Previously, companies had to contact one of 52 local immigration authorities for this procedure. In future, with the new central office in Osnabrück, there will only be one state-wide point of contact. In organizational terms, the office is located at the state immigration authority.
How does the accelerated skilled worker procedure work in Lower Saxony?
If a company has a concrete job offer for a foreign skilled worker, it can now submit the application directly to the Central Office. This requires a power of attorney from the skilled worker so that the authority can take care of all the necessary steps. The procedure costs 411 euros.
A transition phase until the end of 2025 is planned to ensure a smooth changeover. During this time, employers can choose whether to submit the application to a municipal Foreigners' office or to the new central office.
From January 1, 2026, the central Foreigners' office in Osnabrück will be exclusively responsible.
What is the accelerated skilled worker procedure?
The so-called accelerated skilled worker procedure is a simplified entry procedure for qualified workers from non-EU countries. It is set out in § 81a of the Residence Act (AufenthG) regulated.
The aim is to significantly shorten the process from the job offer to the specialist taking up work - ideally to just a few weeks.
This is how the procedure works:
- The employer applies for the procedure: A company with a concrete job offer submits an application for the accelerated skilled worker procedure to the responsible Foreigners' office - in Lower Saxony this will be the central office in Osnabrück in future.
- Power of attorney from the skilled worker: The employer requires a signed power of attorney and various documents from the foreign skilled worker - including a copy of the passport and proof of professional qualification.
- Authority checks the requirements: The office checks whether the foreign qualification is suitable for the position offered and matches a comparable German qualification. It also checks that the documents are complete and - if necessary - obtains the approval of the Federal Employment Agency.
- Preliminary approval is granted: If all requirements are met, a so-called "preliminary consent" is issued.
- Appointment at the embassy: With prior approval, the specialist can request a faster appointment at the German mission abroad (e.g. the embassy or consulate).
- Visa issuance and entry: Once the diplomatic mission abroad has checked the application, the visa is issued - and the skilled worker can enter Germany and start work.
The aim is to complete the entire procedure in around four to eight weeks - significantly faster than normal visa procedures.
Important: After entering Germany, the skilled worker must apply for a Residence permit at the local Foreigners' office . Only with a valid Residence permit can an application for naturalization be submitted later - usually after five years. application for Naturalization can be submitted. This step is essential for anyone who wants to stay in Germany long-term.
Lower Saxony: How to attract more skilled workers
In addition to faster procedures, the state of Lower Saxony also wants to improve the recognition of foreign professional qualifications. One proposal currently being discussed by the state government: In future, refugees who are unable to submit their full training certificates will be required to prove their professional skills through practical examinations. This could make it easier for them to enter the job market.
Currently, many of these applications for recognition come from countries such as Ukraine, Iran and Turkey.
Securing skilled workers - how other federal states do it
With the new model, Lower Saxony is following the example of other federal states that have already established central structures for the immigration of skilled workers. North Rhine-Westphalia has been operating the Central Office for Skilled Immigration (ZFE) in Bonn since 2021, which processes thousands of applications every year - mainly from the care, skilled trades and transport sectors.
Bavaria launched its "fast lane" in July 2023, initially for nursing staff. From summer 2025, the procedure is to be extended to all professions. The Bavarian model is characterized by particularly fast processing times of around five weeks and already serves as a model throughout Germany.
Brandenburg also took action early on: The accelerated skilled worker procedure under the Skilled Immigration Act (FEG) has been implemented centrally in the district of Dahme-Spreewald since October 2020.
