A fast-track procedure for skilled workers: Because great talent can't wait, and neither can we.

The fast-track procedure for skilled workers offers you the opportunity to shorten the entire process until you enter Germany. The requirement is that you, as the employer, and the skilled worker from a third country (a country outside the EU, the EEC and Switzerland) have agreed on an employment contract and that entry should occur as quickly as possible. 

The fast-track procedure for skilled workers allows you to better plan the processes associated with the entry of a foreign skilled worker. Our goal is to support you throughout the entire procedure. This enables us to minimize the administrative effort on your behalf, so your desired employment can begin as soon as possible.

The fast-track procedure for skilled workers is applicable when a foreign person wants to come to Germany:

  • to undertake vocational training or in-company training
  • to have a foreign professional qualification recognized,
  • to work as a skilled worker with a vocational qualification,
  • to work as a skilled worker with an academic qualification, or
  • to  take up another qualified employment.

We are looking forward to your application!

If you, as an employer, and the skilled worker have already agreed on an employment or apprenticeship contract, you can apply for the fast-track procedure for skilled workers. To do so, you will need authorisation from the skilled worker. You can submit your application online in the section: Online-Application. 

There you can find all the information you need for the application.

As soon as we have received the application, we will not only check whether the fast-track procedure for skilled workers is recommended, but also advise you on the recognition of foreign qualifications. 

An agreement between the employer and the LZF can then be concluded. This agreement includes the obligations of the employer, of the skilled worker and the involved authorities, as well as a description of the procedures and deadlines. For the procedure a fee of 411,00 € is required (fees for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications and visa fees are not included). 

We are happy to support you as a central procedural facilitator

As a next step, we will initiate the procedure for determining the equivalence of the foreign qualification with the relevant recognition authority, if required (e.g., Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart, Chamber of Crafts (HWK), Chamber of Industry and Commerce Foreign Skills Approval (IHK FOSA)). Finally, we will obtain the approval for employment from the Federal Employment Agency on your behalf. 

Once all requirements are met, we will issue the so-called preliminary approval. We will send it to you as the employer so you can forward it to the skilled worker and also to send it to the competent German mission abroad. 

We accompany your process up to the preliminary approval stage

You, as the skilled worker, can now apply for the visa at the German mission abroad with your original documents and the preliminary approval. The fast-track procedure for skilled workers has generally shortened deadlines, including for scheduling appointments and issuing the visa. The German mission abroad will check whether entry can actually take place.

Please be aware that the preliminary approval, is not a guarantee for the issuing of a visa.

Promoting talents, 
connecting opportunities