Overview of the law on residence - options and requirements for a work permit.

The German Residence Act offers a total of 16 different procedures and applications that can be considered for the immigration of skilled workers to Germany. It is therefore advisable to seek advice on selecting the best procedure for your vacant position.

This article focuses on a newly created application procedure referred to in the law as the ‘ beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren’ (accelerated skilled worker procedure), § 81a AufenthG.

Aim of the procedure

The procedure is aimed at employers who wish to hire international skilled workers. It is intended to significantly shorten the processes for recognising professional and educational qualifications, issuing visas and granting residence permits.

The procedure in brief

The procedure is applied for in Germany at the relevant immigration office. Pagenda takes care of the preparation and promotion of the application for you. Part of the application is an agreement with the authorities that regulates mutual obligations, costs and cooperation. Pagenda will also take care of concluding and drafting this agreement for you.

Recognition of qualifications:

The immigration office checks the foreign qualification for comparability with a German educational qualification.

Approval by the Federal Employment Agency:

In some cases, additional approval from the Federal Employment Agency is required.

Appointment at the German diplomatic mission abroad:

In order to speed up the visa issuance process, we seek to obtain a so-called advance approval for you. This allows the skilled worker to get an appointment at the German diplomatic mission abroad more quickly. There, the original documents are checked (again) and the necessary security check of the skilled worker is carried out.

Duration of the procedure:

One of the major advantages of the procedure is its short duration. The aim is to complete the entire process – from the application to the visa issuance – in approximately three to four months.

Costs

The immigration office currently charges a fee of €411 for this service (plus any additional costs for recognition procedures and translations). These costs are in addition to Pagenda's fee. (Details of our prices can be found here).

We will gladly explain the many other advantages, configuration options and details of this procedure in a non-binding consultation: Book now.