Apply for the Expedited Skilled Worker Process

• If you have any questions about the expedited procedure for skilled workers, please contact the Foreigners’ Registration Office via the hotline at 0661 6006-1777 or by email. The Foreigners’ Registration Office will advise you on the steps involved in the process and the necessary involvement of other agencies.
• The immigration office in the location where you intend to employ your skilled worker has jurisdiction.
• 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 “Applications/Forms.”
• You can apply online at the following link: https://www.landkreis-fulda.de/service/auslaenderinnen-und-auslaender/einreise-und-aufenthalt/online-antraege
• To carry out the procedure, you must enter into a corresponding agreement with the Foreigners’ Registration Office, which outlines, among other things, your obligations as an employer, as well as those of the skilled worker and the relevant authorities (Foreigners’ Registration Office, Federal Employment Agency, recognition bodies, and German diplomatic missions abroad). Upon signing the agreement, you must pay a fee of 411 euros.
• If necessary, the Foreigners’ Registration Office will initiate the process for the recognition or equivalency assessment of foreign qualifications and forward the application and required documents to the appropriate authorities. The relevant authorities are expected to make a decision 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 successful conclusion 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 a determination of equivalence or comparability of the professional qualification, as well as 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 skilled worker abroad.
• The foreign skilled worker must present the prior approval to the diplomatic mission and will thereby be given 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 generally made within three weeks.
• The procedure may also be applied to family reunification for spouses and children, provided that the applications are filed within a reasonable timeframe (that is, within 6 months of the skilled worker’s entry into the country).

• Online Applications for the Fulda District Foreigners' Registration Office

For the expedited skilled worker procedure:

The immigration office in the location of the business site where the foreign national is to be assigned.

• The foreign worker must have a recognized and valid passport or passport substitute. In the case of family reunification, family members must also present valid passports.
• Foreign workers enter the country for a specific purpose of stay (for the purpose of vocational training, 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 eligible employment purposes (for example, for research purposes or to work as an IT specialist)

• There is an employment contract or a specific job offer (the “Declaration of Employment” serves as proof of the specific job offer; see “Applications/Forms”)
• 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 move to Germany with the worker or at a later date as part of family reunification.
• The foreign worker can cover their living expenses and health insurance coverage from their own 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 also issue a power of attorney.

In principle, you can also use sub-powers of attorney to authorize third parties (such as a law firm) to handle the proceedings. In this case as well, the individual and their family members must grant you power of attorney.

• You have entered into an agreement with the relevant immigration office to carry out the expedited skilled worker procedure

Scope of State Services

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

Where necessary, the Foreigners’ Registration Office will initiate the procedure to determine the equivalence of a professional qualification obtained abroad or to evaluate a foreign college or university degree. The following documents must be submitted to carry out the procedure:

• A copy of the educational certificate in the original language and a German translation
• Tabular resume (in German) starting from the beginning of relevant education and training: including a complete list of all completed educational and training programs, as well as all previous employment
• If available: Proof of relevant professional experience in the original language and as a copy of the German translation (for example, employment certificates, employment records, letters of reference)
• If available: other credentials in the original language and as a copy of the German translation (for example, diplomas and certificates for continuing education, training programs, courses, and language proficiency)
• a statement in German, signed by the qualified professional, confirming that no application for a determination of equivalence has yet been filed in the Federal Republic of Germany
• If the name on your passport differs from the name on your educational certificate: Provide a copy of the proof of name change in the original language and a German translation.

If necessary, after the procedure to determine the equivalence of the professional qualification obtained abroad has been successfully completed, the Foreigners’ Registration Office will seek approval from the Federal Employment Agency. To involve the Federal Employment Agency, a fully completed form titled “Declaration of Employment, including supplementary sheet,” signed by the employer, must be submitted. (See “Applications/Forms.”)

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

• Color copies of the passports of all family members
• Powers of Attorney for Family Members Joining the Applicant (see “Applications/Forms”)

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

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

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

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

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

In the case of family reunification with a skilled worker, the application must be submitted to the relevant German diplomatic or consular mission within 6 months of the skilled worker’s entry into Germany.

Under the Accelerated Skilled Worker Procedure, there is a maximum of 16 weeks between the initiation of the procedure and the issuance of the visa by the relevant German diplomatic mission abroad.

• Section 81a of the Residence Act (AufenthG)

  (For the Fast-Track Skilled Worker Procedure)

Concurrent dual procedures (the Expedited Skilled Worker Procedure and the regular visa procedure) are not permitted.

• Application for Registration of a Business with the Chamber of Skilled Trades (Foreign Nationals) (PDF Application)
• Application for Permission to Use a Professional Title in a Nursing Profession (Foreign Nationals) (PDF Application)
• Application for Permission to Use the Professional Title in a Health Care Profession (PDF Application)
• Application for a Determination of Equivalence under Sections 81a of the Residence Act (AufenthG) and 14a of the Federal Qualifications Act (BQFG) (PDF Application)
• Declaration Regarding Employment Status (Immigration) (PDF document)
• Flyer: Expedited Skilled Worker Process (PDF document)
• List of Documents to Be Submitted to the IHK (PDF document)
• Fact Sheet: Elderly Care Outside the EU (PDF document)
• Information Sheet on Nursing Care for Non-EU Citizens (PDF document)
• Model Agreement Pursuant to Section 81a(2) of the Residence Act (PDF document)
• Power of Attorney for Applying for an Expedited Skilled Worker Procedure (PDF document)
• List of Diplomatic Missions of the Federal Republic of Germany Abroad and Honorary Consuls (PDF document)
• Power of Attorney for Applying for Family Reunification - Spouse (PDF document)
• Power of Attorney for Applying for Family Reunification—with Children (PDF document)
• Power of Attorney for Applying for an Expedited Skilled Worker Procedure (PDF document)
• Supplementary Sheet A to the “Declaration of Employment” Form (Foreign Nationals) (PDF document)
• Supplementary Sheet B to the “Declaration of Employment” Form (PDF document)
• Supplement C to the “Declaration of Employment” Form (PDF Application)
• Supplement D to the “Declaration of Employment” Form (PDF document)