Germany has set out the exact conditions under which professionally experienced workers from outside the country can obtain a visa for qualified employment, without needing formal recognition of their qualifications under German standards. The pathway, governed by Section 19c (2) of the German Residence Act together with Section 6 of the Ordinance on the Employment of Foreigners, is open to holders of non-academic vocational qualifications or academic degrees recognised by the government of the country where the qualification was obtained.
Who Qualifies and What Is Required
To be eligible, applicants must meet five key requirements. The first is qualification. A positive evaluation of the applicant's qualification must be obtained from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). For academic degrees, the ZAB can confirm state recognition in the country of study, or the qualification can be verified through the anabin database. Workers who completed vocational training through a German Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK) that meets the standards of the Vocational Training Act may also qualify, with the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) serving as the point of contact for confirmation.
Non-academic qualifications must have required at least two years of vocational training to be eligible. This ensures that the training is substantial and not merely a short course.
Professional Experience and Job Offer
The second requirement is professional experience. Applicants must demonstrate at least two years of qualified professional experience gained within the last five years. This experience must be directly relevant to the job they intend to take up in Germany. The third requirement is a concrete job offer in a non-regulated profession, which can be evidenced through an employment contract with a German employer. Non-regulated professions are those whose practice is not protected by law, and most vocational training occupations in Germany fall into this category.
According to the announcement, regulated professions are those where practice is protected by law, and thus they are not covered by this visa pathway. Applicants must therefore ensure their job offer is for a non-regulated role.
Salary Thresholds and Employment Approval
The fourth requirement is the gross salary. The minimum gross annual salary for the prospective role must be at least €45,630, based on 2026 figures. For workers aged over 45, the threshold is higher: the role must offer a gross annual salary of at least €55,770, or the applicant must demonstrate adequate pension provision. This higher threshold reflects the need for older workers to have sufficient financial security.
The fifth and final requirement is approval of employment. The employment must receive approval from the Federal Employment Agency (BA), which assesses whether the applicant's working conditions, including salary and hours, are comparable to those of domestic employees. This approval is typically handled by the visa section during the application process, and applicants are not required to initiate it themselves. However, the employer is required to complete a Declaration of Employment form as part of the process.
Impact and Related Developments
This visa pathway provides a clear route for foreign workers with professional experience to take up qualified employment in Germany, bypassing the often lengthy process of formal qualification recognition. The requirements are designed to ensure that workers are adequately qualified, have relevant experience, and are offered fair working conditions comparable to those of domestic employees.
In a related development, Legit.ng previously reported that Australia's Department of Home Affairs outlined the residence requirement foreigners must meet before applying for citizenship. Applicants must have lived in Australia on a valid visa for a number of years before the date they apply for citizenship, and the rules specify how much time applicants are allowed to have spent outside Australia during that period. The German visa requirements, along with Australia's citizenship rules, highlight the increasing specificity of immigration policies across developed nations.
