Residence permit; application for employment under the Western Balkans regulation

Citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia can obtain a residence permit for any employment in Germany under a special quota system.

Citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia can obtain a residence permit for any employment within the framework of the so-called Western Balkans regulation. This may also include unqualified employment. Recognition of any foreign professional qualifications is not required.

• Declaration of employment (see under "Forms")
• The documents to be submitted may vary considerably.

  Please enquire at your local immigration office. However, the following documents are usually required:

  • valid passport
  • current biometric photograph (frontal view)
  • Proof of secure means of subsistence
  • Proof of sufficient living space
  • Proof of health insurance cover
  • Proof of purpose of residence, e.g. employer's certificate or employment contract, marriage certificate
  • Further documents if necessary

Before a residence permit is issued, you must enter the country with the required visa. Within the framework of the Western Balkans regulation, the visa must be applied for and issued by the competent German diplomatic mission in the above-mentioned countries. Only then can the Federal Employment Agency give its legally required approval.

The number of first-time approvals by the Federal Employment Agency is limited to 50,000 per calendar year. The Federal Employment Agency carries out a so-called priority check. This checks whether the specific position can be filled by a person who is already registered as a jobseeker in Germany. Approval may not be granted if the applicant has received benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act in the 24 months prior to submitting the application. In the case of applicants who take up employment after reaching the age of 45, approval may only be granted if the applicant's salary is at least 55% of the annual contribution assessment ceiling for the general pension insurance scheme, unless the applicant can provide proof of an adequate pension.

Administrative court action

The residence permit must be applied for at the foreigners authority responsible for the place of residence.

The residence permit must be applied for at the relevant immigration authority in good time before the visa expires.

The processing time may vary. If necessary, please enquire at the responsible foreigners authority.

Issue: 100 EUR

Extension up to three months: 96 EUR

Extension for more than three months: 93 EUR

Any change of employer in Germany must be applied for in good time at the Foreigners' Registration Office.