at the CdK, from games evenings to karaoke and dance parties. The CdK is primarily a student club, but non-students are also welcome to attend public events.
Another way to find connections, friends and support as an international is the AGIUA e.V.. The association organises intercultural events and also has a meeting place, the Haus der Kulturen, where German courses and various workshops are held.
Learning the language
Learning German is one of the most important prerequisites for gaining a foothold in Chemnitz. There are many courses on offer in Chemnitz and the surrounding area, both from state organisations and private initiatives. The Chemnitz Adult Education Centre offers a wide range of German courses from A1 to B2 and also certifying examinations. The TU Chemnitz also offers German courses for students and prospective students.
Conversations are the best way to improve your language skills. The Chemnitz Language Café offers an exciting opportunity for this. It takes place every Friday from 3 to 5 pm in the beautiful INSPIRE at Brühl 49.
Leisure time in Chemnitz
The best place to live is where you can enjoy your free time. Enjoying quality time with friends or on your own is simply the best. Chemnitz offers plenty of opportunities for hobbies, sports, excursions, picnics and walks. You can find more information on leisure activities on our ‘Living and working in Chemnitz’ page (in German). We have summarised some starting points below.
Sports clubs in Chemnitz
There are numerous sports clubs in Chemnitz and the region. Here you can enjoy climbing, skating, paddling, martial arts, air sports, ice sports and water sports, as well as various ball sports. You can find an overview of sports activities in Chemnitz on the Sport in Chemnitz page.
Events in Chemnitz
There is a wide range of events on offer in the city. For a good overview of daily events, you can use the 371 city magazine or meinplaner, or the corresponding apps. You can find an overview of major events in the events calendar on chemnitz.de.
Cultural organisations in Chemnitz
There are various cultural and arts organisations in the city. If you like making music, we can recommend the Chemnitz Band Office. The association regularly organises jam sessions and has a wide range of activities for musicians.
If you enjoy theatre in your free time, you can join the Fritz Theater, Offenes Theater Labor e.V. or the UNART e.V. theatre.
You can find even more cultural activities on the Chemnitz cultural education page.
Find doctors in Chemnitz
You can use several sources to find the right doctor in Chemnitz. The website of the ‘Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Sachsen’ (Saxony Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians) is practical: here you can enter the speciality and location of your search and receive a list of specialists from the region.
If you need to book an appointment with a specialist at short notice, you can also use the website or the 116117 telephone hotline. Your health insurance company can also help you find suitable doctors.
At Flemmingstr. 4, 09116 Chemnitz, you will find the International Practice at Chemnitz Hospital. This practice specialises in patients with language barriers. There you will find doctors for general medicine, paediatrics and adolescent medicine, gynaecology and obstetrics.
Chemnitz for internationals
Arriving in Chemnitz, building networks and making connections will be much easier with the tips in this text. The Chemnitz Immigration Office is only the official part and with friends and colleagues it can even be fun. We wish you lots of fun and a wonderful time in Chemnitz!
If you haven’t found your dream job yet, why not visit our job vacancies page or use our JOB ALERT? Have fun in our beautiful city!
