Work in Germany Without German: What Really Works

“Jobs in Germany without German” – many people from Moldova, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria and the Baltic states search for this. Here you will find an honest answer: where it works, what to look out for and how to start legally.

As of: October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice.

In short: Yes, you can work legally in Germany without speaking German – especially in warehouses and production. What you need is the right to work: a passport or ID card from an EU country, protection status for Ukrainians (§ 24 AufenthG) or a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) that allows work. German is still a big plus: for everyday life, for safety and for a wider choice of jobs. Our recruiters also speak English and Russian.

Which jobs are possible without German

With no or little German, many people start where tasks are repeated and can easily be shown:

• Warehouse worker (m/f/d) – incoming and outgoing goods, picking orders with a scanner, packing, labelling.
• Production helper (m/f/d) – simple work steps on the production line, sorting, packing, checking according to instructions.
• Forklift driver (m/f/d) – forklift licence and experience needed. Basic German helps especially here, because forklift drivers are responsible for the safety of their colleagues.

International teams often work in these areas. Many instructions are visual – with symbols, colours and plans.

What you should still be able to do

• Safety rules: before you start work, there is a safety briefing. You should understand warning signs, wear protective clothing and pay attention to forklift routes.
• Numbers and letters: shelf numbers, item numbers and quantities are the basics in a warehouse.
• A few dozen words: commands, objects and asking someone to repeat something.
• Asking questions: this is normal in German teams. Better to ask twice than to make a dangerous mistake.

Warehouse German: a short word list

Tip: Save the list on your phone and add new words you hear at work every day.

Who can apply with us

We consider applicants aged 18 or over who are allowed to work in Germany:

• EU citizens with a valid passport or ID card, for example from Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia,
• Ukrainians with temporary protection – a residence permit under § 24 AufenthG or a provisional certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) that allows employment,
• people with a German residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) that allows employment.

A biometric passport of the Republic of Moldova without an EU passport does not give you the right to work. Details under Who can work in Germany?

What we offer

• pay from €15.33 per hour gross, as a forklift driver from €16.08 per hour gross,
• employment contract with a German staffing agency (temporary work) with social insurance,
• help with moving and registration,
• if needed, accommodation near the work location can be provided,
• support in English or Russian – by phone, messenger or in the chat on the website,
• free of charge for applicants, no placement fee.

Work locations are Göttingen, Hanover and Paderborn.

How the application works: 3 steps

1. Form – about one minute. Fill in the short application form: document, where you live now, the job you want, whether you need accommodation. Be honest about your German – even if it is “none”.
2. Conversation in English or Russian. We usually contact you within about 24 hours on working days, by phone or messenger, talk about your experience and answer your questions.
3. Offer and contract. If everything fits, you receive an offer with the job, location and start date. You get the employment contract before you start work. After that, we help with moving and registration.

Learning German without high costs

You can start without German – but you should still start learning in your first weeks:

• DW Deutsch lernen (learngerman.dw.com): free online courses from Deutsche Welle, for example the video course “Nicos Weg” from A1 to B1 with short episodes and exercises, also as an app.
• Integration course (Integrationskurs) of the BAMF: language plus orientation for life in Germany. From February 2026, the BAMF had stopped admitting voluntary participants. Since 1 August 2026, they are being admitted again – but only if course places are free; priority goes to Ukrainians under § 24 and EU citizens without enough German for employment. Participants usually pay a contribution; with a low income, an exemption is possible. Check the current conditions with the BAMF and apply there.
• Adult education centre (Volkshochschule, VHS): German courses in almost every city, in the evening or at the weekend. Not free, but usually cheap.
• “Mein Weg nach Deutschland” from the Goethe-Institut: free materials for beginners on language and everyday life.

For starting in a warehouse or in production, A1–A2 is a good goal: understanding simple instructions, signs and numbers.

Everyday life without German: how it works

In the first weeks, simple tricks help:

• Translator app with camera: point your phone at a letter, sign or manual – the translation appears on the screen. Still show important letters to someone who knows German.
• Documents in one place: passport, employment contract, registration certificate, post from the tax office and from the health insurance fund – keep everything together.
• Do not sign anything you do not understand: ask for time to get a translation, or ask us.

To be honest: German is a plus

We do not promise that you “need no German at all”. You can start without German, but:

• letters from authorities, the bank and the health insurance fund come in German,
• the team leader does not always speak Russian,
• with German, your choice of jobs and your chance of a permanent position grow.

So German is a plus. But if you do not speak it yet, that is no reason to give up on working in Germany.

Start now

Look at all jobs or fill in the application form directly. We are happy to answer in English or Russian and tell you which work suits you.