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Accelerated skilled worker procedure
The most important information from the lawyer on the implementation of the accelerated skilled worker procedure according to Section 81a of the Residence Act.
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what the accelerated skilled worker procedure is
how long the accelerated skilled worker procedure takes
for which residence permits the accelerated skilled worker procedure applies
how you can complete the accelerated skilled worker procedure
Table of Contents
1. What is the accelerated skilled worker procedure?
2. How long does the accelerated skilled worker procedure take?
3. Which authority is responsible for the accelerated skilled worker procedure?
4. Which residence permits can be applied for using the accelerated skilled worker procedure?
5. Implementation of the accelerated skilled worker procedure
6. FAQ Accelerated skilled worker procedure
7. Conclusion
1. What is the accelerated skilled worker procedure?
The visa application process is complex and non-transparent. Approval from many different authorities is required for the visa to be ultimately granted. This applies in particular to the following authorities:
the Federal Employment Agency must decide on access to the labour market,
Recognition bodies must decide on professional recognition,
the immigration authorities must decide whether the residence requirements are met,
The embassy must decide whether there are security concerns and grounds for refusal.
Since these processes are virtually impossible for non-legal experts to manage (and even more so to understand), the legislature has created the possibility of consolidating all processes at a central authority . These authorities are the state-specific Central Offices for Skilled Immigration. From a purely legal perspective, these central offices represent a separate immigration authority. While the central offices do not have the authority to decide on the numerous approvals, they act as service providers to the employer by representing the employer before the respective authorities in the respective approval procedures. This representation is called the "accelerated skilled worker procedure." By consolidating the various administrative procedures at the Central Office for Skilled Immigration, the process is intended to be significantly accelerated.
2. What deadlines apply in the accelerated skilled worker procedure?
In the accelerated skilled worker procedure, all authorities are bound by specific deadlines . The following deadlines apply:
the approval of the Federal Employment Agency will be deemed to have been granted fictitiously if the Federal Agency does not respond to the request from the Central Office for Skilled Immigration within one week ,
the recognition procedures must be carried out within 4 weeks instead of 4 months,
The embassy must offer a visa appointment within three weeks of receipt of the application and decide on the application within a further three weeks.
Unfortunately, the accelerated skilled worker procedure is not as accelerated in practice as its name initially suggests. In practice, the procedure has proven relatively ineffective. This is primarily due to the fact that the immigration authorities (which are supposed to act as service providers in the form of the Central Office for Skilled Immigration) are themselves completely overwhelmed . An additional problem is that the actual bottleneck in visa procedures is often the availability of appointments. Unfortunately, this also applies to appointments for issuing a visa under the accelerated skilled worker procedure. Even if this may sound sobering at first, in certain cases it can still be advisable to use the accelerated skilled worker procedure.
If you would like further advice on when and when not to use the accelerated skilled worker procedure, you should contact a lawyer specializing in immigration law .
3. Which immigration authority is responsible for implementing the accelerated skilled worker procedure?
As with the regular procedure, the local immigration authority is responsible for administering the accelerated skilled worker procedure. However, in some federal states, central immigration authorities are established for the accelerated skilled worker procedure. This is the case, for example, in the following federal states:
Bavaria: Central Office for the Immigration of Skilled Workers
Hamburg: Hamburg Welcome Center for Professionals
NRW: Central Office for Skilled Immigration North Rhine-Westphalia
Rhineland-Palatinate: Central Immigration Office for Skilled Immigration
Schleswig-Holstein: Central Office for Skilled Immigration Schleswig-Holstein
Make-it-in-germany.com has a A list of all existing immigration authorities for the accelerated skilled worker procedure has been published. The responsible authority is always the one within whose jurisdiction the business location where the skilled worker is to be employed is located (Section 31 (4) of the Residence Ordinance).
4. For which residence permits can the accelerated skilled worker procedure be used?
The residence permits that can be applied for using the accelerated skilled worker procedure are exhaustively listed in the law. They are the following:
EU Blue Card or employment as other skilled worker (especially IT specialists),
senior managers, executives and business specialists,
Residence permit for vocational training/in-company training,
Recognition of foreign qualifications (deficit notice),
Researchers, scientists, teachers.
Under certain conditions, the accelerated skilled worker procedure can be carried out not only for the respective skilled worker, but also for the accompanying family members.
5. Application and contract for the implementation of the accelerated skilled worker procedure
To implement the accelerated skilled worker procedure, the employer concludes a contract with the immigration authorities. The service to be provided by the immigration authorities under the contract is to mediate between the employer and the other parties involved in the procedure (e.g., the Federal Employment Agency and the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB)).
You can download a sample agreement here:
Download the Accelerated Skilled Worker Procedure Agreement (PDF)
Download Power of Attorney for the Accelerated Skilled Worker Procedure (PDF)
The template may need to be supplemented in individual cases, depending on the services (e.g. implementation of the recognition procedure) that the immigration authorities are required to provide.
6. FAQ (Accelerated skilled worker procedure)
Can third parties with power of attorney carry out the accelerated skilled worker procedure?
Yes, the employer does not have to conduct the accelerated skilled worker procedure itself. The accelerated skilled worker procedure can be carried out by law firms or, in certain cases, relocation service providers.
Can I also apply for pre-approval from the Federal Employment Agency at the same time?
Yes, employers have the right to choose between the respective procedures and are not restricted to one. Applying for a visa in parallel is also possible. However, parallel procedures should be avoided for reasons of procedural efficiency and can also be rejected by the immigration authorities due to a lack of interest in the substantive decision (procedural discretion).
Can I use the accelerated skilled worker procedure for the ICT card?
No, the accelerated skilled worker procedure is generally not aimed at posted workers (e.g. ICT card or international exchange of persons).
Does the immigration authority have to carry out the accelerated skilled worker procedure?
Yes, if the employer meets the requirements, the immigration authorities cannot refuse to carry out the accelerated skilled worker procedure.
How much does the accelerated skilled worker procedure cost?
The fee for the accelerated skilled worker procedure is EUR 411. The fee is usually charged after the cooperation agreement has been signed. Additional costs may be incurred for the recognition process, the professional practice permit, translations, document verification, and the actual visa process. The fee is non-refundable if the accelerated skilled worker procedure is unsuccessful (e.g., because a prerequisite is not met).
7. Conclusion
The accelerated skilled worker procedure pursuant to Section 81a of the Residence Act was created to support employers in recruiting international skilled workers and to streamline the complex visa process . To this end, all relevant administrative processes are centrally consolidated at a responsible immigration authority, which acts as a coordination office and varies from federal state to federal state. This authority coordinates with the Federal Employment Agency, recognition agencies, and diplomatic missions abroad on behalf of the employer. The goal is to enable faster visa issuance through set deadlines and coordinated processes.
In practice, however, it turns out that the procedure doesn't always live up to its promise. Overwork at the relevant authorities, especially the immigration authorities, as well as scheduling bottlenecks at embassies and recognition offices often lead to delays. Nevertheless, the procedure can be a sensible option under certain circumstances, especially if an embassy appointment is unavailable.
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List of Sources (Paywall)
[1] Kluth/Heusch, BeckOK, Aliens Law, 3rd edition 2025, § 81a
[2] Sebastian Klaus: With the handbrake on in the International Race for Talents: the accelerated skilled worker procedure (Section 81a of the Residence Act), ZAR 2022, 343
[3] Visa Handbook, Accelerated Skilled Worker Procedure, as of June 2024