Apply for accelerated skilled worker procedure

For the accelerated skilled worker procedure:

Foreigners' Registration Office at the place of work where the foreigner is to be employed, unless a central office has been set up to carry out the procedure.

• The foreign worker has a recognized and valid passport or passport substitute. In the case of family reunification, family members must also present valid passports.
• The foreign worker is entering the country for a specific purpose of residence (for the purpose of vocational training, recognition of foreign professional qualifications, for qualified employment as a skilled worker)

The procedure can also be applied for other qualified employment purposes (e.g. for the purpose of research or for employment as an IT specialist)

• There is an employment contract or concrete job offer (for proof of the concrete job offer, see the "Declaration of employment relationship" under "Further information")
• The foreign worker has not yet submitted a visa application in the 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 secure your livelihood and health insurance cover from income without claiming public benefits.
• The foreign worker has issued you with a power of attorney to carry out the accelerated skilled worker procedure. If family members of the foreign worker also wish to use the procedure, they must also issue a power of attorney.

You can also authorize third parties (e.g. a law firm) to carry out the procedure by means of sub-authorizations. The specialist and their family members must also authorize you to do this.

You have concluded an agreement with the responsible immigration authority to carry out the accelerated skilled worker procedure.

• Foreigners authority-specific forms can be obtained from your foreigners authority; these may also be available online.
• Online procedure occasionally possible
• Written form required: yes
• Personal appearance required: yes

• Proof of the employer's authorization by the skilled worker and, if applicable, Proof of sub-authorization
• Passport or passport substitute of the professional
• Copy of the certificate of residence status of the skilled worker in the case of current residence in another EU country
• If applicable, notification from the competent recognition office on the determination of the equivalence of the vocational training completed abroad (if available)
• If applicable, evaluation of certificates from the Central Office for Foreign Education on the comparability of the foreign university degree (if available)
• If applicable: Notification from the competent authority on the recognition of the foreign university degree for the purpose of employment in a regulated profession (if available)
• If necessary: Licence to practise or confirmation of the issuance of a licence to practise

If necessary, the competent immigration authority will initiate the procedure to determine the equivalence of the professional qualification acquired abroad or to evaluate the certificate of the foreign university degree. In order to carry out the procedure, the following evidence must be submitted:

• Proof of education in the original language and in German translation as a copy
• Tabular curriculum vitae (in German) from the beginning of the relevant training: with the complete list of completed training and further education courses as well as all gainful employment
• If available: Proof of relevant professional experience in the original language and in German translation as a copy (e.g. job references, workbooks, reference letters)
• If available: other certificates of competency in the original language and in German translation as copies (e.g. certificates and certificates of further education, courses, courses, language level)
• A declaration in German signed by the skilled worker stating that no application for a determination of equivalence has yet been submitted in the Federal Republic of Germany
• If the name according to the passport differs from the name on the educational certificate: Proof of the name change in the original language and in German translation as a copy.

If necessary, the competent immigration authority shall obtain the approval of the Federal Employment Agency after the successful conclusion of the procedure for determining the equivalence of the professional qualification acquired abroad. In order for the Federal Agency to participate, a fully completed form signed by the employer entitled "Declaration of Employment Relationship including Additional Sheet" must be submitted. (see under "Further information")

In the event that family members wish to join them within six months, appropriate evidence must be submitted:

• Colour copies of the passports of all family members
• Powers of attorney of the family members joining them (see under "Further information")

In the case of subsequent reunification of spouses/life partners, the following evidence must also be submitted:

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

In the case of reunification of children, the following evidence must also be submitted:

• International birth certificate(s) as officially certified copy(s) or

Original or officially certified copy(s) of the birth certificate(s) legalized by the German diplomatic mission abroad or apostilled by the competent authority in the original language and in German translation, in each case as a simple copy(s)

Implementation of the accelerated skilled worker procedure: 411 euros.

The fee must be paid upon conclusion of the agreement on the implementation of an accelerated skilled worker procedure.

The costs for the necessary professional recognition and the issuing of any necessary professional license as well as fees incurred at the foreign representation and the costs for the issuing of documents, for authenticity checks, the translation of documents into German and the making and certification of copies etc. are to be borne by the skilled worker or the employer.

• If you have any questions about the accelerated skilled worker procedure, please contact your local immigration authority and ask for a consultation. The foreigners authority will advise you on the procedural steps and the necessary involvement of other authorities.
• If no central immigration authority has been set up in your federal state, the immigration authority at the location of the company where you wish to employ your skilled worker is responsible
• To apply for the accelerated 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 immigration authority and your request, it may be possible to apply online. Find out whether your immigration office offers electronic applications for residence permits.

If the application can only be made in person, make an appointment with the immigration office.

• To carry out the procedure, you conclude a corresponding agreement with the Foreigners' Registration Office which includes, among other things, your obligations as an employer, those of the skilled worker and the authorities involved (Foreigners' Registration Office, Federal Employment Agency, recognition offices, German diplomatic mission abroad). In addition, you will receive a description of the procedures, including details of the parties involved, the documents to be provided and the deadlines. You must pay the fees of 411 euros when concluding the agreement.
• If necessary, the immigration authority will initiate the procedure for the recognition or equivalence assessment of foreign qualifications and send the application and required documents to the competent authority. The competent authorities should decide on the recognition within two months of receiving the complete application documents. If documents are still missing, the Foreigners' Registration Office will contact you.
• If necessary, the foreigners authority will initiate the approval procedure with the Federal Employment Agency once the recognition procedure has been successfully completed. 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 the approval of the Federal Employment Agency, the Foreigners' Registration Office will approve the issuing of the visa and hand it over to you for forwarding to the skilled worker abroad.
• The foreign skilled worker must submit the preliminary approval to the diplomatic mission abroad and is then given an accelerated appointment to apply for the visa. This must take place within three weeks. Once the visa application has been submitted in full on the scheduled date, a decision on the application is usually made within three weeks.
• The procedure can also be used for family reunification of spouses and children, provided that the applications are submitted in a timely manner (i.e. within 6 months of the skilled worker entering the country)

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

When carrying out the recognition procedure and obtaining the approval of the Federal Employment Agency:

lie at least 15 weeks between the initiation of the procedure and the issuing of the visa by the competent German diplomatic mission abroad.

§ Section 81a Residence Act

• § Section 81a Residence Act