Skilled Immigration to Germany: Accelerated Work Visa Procedure for International Talent
The German labor market is currently facing a significant shortage of skilled workers. Sectors such as engineering, IT, and healthcare are particularly affected. Due to demographic change, the number of people of working age is steadily declining, while the demand for qualified professionals continues to grow. Studies show that around 43% of German companies are unable to fill open positions because suitable candidates cannot be found.
To secure economic growth and technological competitiveness, Germany has significantly opened its immigration policies for skilled workers in recent years. This includes, among other measures, eased requirements for the EU Blue Card, the introduction of the Skilled Immigration Act (Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz), and simplified and accelerated work visa procedures. These policies create new opportunities for highly qualified professionals from non-EU countries, particularly from countries with large talent pools such as China.
China has a large number of well-educated professionals in fields such as engineering, software development, and manufacturing. By optimizing visa and immigration procedures, Germany aims to attract these talents while simultaneously addressing the domestic shortage of skilled workers.
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Accelerated Skilled Worker Procedure under Section 81a of the German Residence Act
To enable international professionals to start working in Germany more quickly, the accelerated skilled worker procedure pursuant to Section 81a of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) was introduced in 2020.
This procedure is initiated by the German employer. The competent immigration authority takes on a coordinating role and aligns the necessary steps with other authorities at an early stage. This includes the recognition of university degrees and professional qualifications, approval from the Federal Employment Agency, and the examination of residence law requirements.
Through this coordinated process, processing times can be significantly reduced and the entire visa procedure becomes more predictable.
The accelerated procedure is particularly suitable for skilled professionals from non-EU countries, engineers and IT specialists, technical professionals and qualified employees, as well as individuals whose professional qualifications need to be recognized in Germany. In most cases, a concrete job offer from a German employer is required.
Although the procedure is legally available nationwide, the actual processing speed may vary depending on the federal state.
Baden-Württemberg: One-Stop Model of the State Agency for Skilled Immigration (LZF)
The federal state of Baden-Württemberg is considered a pioneer in implementing the accelerated skilled worker procedure. Here, the process is centrally managed by the State Agency for the Immigration of Skilled Workers (Landesagentur für die Zuwanderung von Fachkräften – LZF).
Unlike many other federal states where multiple local immigration offices are responsible, Baden-Württemberg operates a centralized one-stop model. The LZF handles, among other tasks, the recognition of academic degrees and professional qualifications, coordination with the Federal Employment Agency, and the examination of residence law requirements as well as the coordination of the visa process.
This centralized structure reduces repeated communication and multiple submissions of documents, which significantly accelerates the entire procedure. For international professionals—especially applicants from China who may be less familiar with the German administrative system—this model provides a higher level of predictability.
The LZF operates two main offices. The Stuttgart Regional Council is responsible for healthcare and nursing professions, while the Karlsruhe Regional Council (Department 8) handles engineers, IT specialists, and other technical professions.
Practical Case Example
Ecovis supported a company based in Karlsruhe in obtaining a German work visa for an employee from China. The employee originally held a bachelor’s degree in biology but later worked successfully in sales for many years. Due to his strong performance, he was invited by a German company to work in Germany.
During the visa process, Ecovis recommended that the employer use the accelerated skilled worker procedure under Section 81a of the Residence Act. Initially, the employee’s foreign degree was only partially recognized in Germany, meaning that an EU Blue Card could not be applied for directly. The Ecovis team analyzed the case, prepared additional supporting documents, and resubmitted the application to the responsible LZF authority.
Approval was granted within one week, and the employee received his visa two weeks later. The response and processing times of the LZF were significantly shorter than those in other federal states. In comparable cases handled by Ecovis through authorities in Frankfurt or Munich, waiting times were more than five times longer.
Accelerated Work Visas: Advantages for Companies and Skilled Workers
For German companies, the accelerated skilled worker procedure is an important tool for recruiting highly qualified professionals from non-EU countries. Through coordinated processing and early verification of requirements, visa procedures can be significantly shortened and the risk of delays or rejections can be reduced.
Ecovis has extensive experience in the field of skilled immigration and work visas for Germany. We support companies and international professionals throughout the entire process—from the initial eligibility assessment and strategic planning to the implementation of the accelerated procedure and the visa application itself. This enables qualified professionals to start working in Germany quickly and in full compliance with the law, while helping companies secure the talent they urgently need.
