Visa and work

rGood news!!!

As a Kiwi passport-holder, I don't need to apply for a visa to go to Germany but there is a special visa available for young New Zealanders. Details here [PDF]. German bureaucracy must be pretty efficient, they say to expect a week for issue of the visa! I'd better get my A into G.

The German consulate has a pretty extensive web presence, which is very pleasing.

There is a national job agency that specifically deals with placing foreign nationals in employment in Germany (and German nationals in employment abroad) which is the Zentralstelle für Arbeitsvermittlung der Bundesagentur für Arbeit (ZAV). This is welcome news and the oddly-named 'Young Germany' website has some interesting tidbits also. What is a great relief is finding websites in English. After a few weeks in Germany it won't matter to me, but it's a little daunting beforehand with my German a little rusty.

I was impressed with Qantas for providing a feature where you can browse by a weekly schedule and view prices and not a little surprised at Air New Zealand for what looked like a cheaper deal! Ticket prices to Heathrow appear to be around the $1,400 mark. I might sit on my hands for a short while and see if anything exciting comes up... (and save up!)