To expedite the entry process, you, as an employer, can apply for the expedited skilled worker procedure on behalf of your future employee. The expedited skilled worker procedure is intended for foreign nationals who wish to enter Germany for a specific purpose of stay (e.g., for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications or to take up skilled employment) as well as to their accompanying family members, provided that their entry takes place within a reasonable timeframe. A reasonable timeframe is considered to exist if the family members enter the country no later than six months after the skilled worker’s entry.

The expedited skilled worker procedure is a voluntary option. By law, the regular entry procedure remains available to you and your skilled worker.

Participation in the expedited skilled worker procedure does not guarantee that a visa will be issued by the German diplomatic mission abroad.

• The foreign worker must have a recognized and valid passport or passport substitute. In cases of family reunification, family members must also present valid passports.
• The foreign worker enters the country for a specific purpose of stay (for the purpose of vocational training, the recognition of foreign professional qualifications, or to engage in skilled employment as a specialist).

The procedure may also be applied for in connection with other types of skilled employment (e.g., for research purposes or to work as an IT specialist).

• There is an employment contract or a concrete job offer (the “Declaration of Employment” serves as proof of the concrete job offer; see “Further Information”)
• The foreign worker has not yet submitted a visa application in their country of origin. This also applies to spouses and children who wish to relocate to Germany together with the worker or later as part of family reunification.
• The foreign worker can cover their living expenses and health insurance coverage from their income without relying on public benefits.
• The foreign worker has issued you a power of attorney to carry out the expedited skilled worker procedure. If family members of the foreign worker also wish to use this procedure, they must likewise issue a power of attorney.

In principle, you may also authorize third parties (such as a law firm) to carry out the procedure by means of sub-powers of attorney. For this as well, the skilled worker and their family members must grant you power of attorney.

You have entered into an agreement with the competent immigration authority to carry out the expedited skilled worker procedure

• If you have any questions about the expedited procedure for skilled workers, please contact the local immigration office and request a consultation. The immigration office will advise you on the steps involved in the process and the necessary involvement of other agencies.
• The Foreigners’ Registration Office responsible is the one located in the city where the business premises are situated at which you intend to employ your skilled worker, provided that no central Foreigners’ Registration Office has been established in your federal state.
• To apply for the expedited skilled worker procedure, you will need a power of attorney from your future skilled worker. You can find a sample power of attorney under “Further Information.”
• Depending on the Foreigners’ Registration Office and the nature of your request, it may be possible to apply online. Check whether your Foreigners’ Registration Office offers the option to apply for a residence permit electronically.

If the application can only be submitted in person, schedule an appointment with the immigration office.

• To carry out the procedure, you must enter into a corresponding agreement with the Foreigners’ Registration Office, which includes, among other things, your obligations as an employer, those of the skilled worker, and those of the involved authorities (Foreigners’ Registration Office, Federal Employment Agency, recognition bodies, and German diplomatic missions abroad). In addition, you will receive a description of the procedures, including a list of the parties involved, the required supporting documents, and the deadlines. Upon signing the agreement, you must pay a fee of 411 euros.
• If necessary, the Foreigners’ Registration Office will initiate the procedure for the recognition or equivalency assessment of the foreign qualifications and forward the application and required documents to the competent authority. The competent authorities are expected to decide on recognition within two months of receiving the complete application documents. If any documents are still missing, the Foreigners’ Registration Office will contact you.
• If necessary, following a positive outcome of the recognition process, the Foreigners’ Registration Office will initiate the approval process with the Federal Employment Agency. If the Federal Employment Agency does not respond within one week, approval is deemed to have been granted.
• If all requirements are met—including the determination of equivalence or comparability of the professional qualification and approval from the Federal Employment Agency—the Foreigners’ Registration Office will approve the issuance of the visa and provide it to you for forwarding to the foreign professional abroad.
• The foreign skilled worker must present the preliminary approval to the diplomatic mission abroad and will thereby receive an expedited appointment to apply for the visa. This appointment must take place within three weeks. Once the visa application has been submitted in full at the scheduled appointment, a decision on the application is typically made within three weeks.
• This procedure can also be applied to family reunification for spouses and children, provided that the applications are submitted within a specific timeframe (i.e., within 6 months of the skilled worker’s entry into the country).

• Information on the expedited skilled worker procedure:

https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/de/unternehmen/gezielt-rekrutieren/einreise-beschaeftigung-regeln/das-beschleunigte-fachkraefteverfahren/

https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Migrathek/Fachkraefteverfahren/fachkraefteverfahren-node.html

• Sample Power of Attorney for Applying for an Expedited Skilled Worker Procedure:

https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/fileadmin/MiiG_Unternehmen/PDFs/Unternehmen/Unterstuetzung_finden/Muster-Vollmacht_Stand_03-2020.pdf

• Declaration Regarding the Employment Relationship:

https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/fileadmin/MiiG_Unternehmen/PDFs/Unternehmen/Unterstuetzung_finden/Erklaerung_zum_Beschaeftigungsverhaeltnis_03-2020.pdf

• Supplementary Sheet A for the form “Declaration of Employment Status”:

https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/fileadmin/MiiG_Unternehmen/PDFs/Unternehmen/Unterstuetzung_finden/Zusatzblatt_A_zur_Erklaerung_zum_Beschaeftigungsverhaeltnis_Stand_03-2020.pdf

• Sample Power of Attorney for Spousal Family Reunification pursuant to Section 81a(4) of the Residence Act:

https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/fileadmin/MiiG_Unternehmen/PDFs/Unternehmen/Unterstuetzung_finden/Muster-Vollmacht_fuer_FZ_Ehepartner_Stand_03-2020.pdf

• Sample Power of Attorney for Family Reunification of Minor, Unmarried Children pursuant to Section 81a(4) of the Residence Act (AufenthG):

https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/fileadmin/MiiG_Unternehmen/PDFs/Unternehmen/Unterstuetzung_finden/Muster-Vollmacht_fuer_FZ_Kinder_Stand_03-2020.pdf

Section 81a Residence Act

In the case of family reunification with the skilled worker, the application must be submitted within 6 months of the skilled worker's entry into Germany.

When conducting the recognition procedure and obtaining approval from the Federal Employment Agency:

 there must be at least 15 weeks between the initiation of the procedure and the issuance of the visa by the competent German diplomatic mission abroad.

For the expedited skilled worker procedure:

The Foreigners’ Registration Office at the location of the business where the foreign national is to be employed, provided that no central office has been established to administer the procedure.

• Proof of the employer’s authorization by the qualified professional and, if applicable, proof of subdelegation
• The specialist’s passport or passport substitute
• Copy of the specialist’s residence status certificate if currently residing in another EU country
• Proof of adequate retirement benefits
• If applicable, a decision from the competent recognition authority confirming the equivalence of the vocational training completed abroad (if available)
• If applicable, an evaluation of the foreign higher education degree by the Central Office for Foreign Education regarding its comparability (if available)
• If applicable: Decision from the competent authority regarding the recognition of the foreign university degree for the purpose of employment in a regulated profession (if available)
• If required: License to practice the profession or a commitment to grant such a license

If necessary, the competent immigration authority will initiate the procedure to determine the equivalence of the vocational qualification obtained abroad or to evaluate the foreign higher education degree. The following documents must be submitted for the procedure:

• Proof of education in the original language and a copy of the German translation
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form (in German) starting from the beginning of the relevant education: including a complete list of completed educational and continuing education programs as well as all employment history
• If available: Evidence of relevant professional experience in the original language and as a copy of the German translation (e.g., employment references, employment records, letters of recommendation)
• If available: other proof of qualifications in the original language and as a copy of the German translation (e.g., certificates and diplomas for continuing education, training programs, courses, language proficiency)
• A statement in German, signed by the professional, confirming that no application for a determination of equivalence has yet been submitted in the Federal Republic of Germany
• If the name on the passport differs from the name on the training certificate: Proof of the name change in the original language and a copy of the German translation.

If necessary, after the procedure for determining the equivalence of the professional qualification acquired abroad has been successfully completed, the competent immigration authority will seek approval from the Federal Employment Agency. To involve the Federal Employment Agency, a fully completed form titled “Declaration of Employment Relationship,” including the supplementary sheet, must be submitted and signed by the employer. (See “Further Information”)

If family members wish to join the applicant within six months, the following supporting documents must be submitted:

• Color copies of the passports of all family members
• Powers of attorney from the family members joining the applicant (see “Further Information”)

In the case of spouses or domestic partners joining the applicant, the following documents must also be submitted:

• International marriage certificate as an officially certified copy or the original, or an officially certified copy of the marriage certificate legalized by the German diplomatic mission abroad or bearing an apostille from the competent authority, in the original language and with a German translation—in each case as a simple copy
• If required: Certificate of German language proficiency at level A1

If children are joining the applicant, the following documents must also be submitted:

• International birth certificate(s) as a certified copy or copies, or

originals or officially certified copies of the birth certificate(s) legalized by a German diplomatic mission abroad or bearing an apostille from the competent authority, in the original language and with a German translation—each as a simple copy

Fee for the expedited skilled worker procedure: 411 euros.

The fee must be paid upon conclusion of the agreement regarding the implementation of the expedited skilled worker procedure.

The costs for the required professional recognition and the issuance of any necessary license to practice a profession, as well as fees incurred at the diplomatic mission abroad and the costs for issuing certificates, authentication checks, the translation of documents into German, and the preparation and certification of copies, etc., are to be borne by the skilled worker or the employer.

• You can obtain forms specific to your local immigration office at that office; in some cases, they may also be available online.
• Online procedures are possible in some cases
• Written submission required: yes
• In-person appearance required: yes