To shorten the entry procedure, you as an employer can apply for the accelerated skilled worker procedure on behalf of your future employee. The fast-track procedure for skilled workers is aimed at foreigners who wish to enter Germany for a specific purpose (e.g., for the purpose of recognizing foreign professional qualifications or pursuing skilled employment as a skilled worker) and their accompanying family members, provided that their entry takes place within a reasonable time frame. Entry is considered to be in close temporal proximity if the family members enter the country no later than six months after the skilled worker's entry.

The fast-track skilled worker procedure is a voluntary offer. By law, the regular entry procedure remains open to you and your skilled worker.

The implementation of the fast-track procedure for skilled workers does not guarantee that a visa will be issued by the German diplomatic mission abroad.

• The foreign worker has a recognized and valid passport or passport substitute. In the case of family reunification, family members must also present valid passports.
• The foreign worker is entering the country for a specific purpose (for the purpose of vocational training, recognition of foreign professional qualifications, or to pursue skilled employment as a specialist).

The procedure can also be applied for other qualified employment purposes (e.g., for the purpose of research or to pursue employment as an IT specialist).

• There is an employment contract or a concrete job offer (the "Declaration of Employment" serves as proof of the concrete job offer, see "Further Information").
• No visa application has yet been submitted in the country of origin by the foreign worker. This also applies to spouses and children who wish to move to Germany together with the worker or later as part of family reunification.
• The foreign worker can cover their living expenses and health insurance from their income without claiming public benefits.
• The foreign worker has issued you with a power of attorney to carry out the accelerated skilled worker procedure. If family members of the foreign worker also wish to use the procedure, they must also issue a power of attorney.

You can also use sub-powers of attorney to authorize third parties (such as a law firm) to carry out the procedure. The skilled worker and their family members must also authorize you to do this.

You have concluded an agreement with the competent immigration authority to carry out the fast-track procedure for skilled workers.

• If you have any questions about the fast-track procedure for skilled workers, please contact your local immigration office and request a consultation. The immigration office will advise you on the steps involved in the procedure and the necessary involvement of other agencies.
• The immigration office responsible is the one in the location of the business where you want to employ your skilled worker, unless a central immigration office has been set up in your federal state.
• To apply for the fast-track procedure for skilled workers, you will need a power of attorney from your future skilled worker. You can find a sample power of attorney under "Further information."
• Depending on the immigration office and the matter at hand, it may be possible to apply online. Find out whether your immigration office offers electronic application for residence permits.

If the application can only be submitted in person, make an appointment with the immigration office.

• To carry out the procedure, you must conclude a corresponding agreement with the immigration office, which includes your obligations as an employer, those of the skilled worker, and those of the authorities involved (immigration office, Federal Employment Agency, recognition centers, German diplomatic mission abroad). In addition, you will receive a description of the procedures, including the names of the parties involved, the evidence to be provided, and the deadlines.  Upon conclusion of the agreement, you will be required to pay a fee of €411.
• If necessary, the Foreigners' Registration Office will initiate the procedure for the recognition or equivalence assessment of foreign qualifications and send the application and necessary documents to the competent authority. The competent authorities should decide on recognition within two months of receiving the complete application documents. If any documents are still missing, the Foreigners' Registration Office will contact you.
• If necessary, the Foreigners' Registration Office will initiate the approval procedure with the Federal Employment Agency after the recognition procedure has been successfully completed. If the Federal Employment Agency does not respond within one week, approval is deemed to have been granted.
• If all requirements are met, including the determination of equivalence or comparability of professional qualifications and the approval of the Federal Employment Agency, the immigration office will approve the visa and forward it to you for forwarding to the skilled worker abroad.
• The foreign skilled worker must present the preliminary approval to the foreign mission and will then be given an expedited appointment to apply for the visa. This must take place within three weeks. Once the visa application has been completed on the scheduled date, a decision on the application is usually made within three weeks.
• The procedure can also be applied to the family reunification of spouses and children, provided that the applications for this are submitted within a reasonable time (i.e., within 6 months of the skilled worker's entry).

• Information on the accelerated skilled worker procedure:

https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/de/unternehmen/gezielt-rekrutieren/einreise-beschaeftigung-regeln/das-beschleunigte-fachkraefteverfahren/

https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Migrathek/Fachkraefteverfahren/fachkraefteverfahren-node.html

• Sample power of attorney for applying for an accelerated skilled worker procedure:

https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/fileadmin/MiiG_Unternehmen/PDFs/Unternehmen/Unterstuetzung_finden/Muster-Vollmacht_Stand_03-2020.pdf

• Declaration of employment:

https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/fileadmin/MiiG_Unternehmen/PDFs/Unternehmen/Unterstuetzung_finden/Erklaerung_zum_Beschaeftigungsverhaeltnis_03-2020.pdf

• Supplementary sheet A to the form "Declaration of employment relationship:

https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/fileadmin/MiiG_Unternehmen/PDFs/Unternehmen/Unterstuetzung_finden/Zusatzblatt_A_zur_Erklaerung_zum_Beschaeftigungsverhaeltnis_Stand_03-2020.pdf

• Sample power of attorney for family reunification of spouse pursuant to Section 81a (4) of the Residence Act:

https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/fileadmin/MiiG_Unternehmen/PDFs/Unternehmen/Unterstuetzung_finden/Muster-Vollmacht_fuer_FZ_Ehepartner_Stand_03-2020.pdf

• Sample power of attorney for family reunification of minor, unmarried children pursuant to Section 81a (4) of the Residence Act:

https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/fileadmin/MiiG_Unternehmen/PDFs/Unternehmen/Unterstuetzung_finden/Muster-Vollmacht_fuer_FZ_Kinder_Stand_03-2020.pdf

Section 81a Residence Act

In the case of family reunification with the skilled worker, the application must be submitted within 6 months of the skilled worker's entry into Germany.

When carrying out the recognition procedure and obtaining the approval of the Federal Employment Agency:

 there are at least 15 weeks between the initiation of the procedure and the issuance of the visa by the competent German mission abroad .

For the accelerated skilled worker procedure:

The immigration office at the location of the business where the foreign national is to be employed, unless a central office has been set up to carry out the procedure.

• Proof of authorization of the employer by the skilled worker and, if applicable, proof of sub-authorization
• Passport or passport substitute of the skilled worker
• Copy of the skilled worker's residence status certificate if currently residing in another EU country
• Proof of adequate pension provision
• If applicable, notification from the competent recognition authority confirming the equivalence of the vocational training completed abroad (if available)
• If applicable, certificate evaluation by the Central Office for Foreign Education on the comparability of the foreign university degree (if available)
• If applicable: Notification from the competent authority regarding the recognition of the foreign university degree for the purpose of employment in a regulated profession (if available)
• If necessary: Professional license or confirmation of the granting of a professional license

If necessary, the competent immigration authority will initiate the procedure for determining the equivalence of the professional qualification acquired abroad or for evaluating the foreign university degree. The following evidence must be submitted for the procedure to be carried out:

• Training certificate in the original language and a copy of the German translation
• Tabular curriculum vitae (in German) from the start of the relevant training: with a complete list of the training and further education courses completed and all employment activities carried out
• If available: Proof of relevant professional experience in the original language and a German translation as a copy (e.g., employment references, work books, letters of reference)
• If available: other proof of qualifications in the original language and as a copy in German (e.g., certificates and diplomas for further training, courses, language level)
• A declaration signed by the skilled worker in German stating that no application for recognition of equivalence has yet been submitted in the Federal Republic of Germany
• If the name on the passport differs from the name on the training certificate: proof of name change in the original language and as a copy in German translation.

If necessary, the competent immigration authority will obtain the approval of the Federal Employment Agency after the positive conclusion of the procedure for determining the equivalence of the professional qualification acquired abroad. For the Federal Employment Agency to be involved, a fully completed form "Declaration of employment including supplementary sheet" signed by the employer must be submitted. (See "Further information")

If family members wish to join the applicant within six months, the following supporting documents must be submitted:

• Color copies of the passports of all family members
• Powers of attorney for the family members joining the applicant (see "Further information")

In the case of spouses/life partners joining the applicant, the following evidence must also be submitted:

• International marriage certificate as an officially certified copy or original, or officially certified copy of the marriage certificate legalized by the German diplomatic mission abroad or provided with an apostille by the competent authority in the original language and in German translation, each as a simple copy
• If necessary: Certificate of German language skills at level A 1

If children are joining the applicant, the following documents must also be submitted:

• International birth certificate(s) as officially certified copy(ies) or

Original(s) or officially certified copy/copies of the birth certificate(s) legalized by the German diplomatic mission abroad or provided with an apostille by the competent authority in the original language and in German translation, each as a simple copy/copies

Implementation of the accelerated skilled worker procedure: €411.

The fee is payable upon conclusion of the agreement on the implementation of an accelerated skilled worker procedure.

The costs for the necessary professional recognition and the issuance of any necessary professional license, as well as any fees incurred by the foreign mission and the costs for the issuance of documents, authenticity checks, the translation of documents into German, and the preparation and certification of copies, etc., are to be borne by the skilled worker or the employer themselves .

• Forms specific to immigration authorities can be obtained from your immigration authority; in some cases, these are also available online.
• Online procedures possible in some cases
• Written form required: yes
• Personal appearance required: yes