Skilled workers & work visa
Overview page on skilled worker immigration and applying for German work visas.
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Skilled immigration is a broad area of law. It primarily encompasses the Residence Act (AufenthG) and the Employment Ordinance (BeschV). Within the Residence Act, skilled immigration is regulated in particular in Sections 18–20a of the Residence Act, i.e., in Section 4 of the Residence Act (AufenthG).
On this overview page, you will find a list of all VISAGUARD articles on the topics of skilled immigration , work visas, and labor law for foreigners (expat law). A focus is placed on skilled immigration for academic professionals, particularly the EU Blue Card pursuant to Section 18g of the Residence Act .
Specialist articles on the topic
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What is skilled immigration?
Skilled immigration refers to the targeted immigration of qualified workers from abroad to Germany. In contrast to the broader definition of labor migration, skilled immigration only includes migrant workers with vocational or academic training ( Sections 18 et seq. of the Residence Act ). Self-employed workers and freelancers (Section 21 of the Residence Act) are not considered skilled workers within the meaning of the Residence Act, as they are not employed (but rather self-employed).
Skilled immigration law primarily deals with the conditions and procedures for granting residence permits to foreign skilled workers. These include:
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Employment visas for skilled workers
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Residence permit for skilled workers
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Settlement permit for long-term labor migration
What are skilled workers?
The term "skilled worker" is defined by law (so-called legal definition). According to Section 18, Paragraph 3 of the Residence Act, anyone who possesses one of the following qualifications is recognized as a skilled worker:
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a qualified domestic vocational training, or
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an equivalent foreign professional qualification (including academic degrees).
If the skilled worker completed their vocational or academic training abroad, the foreign training must be recognized in Germany. In the case of academic skilled workers, recognition is verified using the publicly accessible Anabin database . For vocational training, a different recognition process is usually required depending on the profession and federal state.
Principle of skilled immigration
Skilled worker immigration in Germany is primarily regulated by the Residence Act (AufenthG) and the Employment Ordinance (BeschV). Section 4 of the Residence Act deals with residence for the purpose of gainful employment and begins with the principle of skilled worker immigration ( Section 18 of the Residence Act ). According to the principle of skilled worker immigration, the admission of foreign workers is based on the requirements of Germany as a location for business and science, taking into account the conditions on the labor market. Skilled worker immigration serves to secure the skilled worker and labor force base and to strengthen the social security systems. They are geared towards the sustainable integration of skilled workers and workers with extensive professional experience into the labor market and society, while taking into account the interests of public safety.
Important residence permits for skilled workers
The term skilled immigration includes in particular the following residence permits:
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Skilled workers with vocational and academic training (§§ 18a, 18b Residence Act)
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Researchers (§§ 18d ff. Residence Act)
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Settlement permit for skilled workers (Section 18c of the Residence Act)
Skilled Immigration Act (PDF)
The legal regulations governing skilled immigration were introduced through various Skilled Immigration Acts (FEG) . However, these Skilled Immigration Acts are not directly applicable legal norms, but rather articles of law that have modified the Residence Act and the Employment Ordinance . The Skilled Immigration Acts are therefore part of the Residence Act (and the Employment Ordinance).
The previous skilled immigration laws can be found here:
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1. Skilled Immigration Act (FEG) of 15 August 2019 (PDF): Facilitating the immigration of qualified skilled workers from third countries, new regulations on residence permits for skilled workers, facilitation for those with professional qualifications.
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2. Skilled Immigration Act (FEG) of August 16, 2023 (PDF): Introduction of the Recognition Partnership, the Opportunity Card and further simplifications for skilled workers with professional experience.
Central Office for Skilled Immigration NRW
A key component of the skilled immigration laws are the central immigration authorities . According to the law, each federal state is required to establish such a central skilled immigration authority ( Section 71, Paragraph 1, Sentence 6 of the Residence Act ). This has not been consistently implemented in all federal states (but see, for example , our blog post: Lower Saxony Gets New Central Skilled Immigration Authority ). The Central Office for Skilled Immigration of North Rhine-Westphalia (ZFE NRW) is particularly prominent. It processes a high number of applications from nursing staff, as NRW is a major medical center.
Importance of skilled immigration
Given the shortage of skilled workers, targeted recruitment from abroad is essential for many companies. The legal simplifications provided by the skilled immigration laws facilitate entry and labor market access for qualified specialists. For companies, this means simplified application procedures and better planning for recruitment. The guides below provide skilled workers and companies with the necessary information to carry out skilled immigration quickly and legally.
Skilled Immigration Act (PDF)
The legal regulations governing skilled immigration were introduced through various Skilled Immigration Acts (FEG) . However, these Skilled Immigration Acts are not directly applicable legal norms, but rather articles of law that have modified the Residence Act and the Employment Ordinance . The Skilled Immigration Acts are therefore part of the Residence Act (and the Employment Ordinance).
The previous skilled immigration laws can be found here:
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1. Skilled Immigration Act (FEG) of 15 August 2019 (PDF): Facilitating the immigration of qualified skilled workers from third countries, new regulations on residence permits for skilled workers, facilitation for those with professional qualifications.
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2. Skilled Immigration Act (FEG) of August 16, 2023 (PDF): Introduction of the Recognition Partnership, the Opportunity Card and further simplifications for skilled workers with professional experience.
