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Glossary: CEO Visa
Category: Visa & Residence Permits (Residence permit as short-term or long-term visa or temporary residence permit according to § 4 para. 1 sentence 2 no. 1, no. 2 AufenthG )
Author: Mirko Vorreuter , LL.B. , Attorney at Law and Specialist Attorney for Immigration Law (License examination via the Federal Official Directory of Lawyers possible)
Image description: The image shows a binding sample CEO visa issued by a foreign mission (embassies and (general) consulates) according to the model of Regulation (EC) No. 1683/95 on a uniform visa format . Regulation (EC) No. 1683/95 on a uniform visa format has been transposed into German law by Section 59 of the Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) . The visa stamp is printed in Annex D13a of the Residence Ordinance .
If the CEO visa is not issued abroad by a German embassy or consulate, but rather domestically by the immigration authorities as an " electronic residence permit (eAT) " pursuant to Section 78 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG ), the template for the CEO visa is governed by Council Regulation (EC) No. 1030/2002 of 13 June 2002 on the uniform format of residence permits for third-country nationals , which is regularly updated. In exceptional cases, the CEO visa can then also be affixed to the passport by the immigration authorities as an adhesive label ("visa sticker") pursuant to Section 78a of the German Residence Act (AufenthG). Unlike the electronic residence permit, the corresponding template for the adhesive label is not regulated under European law in Regulation (EC) No. 1030/2002, but nationally in Annex D14 of the German Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) (residence permit pursuant to Section 4 Paragraph 1 Nos. 2 to 4 of the German Residence Act ).
Under “Remarks” (or on the supplementary sheet ) the scope of permitted employment must be entered ( § 4a AufenthG ). Under “Remarks” the material validity period of the visa must also be entered if this differs from the formal validity period (e.g., due to an expiring passport (“Title materially valid until …”)).
Table of contents
1. What does a CEO visa look like (image)?
2. Definition of CEO Visa
3. Who needs a CEO visa?
4. Example CEO Visa
5. Important information about the CEO visa
5.1 Duration of CEO Visa
5.2 CEO Visa Extension
5.3 Costs of CEO Visa
5.4 Processing time for CEO visa
5.5 Authority responsible for CEO visa
6. Rights and Options CEO Visa
6.1 Work permit with the CEO visa
6.2 Study, school, language course with the CEO visa
6.3 Family reunification with the CEO visa
6.4 Travel and stays abroad with the CEO visa
6.5 Eligible group of persons for CEO visa
7. Requirements for a CEO Visa
8. Required documents for CEO visa
9. Apply for a CEO visa online
10. Advantages of a CEO Visa
11. Permanent residence permit with CEO visa
11.1 Path from CEO visa to permanent residence permit
11.2 Path from CEO visa to naturalization
11.3 Next steps CEO visa
12. Legal basis for CEO visa
13. Important laws regarding CEO visas
14. Important rulings on CEO visas
15. Frequently Asked Questions about the CEO Visa
16. Further information
16.1 CEO visa in other glossaries
16.2 Related Topics
16.3 Blog posts about the CEO visa
16.4 Glossary entries for the CEO visa
16.5 Sources and references for the CEO visa
CEO Visa Definition
The CEO visa according to Section 3 of the German Employment Ordinance (BeschV) (legally correct: residence permit for senior executives, authorized members of the governing body of a legal entity, and business specialists; English: CEO visa) usually refers to a short-term Schengen visa issued for the purpose of performing management tasks (especially company management/business projects in Germany). The CEO visa is very similar to the Schengen business visa ( Section 16 BeschV ), although the CEO visa is more strongly focused on actual work assignments within Germany.
The CEO visa can also be issued as a long-term visa . In practice, however, a skilled worker qualification (especially the EU Blue Card according to § 18g of the German Residence Act) is usually chosen for long-term stays by executives, which is why the long-term CEO visa is effectively limited to cases in which the applicant does not have a qualification recognized in Germany.
Who needs a CEO visa?
The CEO visa, as defined in Section 3 of the Employment Ordinance (BeschV ), is required by all board members, CEOs, executives, and business specialists who wish to pursue a management position in Germany and do not meet the requirements for a work visa (e.g., regarding the recognition of their qualifications). In practice, the CEO visa is primarily relevant for short-term business projects (e.g., establishing a subsidiary in Germany), although it is often superseded by the significantly less restrictive business visa ( Section 16 BeschV ). The CEO visa also plays a practical role for executives when a specific work permit can no longer be extended (e.g., for specialty chefs as defined in Section 11 Paragraph 2 BeschV).
Important information about the CEO visa
Duration of CEO visa
The CEO visa in the narrower sense for initial entry pursuant to Section 6 Paragraph 3 of the German Residence Act ( D visa for employment ) is usually issued for a period of 6-12 months (see visa handbook ). Residence permits for CEOs within Germany are generally limited to the duration of the employment contract or secondment . If the employment contract is permanent, the CEO visa is issued for a period of 4 years ( Section 18 Paragraph 4 of the German Residence Act ).
CEO visa extension
An extension of the CEO visa (as a residence permit) is possible as long as the employment contract/contract remains valid. The extension application can be easily submitted to the immigration office.
CEO visa costs
The fee for issuing a national visa for CEOs (category "D") is €75, and for extending a national visa (category "D") it is €25 (§ 45 para. 2 of the German Residence Ordinance). If the CEO visa is applied for in Germany at the immigration office (CEO visa as a residence permit ), the fee is €100 (§ 45 no. 1 of the German Residence Ordinance). Legal fees, potential court costs , and translation and authentication costs may also apply, depending on the specific case.
CEO visa processing time
CEO visa applications are generally given priority by German embassies and consulates and immigration authorities upon initial issuance, as they are an important type of work visa and labor migration to Germany (from most countries) is encouraged. The processing time typically averages between one and four months, depending on the issuing authority and the quality of the submitted documents. After three months, an action for failure to act can be filed to expedite the CEO visa application ( § 75 VwGO ).
Competent authority CEO visa
Applications for a national visa (long-term CEO visa) or a Schengen visa (short-term business visa) must be submitted to the relevant German missions abroad (embassies and consulates). If the CEO visa is to be applied for domestically ( residence permit for CEOs), the immigration authorities are responsible ( § 71 para. 1 of the German Residence Act ).
Rights and options CEO visa
Work permit CEO visa
The CEO visa authorizes the holder to engage in the employment for which it is issued (so-called employer commitment). The scope of permitted employment is defined in the supplementary provisions (“Remarks” on the plastic card or in the so-called supplementary sheet). Other employment is generally not permitted with a CEO visa (see Section 4a Paragraph 2 of the German Residence Act ), unless it is a so-called “ fiction of non-employment ” (e.g., a business trip ). Self-employment ( gainful employment ) is generally not permitted with a CEO visa, unless it is allowed in the supplementary provisions (“Remarks” on the plastic card or in the supplementary sheet) (this is sometimes the case in Berlin, for example).
Studies , school , language course , CEO visa
Attending university, school, and language courses is possible with any residence permit, including a CEO visa . No separate permit is required.
Family reunification CEO visa
Family reunification for the holder of a CEO visa is generally always possible ( § 29 para. 1 no. 1 of the German Residence Act ). With a CEO visa, even parental and stepparent reunification with an adult child is possible if the CEO visa was issued after March 1, 2024 (see § 36 para. 3 of the German Residence Act ).
Travel and stays abroad CEO visa
Entry to and exit from Germany with a CEO visa is straightforward as long as the visa is valid . A certificate of deemed residence is required for travel with an expired CEO visa. Stays abroad of up to six months are permitted with a CEO visa ( § 51 para. 1 no. 7 of the German Residence Act ). However, the CEO visa expires even before the six-month period if the departure is for a non-temporary reason ( § 51 para. 1 no. 6 of the German Residence Act ). The strongest indication of a non-temporary reason for departure is the deregistration of one's residence (so-called registration gap).
Eligible group of people for CEO visa
All non-European foreigners (third-country nationals) who hold a management position in a German company are eligible to receive a CEO visa . According to Section 3 of the Employment Ordinance (BeschV), this includes the following groups of people:
Senior employees and managers (e.g. department heads in a corporation)
Members of the governing body of a legal entity who are authorized to represent it legally (e.g., the board of directors of a public limited company)
People who possess company-specific specialist knowledge
It is important to note, however, that the position must not merely be named abstractly in the employment contract /managing director service agreement. A purely formal position is insufficient for the assumption of a senior executive or CEO. It is necessary that the foreign national is actually intended to act as a senior executive or CEO with these powers (OVG Koblenz BeckRS 2020, 648; VG Potsdam BeckRS 2022, 7049; VG Düsseldorf BeckRS 2016, 53097).
Requirements for a CEO visa
The requirements for a CEO visa vary depending on the type of CEO visa being applied for (executive director, board member, corporate specialist) and whether the application is submitted abroad at a foreign mission (embassy or consulate) or domestically at the immigration office. Furthermore, a distinction must be made between long-term (90 days or more) and short-term (up to 90 days) CEO visas.
Die Voraussetzungen für ein langfristiges CEO-Visum sind grundsätzlich wie folgt:
Antragsteller ist leitender Angestellter (§ 3 Nr. 1 BeschV) oder Mitglied des Organs einer juristischen Person/des Unternehmens (§ 3 Nr. 2 BeschV) oder Unternehmensspezialist (§ 3 Nr. 3 BeschV)
Antragsteller besitzt die Fähigkeiten, Kenntnisse und Erfahrung, um die Leitungsfunktion auch in Deutschland auszuüben (sonst ist der Antrag unplausibel)
Antragsteller bezieht ein überdurchschnittliches Gehalt (sonst ist der Antrag unplausibel)
Antragsteller übt die Leitungsfunktion auch tatsächlich in Deutschland aus (kein CEO-Visum bei nur formell eingeräumter Leitungsfunktion)
Bundesagentur für Arbeit hat der Beschäftigung zugestimmt (§ 18 Abs. 2 Nr. 2 AufenthG)
Berufsausübungserlaubnis wurde erteilt oder zugesagt, wenn eine solche erforderlich ist (§ 18 Abs. 2 Nr. 3 AufenthG)
Antragsteller und Arbeitgeber versichern, dass die Tätigkeit auch tatsächlich ausgeübt werden soll (Vermeidung von Scheinbeschäftigungen, § 18 Abs. 2 Nr. 4a AufenthG)
Behörde übt das Ermessen positiv für den Antragsteller aus (§ 19c Abs. 1 AufenthG ist eine Ermessensnorm)
Lebensunterhaltssicherung: vollwertige Krankenversicherung (“substitutive” Krankenversicherung gemäß § 2 Abs. 3 AufenthG) und ausreichender Wohnraum
Gültiger Pass und gesicherte Identität (§ 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1a, Nr. 3 AufenthG)
Keine andauernden Ermittlungen/kein anhängiges Strafverfahren gegen den Antragsteller (siehe § 79 Abs. 2 AufenthG)
Kein Ausweisungsinteresse (keine negativen AZR/SIS/VIS-Einträge), keine Sicherheitsgefahr, keine Vorstrafen (§ 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 2, Nr. 3 AufenthG) und keine Einreisesperre (§ 11 AufenthG)
Keine speziellen Ablehnungsgründe (z.B. § 10 AufenthG) und keine Erlöschensgründe (§ 51 AufenthG) vorhanden
Bei Erstbeantragung als Aufenthaltserlaubnis im Inland: Legale Ersteinreise mit Visum gemäß § 5 Abs. 2 AufenthG (wenn nicht Best-Friends-Staatsangehöriger, § 41 AufenthV)
These requirements generally also apply to the short-term CEO visa . However, in practice, the short-term CEO visa has significantly fewer requirements, as it is simply a form of Schengen visa used to exercise the deemed non-employment provision of Section 30 of the Employment Ordinance (BeschV) in conjunction with Section 3 of the Employment Ordinance (BeschV) . Approval from the Federal Employment Agency is not required in this case, as Section 18 Paragraph 2 Number 2 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) does not apply to Schengen visas.
Required documents for CEO visa
When applying for a CEO visa, particular attention should be paid to the employment contract , as this serves as proof of the managerial position required for the visa. CEO visas are also subject to rigorous scrutiny by the authorities regarding their plausibility , since their lack of prerequisites makes them a suitable means of circumventing other labor migration regulations. Most work visas require recognized qualifications obtained in Germany ( skilled worker immigration ). Many employees and employers attempt to bypass this recognition process by applying for a CEO visa. Therefore, the authorities carefully examine the powers outlined in the employment contract and specifically assess whether the managerial position is clearly demonstrated by the applicant's resume.
Generally, the following documents are required to apply for a CEO visa :
Application form ( VIDEX form when applying for a visa abroad; when applying for a residence permit at the immigration office, the specific form depends on the authority (e.g. contact form or appointment booking))
Valid passport (valid for at least 3 months after planned departure from Germany, the passport must have at least 2 blank pages and must have been issued within the previous 10 years)
Signed employment contract in German or English
Declaration regarding the employment relationship of the Federal Employment Agency
A CV that clearly demonstrates that the management position can actually be filled.
For managing directors: registration in the commercial register and power of attorney; For specialists: a reasoned statement from the employer explaining why the potential employee is particularly qualified and suitable for the intended position.
Proof of health and accident insurance in accordance with EU standards (valid for the entire EU area; minimum coverage: €30,000 including repatriation in case of illness or death; valid from the day of entry for the entire stay)
Other formalities:
Only required if applying through an authorized representative (e.g., a lawyer ): Power of attorney
When applying for a visa in a country other than the country of origin: valid residence permit of the respective country.
Fees for the residence permit
Photograph (passport photo) that complies with the standards of Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 ; see also sample photos of the Federal Foreign Office
Depending on the authority: Data protection declaration/Consent to data processing
If the foreigner's name in the submitted documents differs from the name in the passport : Certificate of name change
Apply for a CEO visa online
The CEO visa cannot usually be applied for online, as it has relatively low practical relevance. Therefore, the CEO visa must be applied for in person at both the German embassy or consulate abroad and at the immigration office, unless it can be applied for via the general contact form.
Advantages of a CEO visa
Staying in Germany and multiple entries into Germany are possible.
Studying or taking a language course is possible in Germany.
A work permit for Germany with a CEO visa is possible even without recognized qualifications.
CEO visa applications are often given priority by the authorities.
Conversion of the (long-term) CEO visa into a residence permit is possible.
Conversion of the (long-term) CEO visa into naturalization is possible.
The path from CEO visa to permanent residence permit
The short-term CEO visa (Schengen visa) cannot be converted into a permanent residence permit . The long-term CEO visa ( Section 19c Paragraph 1 of the German Residence Act in conjunction with Section 3 of the German Employment Ordinance ) can be converted into a permanent residence permit after five years according to the general rules (Sections 9 and 9a of the German Residence Act), provided the requirements are met. The preferential treatment for skilled workers when applying for a permanent residence permit ( Section 18c of the German Residence Act ) does not apply to the CEO visa.
The path from CEO visa to naturalization
Naturalization with a CEO visa is possible, as the residence permit for CEOs is not excluded in Section 10 Paragraph 1 Sentence 1 No. 3 of the German Nationality Act (StAG) .
Next steps for CEO visa
If you wish to apply for a CEO visa , you should first verify whether your leadership position can be sufficiently demonstrated. Particular emphasis is usually placed on the powers stipulated in your employment contract (e.g., the right to dismiss employees or conclude contracts on behalf of the company). You should also check whether your salary exceeds the corresponding average salary in Germany ( see the Salary Atlas ) to avoid having your application rejected as implausible. If you meet all the requirements for the CEO visa, you can submit your application to the relevant authority (e.g., online or in person). Our lawyers will be happy to advise you on the specific requirements and assist you with the application process. → Book an appointment
Legal basis for CEO visa
The legal basis for the long-term CEO visa is Section 19c Paragraph 1 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) in conjunction with Section 3 of the German Employment Ordinance (BeschV) . According to Section 3 of the BeschV, approval may be granted to senior executives, members of the governing body of a legal entity authorized to represent it legally, or persons who possess special, particularly company-specific, expertise relevant to performing qualified employment in Germany. The legal basis for the short-term (Schengen) CEO visa is Section 6 Paragraph 1 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) in conjunction with Section 30 No. 1 of the BeschV.
Key rulings on CEO visas
A "company specialist" within the meaning of Section 3 No. 3 of the Employment Ordinance (BeschV) is a person who possesses specific (specialized) knowledge that is particularly relevant to the intended employment in the company and of particular benefit to the employer ( VGH Mannheim Decision of 4 October 2022 – 11 S 3478/21 ).
A purely formal position is not sufficient for the assumption of a senior executive. It is necessary that the foreigner is actually intended to act as a senior executive with these powers (OVG Koblenz BeckRS 2020, 648; VG Potsdam BeckRS 2022, 7049; VG Düsseldorf BeckRS 2016, 53097).
Key criteria for assuming a managerial position are the authority to make independent personnel decisions, general power of attorney or commercial power of representation, and the essentially independent performance of duties ( Higher Administrative Court Koblenz, decision of 13 January 2020, 7 B 11770/19.OVG ).
Frequently Asked Questions about CEO Visas
Which professional groups qualify for the CEO visa?
The CEO visa depends not on the profession, but on the position within the company. A CEO visa can be granted to senior executives, members of the governing body of a legal entity authorized to represent it legally, or company specialists (Section 3 of the Employment Ordinance).
Is a recognized degree and a certain salary required for the CEO visa?
No, the CEO visa does not require a recognized degree or a specific salary. However, the authorities will reject the application due to a lack of plausibility if no qualifications at all or only a low salary is demonstrated.
Is there a difference between a business visa and a CEO visa?
Yes, the (short-term) CEO visa is a type of business visa. However, the two visa types differ in content and purpose. This does not apply to the long-term CEO visa.
CEO visa in other glossaries
Sources and references for the CEO visa
( Government resources and literature )
[2] BeckOK AuslR/Klaus, 46th Ed. October 1, 2025, BeschV § 3 Rn. 1-55
[3] Kluth/Hornung/Koch, Immigration Law Handbook/Breidenbach, 4th ed. 2025, § 4 para. 386-391
[4] Klaus/Hammer: Discretionary decisions in the granting of residence permits in cases of labor migration, article by Klaus, Hammer, ZAR 2020, 2
[5] Specialty chef as a company specialist?, Note on the article by Dr. Christopher Hilgenstock in ArbRAktuell 2022, 597, LSK 2022, 46816533
Last updated: February 20, 2026
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