Visa Germany from Western Balkans
Here you will find all information on applying for a visa from the Western Balkans (Section 26, Paragraph 2 of the Employment Ordinance)
Immigrating from the Western Balkans to Germany
On this page you will find all the information you need to apply for a visa from your home country or country of residence . In this respect, special rules apply for each nationality . This applies not only to visa-free status, but also to the possibility of working and the qualifications required for this (see Section 26 of the Employment Ordinance ) and the question of whether the visa can be applied for directly in Germany (see Section 41 of the Residence Ordinance ). In this respect, some nationals are clearly privileged compared to other foreigners. This differentiation is not only evident in the possibility of applying for a visa at all, but also in the availability of appointments and processing speed at the respective embassies or foreign missions.
In this article on visa law for citizens of certain nationalities you will find out all the special visa regulations that apply to your nationality .
Table of Content
1. Western Balkans visa to Germany
1.1 What is the Western Balkans Regulation?
1.2 Which countries can make use of the Western Balkans arrangement?
2. Requirements for a Western Balkans visa for Germany
2.1 Visa requirements from the Western Balkans
2.2 Special features of the Western Balkans visa
3. Formal visa procedure Western Balkans
3.1 How do I apply for a work visa from the Western Balkans for Germany?
3.2 Get an appointment for a Western Balkans visa
4. Required documents for a work visa for the Western Balkans
5. FAQ Western Balkans Visa for Germany
1. Western Balkans visa to Germany
1.1 What is the Western Balkans Regulation?
The Western Balkans regulation is regulated in Section 26 Paragraph 2 Sentence 1 of the Employment Ordinance and is an option provided by the legislature for the immigration of qualified and unskilled workers . The norm thus breaks the dogma of skilled immigration, as the Western Balkans regulation allows unskilled immigration to the German labor market. This is an exception in German migration law (see only Section 18 of the Residence Act). In this respect, training (or a degree) recognized in Germany is normally necessary in order to apply for a work visa for Germany (see Section 18 Paragraph 2 No. 4 of the Residence Act). 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. The aim was to reduce irregular migration and create legal immigration opportunities. Historically, the regulation results from the aftermath of the Yugoslavian wars in the 1990s, which led to economic instability and high unemployment in many of these countries. The Western Balkans Regulation therefore offered an opportunity to help these states economically and reduce the pressure on the German asylum system.
1.2 Which countries can make use of the Western Balkans arrangement?
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 apply for a visa, 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 regime and cannot apply for a visa under the Western Balkans regime, even if they are currently staying in one of the Western Balkan countries.
2. Requirements for a Western Balkans visa for Germany
2.1 Visa requirements from the Western Balkans
For a successful visa application under the Western Balkans regulation, several requirements must be met. Firstly, the applicant must come from one of the Western Balkan countries (see above). However, other criteria must also be met in order to receive a visa. One of the most important points is the existence of an employment contract , which ideally has already been signed and checked by the Federal Employment Agency . Alternatively, a sufficiently concrete job offer can also be proven. However, it is necessary to prove the seriousness of the employment relationship.
Another important requirement concerns income. The applicant must prove that his or her livelihood is secure in Germany ( Section 5, Paragraph 1, No. 1 of the Residence Act ). This means that the salary corresponds to the requirements of the German wage atlas and is comparable to the income of domestic employees. This is the only way to ensure that no discriminatory wage differences arise (see Section 39, Paragraph 3, No. 1 of the Residence Act ). The quota must also not yet be exhausted . The Western Balkans regulation allows up to 50,000 visas to be issued each year (see Section 26, Paragraph 2 of the Employment Ordinance). If 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 in the last 24 months. The visa application will only have a chance of success if all of these criteria are met.
2.2 Special features of the Western Balkans visa
The Western Balkans visa also has the special feature that the visa cannot be applied for in Germany (see Section 26 Paragraph 2 Sentence 2 of the Residence Ordinance). The visa requirement under Section 5 Paragraph 2 of the Residence Act is therefore mandatory in the case of the Western Balkans regulation and the immigration authorities cannot waive the visa requirement for the Western Balkans visa. If you are already in Germany, you cannot apply for the Western Balkans visa here. In this case, you must travel back to one of the Western Balkan countries and apply for the visa there .
3. Formal visa procedure Western Balkans
3.1 How do I apply for a work visa from the Western Balkans for Germany?
The visa process for the Western Balkans regulation differs slightly from the processes at other embassies, as regular appointments cannot be booked for the Western Balkans regulation, but rather the allocation of appointments has previously been decided by lottery. However, this process was adjusted in June 2024, so that an appointment can now be booked with prior approval from the Federal Employment Agency.
3.2 Get an appointment for a Western Balkans visa
Since the latest reform, booking an appointment for the Western Balkans arrangement is only possible with prior approval from the Federal Employment Agency . This means that the appointment for the Western Balkans visa cannot be booked via the embassy website as usual. Instead, a so-called prior approval procedure must be carried out at the Federal Employment Agency beforehand ( see section 4 of our VISAGUARD Human Resource Guide for the prior approval procedure ). If the prior approval procedure has been successfully completed, the Federal Employment Agency will provide you with a “ customer number ” with the prior approval sent. You must then enter this customer number in the appointment booking form with the respective embassy appointment provider in order to be able to receive an appointment for the Western Balkans visa ( see VISAMETRIC appointment booking for a Western Balkans visa at the Tirana embassy, for example ).
After booking an appointment through the external visa service provider, the visa procedure then continues as usual ( see VISAGUARD guide to visa applications ).
4. Required documents for a work visa for the Western Balkans
To apply for a Western Balkan visa in accordance with Section 26 Paragraph 2 of the Employment Ordinance, the following documents must generally be submitted to the embassy or external service provider:
fully completed and personally signed application form
Fees of 75 euros (usually in the local currency at the exchange rate)
2 biometric passport photos , not older than 6 months, against a white background, measuring 45 x 35 millimeters
passport valid for at least 6 months with two blank pages
prior approval of the Federal Employment Agency
Original and additional copy of the employment contract (with job title, period of employment, gross salary per month and working hours per week)
completed declaration of employment relationship
proof of health insurance coverage
if applicable, proof of retirement provision (if older than 45 years, see Section 18 Paragraph 2 No. 5 of the Residence Act)
if applicable, data protection instructions and consent ( e.g. in accordance with Section 18 Paragraph 2 No. 4a of the Residence Act )
if necessary for nursing assistants: recognized language certificate B1
Different documents may be required at each embassy in the Western Balkans. In addition, the foreign representation may request additional documents for review in individual cases. You should therefore check the embassy's website before submitting your application to find out which documents are required in your case ( see, for example, the information from the Sarajevo embassy on the documents required for a Western Balkans visa ).
5. FAQ Western Balkans Visa for Germany
How high is the quota for the Western Balkans arrangement?
According to Section 26 Paragraph 2 of the Employment Ordinance, the quota for the Western Balkans Regulation is 50,000 visa applications
Can regulated professions also be practiced with the Western Balkans visa?
No. Although no qualifications are required to apply for a visa under the Western Balkans regulation, regulated professions (e.g. doctor or nurse) may not be practiced, as these professions require a state permit. Without this permit, the visa cannot be issued (see Section 18 Paragraph 2 No. 3 of the Residence Act ).
Can I apply for the 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 knowledge of German to apply for the Western Balkans visa?
No, by law, knowledge of German is not required to apply for a Western Balkans visa. However, knowledge of German may be indirectly required if it is necessary for the desired profession. This is particularly true in the nursing sector.
THIS MAY ALSO INTEREST YOU
Information from the Federal Employment Agency on the Western Balkans Regulation
Information on the permanent extension of the Western Balkans regulation in the Handwerskblatt
Literature: Offer/Mävers, BeschV, 2nd edition 2022, § 26 BeschV
