entry employment
Apply for the accelerated skilled worker process

If you, as an employer, would like to employ a skilled worker from a third country, you can apply for an accelerated skilled worker procedure.

Detailed description

If you, as an employer, would like to hire a skilled worker from a non-EU country, you can use an accelerated procedure to facilitate the skilled worker's entry into Germany.

The accelerated skilled worker procedure is aimed at foreign nationals who wish to come to Germany to:

to undertake vocational training or further training in the company,
to have their foreign professional qualifications recognized,
to work as a skilled worker with vocational training,
to work as a professional with academic training,
to work as a highly qualified professional with academic training or
to take up other skilled employment. Family members who enter the country within six months of the skilled worker can also benefit from this procedure.

The accelerated procedure is voluntary. The skilled worker must authorize you to initiate the accelerated procedure. Even if you use the accelerated procedure, there is no guarantee that the skilled worker will receive a visa.

The following points will be examined and processed in the accelerated procedure within a shorter period of time than usual:

Residence requirements for entry
Recognition of foreign professional or university qualifications
Approval of the Federal Employment Agency

Information

Important notes

Prerequisites

The foreign skilled worker and, if applicable, family members have valid passports.
There is an employment contract or concrete job offer.
No visa application has yet been submitted in the country of origin (not even for family members).
The specialist can finance his or her own living expenses and health insurance in Germany.
The specialist has given you power of attorney for the procedure.
The skilled worker is still in the country of origin or legally residing in another country outside the European Union (EU).

Documents required

For individual advice, the following documents are required:

Power of attorney of the foreign person
if applicable, plus a power of attorney from which the employer is authorized to represent the employer
Color copy of the foreign person's national passport
Certificate of completion/proof of training

The additional documents to be submitted for the procedure will be determined during the consultation.

Please note

Local jurisdiction is determined by the location of the business establishment where the foreign person is to be employed.

You can find the online service at this link

Deadlines

In the recognition process, the responsible body decides on the application within two months. A one-time extension is possible, provided the reasons for this must be provided in a timely manner.

The Federal Employment Agency will decide within one week whether to approve the employment.

Upon presentation of the prior approval, the German diplomatic mission abroad will make an appointment to apply for the visa within three weeks and will usually decide on the visa within a further three weeks.

Procedure & Fees

Procedure

If you have any questions about the accelerated skilled worker procedure, please contact the relevant office and arrange an appointment.
The responsible authority will advise you on the procedural steps and the necessary involvement of other bodies.
To carry out the procedure, you will conclude an agreement with the responsible authority.
You pay the fee.
The responsible authority will initiate the procedure for the recognition of foreign qualifications, if necessary.
The responsible authority checks the residency requirements for the desired purpose of stay and issues a preliminary approval if all requirements are met.
This preliminary approval is intended to allow the foreign skilled worker to obtain an appointment to apply for a visa.
Once all requirements are met, the responsible authority will grant approval for the visa issuance.
Here you can find the online service.

Processing time

Approximately 3 - 15 weeks

Fees

411.00 euros.

The fee is due upon signing the individual agreement.

Additional costs may arise (for example in the recognition procedure, at the foreign representation, for the translation and certification of copies).

Payment methods available

Bill

Legal notes

Legal remedies

No direct legal remedies (objection, action before the Administrative Court) are available against the rejection of a preliminary approval under Section 81a of the Residence Act. Legal challenge (action) is only possible if the visa based on this preliminary approval is subsequently rejected, within the framework of the regular visa application procedure at the competent German mission abroad.

Legal basis

§ 81a Residence Act (AufenthG)

www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__81a.html

Downloads & Links

Links on hamburg.de

Accelerated skilled worker procedure

Address and contact information