Cooks, hotel receptionists, waiters, housekeeping staff and hotel managers are not regulated professions in Germany, and the official portal names no German level for them. The usual route for people without a recognized qualification is training in Germany.
This guide explains the steps in plain words, using official German and Philippine sources. Each point links to its source so you can check it yourself. This is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice.
Is recognition required?
The official Recognition Finder states for the cook profession that it is not regulated in Germany, and it states no German level for recognition. We apply the same finding to the other hospitality jobs in this guide: you do not need a license to work in them. Being a state-recognized training occupation is a different matter from being regulated, and it matters for your visa route.
German language
Guests and colleagues speak German, so language matters even without an official threshold. No official body sets a German level for this job. We recommend at least A2 as a practical baseline for applications and daily work; that is our own guidance, not a legal requirement.
Routes for hospitality work
Training in Germany (Ausbildung)
You can also train for the job in Germany (see our Ausbildung guide). You need a specific training place, and German at level B1 for qualified vocational training or A2 as a rule for other training; either can be replaced at entry by enrolling in a preparatory German course. For the first year you must prove at least EUR 822 net (EUR 1,048 gross) a month for company-based training, for example with a blocked account.
Qualified employment (skilled-worker visa)
For the visa, Germany needs proof of a completed vocational qualification that is equivalent to German vocational training, whether or not the job itself is regulated. The recognition office is the IHK FOSA for commercial and industrial occupations and the chamber of crafts (HWK) for skilled trades. You also need a matching job. The law sets no minimum salary of its own; pay must be comparable to that of a German employee. If you are 45 or older when you first apply, the salary must be at least EUR 55,770 a year (2026) unless you can show adequate old-age provision.
Experienced-worker route
For people with strong practical experience but no formal German recognition, in a job that is not a regulated profession. You need at least 2 years of relevant skilled-level experience within the last 5 years, a concrete job offer, and a salary of at least EUR 45,630 a year in 2026 (EUR 55,770 if you are 45 or older, unless you can show adequate pension provision).
Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
A job-search visa for people without a job offer yet, valid for up to one year, with trial work or side work of up to 20 hours a week. You need at least 2 years of state-recognized vocational training or a recognized degree, plus German at A1 or English at B2. With a fully recognized qualification you need no points. Otherwise you need at least 6 of 15 points, and partial recognition of your qualification is worth 4 of them. You must show financial proof of EUR 1,091 a month, EUR 13,092 for a year.
Whichever route you choose, hotel and restaurant employers usually ask for proof of your training and experience. Keep certificates of employment from your Philippine employers.
Where do I start?
- Decide whether you hold a vocational qualification or mainly work experience.
- Look at Make it in Germany for training in the hotel and gastronomy industry.
- Start German now; A2 is a sensible first target.
- Check the OEC and PEOS requirements below before you travel.
The Philippine side: OEC and PEOS
Filipinos who leave to work abroad also need papers from the Philippine government, separate from the German visa.
- Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). It is your exit clearance at Philippine immigration and exempts you from travel tax and the airport terminal fee. The Philippine Embassy in Berlin, through MWO-Berlin, helps with OEC and employment-contract verification for Germany.
- Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS), a free online DMW seminar. If this is your first time working abroad, you must complete it before you can get your OEC. Workers who have worked abroad before do not need it.
Want to know exactly where you stand? Answer a few questions and get a free roadmap that shows what you already meet, what is missing and your next steps as a hospitality worker.
More guides: how to work in Germany from the Philippines, German visa types for Filipinos and the German level you need.
Official sources
- Recognition Finder: cook (Koch/Köchin) profile
- Make it in Germany: training in hotel and gastronomy
- Make it in Germany: other professions in demand
- § 16a AufenthG: vocational training
- Make it in Germany: visa for vocational training
- German embassy information sheet: national visa for vocational training
- BAMF: skilled workers with vocational training
- § 18a AufenthG: skilled workers with vocational training
- § 19c AufenthG: experienced-worker route
- Federal Employment Agency: experienced workers
- § 20b AufenthG: Opportunity Card points
- German Federal Foreign Office: Opportunity Card visa information
- Philippine Embassy Berlin: Overseas Employment Certificate
- DMW: Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS)
Last checked: September 20, 2026. This is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice. Figures change, so confirm them on the official pages.