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Western Balkans visa Germany
Here you will find all the information you need to apply for a visa from the Western Balkans (Section 26 (2) of the Employment Regulations).
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what the Western Balkans Regulation is
for which countries the Western Balkans Regulation applies
what are the requirements for a Western Balkans visa
How to apply for a Western Balkans visa (including appointment booking)
1. Immigration from the Western Balkans to Germany
2. What is the Western Balkans Regulation?
3. Which countries are subject to the Western Balkans Regulation?
4. Requirements for a Western Balkans visa for Germany
4.1 Nationality Western Balkans
4.2 Sufficient income and quota
4.3 Application from abroad
5. Visa procedure for the Western Balkans
5.1 Getting an appointment for a Western Balkans visa
5.2 Required documents for a work visa for the Western Balkans
6. FAQ Western Balkans Visa
7. Conclusion
1. Immigration from the Western Balkans to Germany
This page provides all the necessary information for applying for a visa from the Balkan region (so-called Western Balkans Regulation , Section 26 Paragraph 2 of the Employment Ordinance). Therefore, specific visa and work regulations apply to each nationality. Some nationals are thus clearly privileged compared to other foreigners. This differentiation is evident not only in the possibility of applying for a visa at all, but also in the availability of appointments and the processing speed of the respective embassies or diplomatic missions. This page covers visa and work regulations for people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, and Montenegro .
2. What is the Western Balkans Regulation?
The Western Balkans Regulation is governed by Section 26 Paragraph 2 Sentence 1 of the Employment Ordinance (BeschV) and is a legally provided option for the immigration of unskilled workers . This regulation thus breaks with the principle of skilled worker immigration, as the Western Balkans Regulation permits unskilled immigration to the German labor market. This constitutes an exception in German immigration law (see, for example, Section 18 of the Residence Act (AufenthG)). Normally, a qualification recognized in Germany (or a university degree) is required to apply for a work visa for Germany (see Section 18 Paragraph 2 Number 4 of the Residence Act (AufenthG)). This is not the case with the Western Balkans Regulation.
The Western Balkans Regulation in Germany was introduced in 2016 in response to the sharp increase in asylum applications from the Western Balkan states . Its aim was to reduce irregular migration and create legal immigration pathways. Historically, the regulation stemmed from the aftermath of the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s, which led to economic instability and high unemployment in many of these countries. The Western Balkans Regulation therefore offered a way to provide economic assistance to these states and alleviate the pressure on the German asylum system.
3. Which countries are subject to the Western Balkans Regulation?
According to Section 26 Paragraph 2 of the Employment Ordinance, only nationals of certain countries can apply for visas under the Western Balkans Regulation. To be eligible for such a visa application, the applicant must come from one of the following countries:
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( German Embassy Sarajevo )
Serbia ( German Embassy Belgrade )
Kosovo ( German Embassy Pristina )
Albania ( German Embassy in Tirana )
North Macedonia ( German Embassy Skopje )
Montenegro ( German Embassy Podgorica )
Nationals of other countries cannot benefit from the Western Balkans Regulation and cannot apply for a visa under the Western Balkans Regulation, even if they are currently in one of the Western Balkan countries.
4. Requirements for a Western Balkans visa for Germany
4.1 Nationality Western Balkans
Several requirements must be met for a successful visa application under the Western Balkans Regulation. First, the applicant must be a citizen of one of the Western Balkan countries (see above). However, further criteria must also be fulfilled to obtain a visa. One of the most important requirements is the existence of an employment contract , ideally already signed and reviewed by the Federal Employment Agency . Alternatively, a sufficiently concrete job offer can be provided. In this case, however, it is necessary to demonstrate the seriousness of the employment relationship.
4.2 Sufficient income and quota
Another important requirement concerns income. The applicant must prove that their livelihood in Germany is secured ( § 5 para. 1 no. 1 of the German Residence Act ). This means that their salary must comply with the German Salary Atlas and be comparable to the income of domestic workers . This is the only way to ensure that no discriminatory wage differences arise (see § 39 para. 3 no. 1 of the German Residence Act ). Furthermore, the quota must not yet be exhausted. The Western Balkans Regulation permits the issuance of up to 50,000 visas annually (see § 26 para. 2 of the Employment Ordinance). Once this quota is exhausted, no further applications can be approved. Finally, the applicant must not have received any benefits under the German Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act within the last 24 months. Only if all these criteria are met will the visa application have a chance of success.
4.3 Application from abroad
The Western Balkans visa has the additional peculiarity that it cannot be applied for in Germany (see Section 26 Paragraph 2 Sentence 2 of the Employment Ordinance). The visa requirement of Section 5 Paragraph 2 of the Residence Act is therefore mandatory in the case of the Western Balkans visa, and the immigration authorities cannot waive this requirement. If you are already in Germany, you cannot apply for the Western Balkans visa here. In that case, you must travel to one of the Western Balkan countries and submit the visa application there.
5. Visa procedure for the Western Balkans
The visa process for the Western Balkans Regulation differs slightly from the processes at other embassies, as regular appointments could not be booked for the Western Balkans Regulation; previously, appointments were allocated by lottery. However, this procedure was amended in June 2024, and appointments can now be booked with prior approval from the Federal Employment Agency. Further information on applying for prior approval from the Federal Employment Agency can be found in our VISAGUARD guide to Human Resource Compliance .
5.1 Getting an appointment for a Western Balkans visa
Since the latest reform, booking an appointment for a Western Balkans visa is only possible with prior approval from the Federal Employment Agency . Therefore, appointments for a Western Balkans visa can no longer be booked via the embassy website as before. Instead, a prior approval process with the Federal Employment Agency is required ( see section 4 of our VISAGUARD Human Resource Guide for details on the prior approval process ). If the prior approval process is successful, the Federal Employment Agency will send you a " customer number " along with the approval confirmation. You must then enter this customer number in the appointment booking form of the respective appointment provider at the embassy to secure an appointment for your Western Balkans visa ( see, for example, VISAMETRIC appointment booking for a Western Balkans visa at the Embassy in Tirana ). After booking the appointment through the external visa service provider, the visa application process proceeds as usual ( see the VISAGUARD guide to visa applications ).
5.2 Required documents for a work visa for the Western Balkans
To apply for a Western Balkans visa in accordance with Section 26 Paragraph 2 of the Visa Ordinance, the following documents must generally be submitted to the embassy or the external service provider:
Fully completed and personally signed application form
Fees amounting to 75 euros (usually in the local currency at the exchange rate)
2 biometric passport photos , no older than 6 months, against a white background, in the size 45 x 35 millimeters
Passport valid for at least 6 more months with two blank pages
Prior approval from the Federal Employment Agency
Original and additional copy of the employment contract (including job title, period of employment, gross salary per month and working hours per week)
Proof of health insurance coverage
Proof of retirement provision may be required (if older than 45 years, see Section 1 Paragraph 2 of the Employment Ordinance).
If applicable, data protection information and consent ( e.g. pursuant to Section 18 Paragraph 2 No. 4a of the Residence Act )
If applicable, for nursing assistants: recognized language certificate B1
Different embassies in the Western Balkans may require different documents. Furthermore, the embassy may request additional documents for verification in individual cases. Therefore, you should check the embassy's website before applying to find out which documents are required in your specific situation ( see, for example, the information provided by the German Embassy in Sarajevo regarding the necessary documents for a Western Balkan visa ).
6. FAQ Western Balkans Visa
What is the Western Balkans visa and who can apply for it?
The Western Balkans visa allows people from six Western Balkan states (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia) to work legally in Germany, even without recognized qualifications.
What are the requirements for a Western Balkans visa?
Applicants need a concrete employment contract and prior approval from the Federal Employment Agency and must be abroad at the time of application (§ 5 para. 1 no. 1, § 39 para. 3 no. 1, § 26 para. 2 sentence 2 BeschV).
How can I book an appointment for a Western Balkans visa?
An appointment can only be booked if prior approval has been granted by the Federal Employment Agency. Using the "customer number" obtained there, an appointment can be booked via VISAMETRIC or the respective embassy portal.
How do I know if there are currently any appointments available to apply for the Western Balkans Regulation?
The Federal Employment Agency provides an online overview showing which embassies currently accept applications under the Western Balkans Regulation.
Can regulated professions be practiced with a Western Balkans visa?
No. While no qualification is required for a visa application under the Western Balkans Regulation, regulated professions (e.g., doctor or nurse) may not be practiced, as these professions require a state license.
Can I apply for a Western Balkans visa if I am already in Germany?
No, the Western Balkans visa for Germany can only be applied for from abroad (see Section 26 Paragraph 2 Sentence 2 of the Employment Ordinance).
Do I need German language skills to apply for a Western Balkans visa?
No, legally, no knowledge of German is required to apply for a Western Balkans visa.
What is the quota for the Western Balkans regulation?
According to § 26 para. 2 of the Employment Ordinance, the quota for the Western Balkans regulation is 50,000 visa applications.
7. Conclusion
This page explains what the Western Balkans Regulation is and which nationalities it applies to. It also outlines the requirements for obtaining a visa under the Western Balkans Regulation. Furthermore, it describes how to apply for a Western Balkans visa, how to book an appointment, and which documents are required for the approval process with the Federal Employment Agency (BA) .
List of Sources (Paywall)
[1] Holger Kolb: The Skilled Immigration Act and the “Western Balkans Regulation” – Tensions and Contradictions, ZAR 2020, 267
[2] Visa Handbook, Facilitated access to the labour market for nationals of the Western Balkan states, 72nd supplement; as of 08/2020