Field note · 18 July 2026
Read the offer letter before planning the visa appointment
A practical review of the dates, duties, salary, and workplace details that shape German work-migration preparation.
An offer letter can feel like the finish line of a job search. For migration preparation, it is the first document that must agree with several others.
Compare the dates
Look at the signature date, intended employment start, any probation period, and the offer’s expiry. A start date is not automatically an authority deadline. It does, however, shape the conversation with HR if appointments or notice periods make the original timing unrealistic.
Make the duties intelligible
An internal title such as “Lead II” says little outside the employer. The duty description should explain the actual work and should not contradict the occupation discussed elsewhere. Ask HR for clarification before creating your own interpretation.
Read salary as the contract states it
Distinguish gross annual base salary from bonuses, allowances, and one-off relocation payments. Record the working hours and place of work as well. Threshold rules can change, so verify current official guidance for the route you intend to use.
Check which promise is still conditional
Some offers depend on references, degree verification, or permission to work. Highlight these conditions. Your preparation calendar should show who resolves each one and when, rather than assuming the signed page settles every point.
The useful result is not a perfect-looking contract. It is an employment record that tells the same factual story as the employer declaration, role description, and your qualification evidence.