Western Balkans Regulation Visa (Westbalkan-Regelung)

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Western Balkans Regulation Visa (Westbalkan-Regelung)

Work PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Dependents Allowed

At a Glance

Processing Time

2-6 months

Application Fee

112.5 EUR

Stay Duration

Duration of employment contract

Renewable

Job Offer

Required

Dependents

Allowed

PR Pathway

Available

Remote Work

Not Required

Official Information

Living in Germany

Cost of Living

Same as United States

Avg Salary€39,600

Quality of Life

196/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

The Western Balkans Regulation (§26 Abs. 2 BeschV) is a German work visa for nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. It covers any non-regulated occupation without formal qualification recognition — the only prerequisite is a job offer from a German employer.

Stay matches the employment contract and is renewable. Federal Employment Agency pre-approval is required under an annual quota of 50,000. Spouses may join via family reunification with full work rights. After five years of legal residence, holders may apply for permanent settlement (Niederlassungserlaubnis).

This visa is ideal for Western Balkans nationals with a German job offer in a non-regulated trade or service role who want a work pathway leading to permanent residence.

Fee Breakdown

Visa application fee	75 EUR
VisaMetric service fee	37.5 EUR

Annual Cap & Quota

50,000 Federal Employment Agency approvals per year (effective June 2024)

Eligible Nationalities (6)

Albania

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Montenegro

North Macedonia Serbia

Serbia

Kosovo

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Must be a national of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, or Serbia

A concrete job offer or employment contract from an employer in Germany

The employment must be in a non-regulated profession (unless professional recognition is already obtained)

Approval (pre-approval) from the Federal Employment Agency (BA)

No asylum seeker benefits received in Germany in the past 24 months

KEY CRITERIA

Job Offer

Required

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport

Completed national visa application form

Signed employment contract or job offer

Pre-approval from the Federal Employment Agency (BA)

Proof of health insurance

Biometric passport-sized photos

Application Process

Secure a concrete job offer or employment contract from a German employer.

Employer applies for pre-approval from the Federal Employment Agency (BA).

Register for a visa appointment at the competent German diplomatic mission in the home country.

Apply for the D-visa using the pre-approval and other required documents.

Enter Germany, register the address, and obtain the residence permit.

Verified Claims (19)

Last verified May 31, 2026

Annual Allocation	50,000 Federal Employment Agency approvals per year (effective June 2024)	make-it-in-germany.com
Application Steps	Secure a concrete job offer or employment contract from a German employer.; Employer applies for pre…	make-it-in-germany.com
Dependent Visa	Family reunification visa (Familienzusammenführung)	bamf.de
Fee Breakdown	Visa application fee: 75 EUR; VisaMetric service fee: 37.5 EUR	skopje.diplo.de
Fees	€75 (plus €37.50 VisaMetric service fee)	skopje.diplo.de
Included Nationalities	Albania; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Kosovo; Montenegro; North Macedonia; Serbia	make-it-in-germany.com
Job Offer Required	true	make-it-in-germany.com
Official Info	https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/looking-for-foreign-professionals/entering/admission-labour-ma…	make-it-in-germany.com

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Overview

This visa is ideal for Western Balkans nationals with a German job offer in a non-regulated trade or service role who want a work pathway leading to permanent residence.

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Must be a national of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, or Serbia

A concrete job offer or employment contract from an employer in Germany

The employment must be in a non-regulated profession (unless professional recognition is already obtained)

Approval (pre-approval) from the Federal Employment Agency (BA)

No asylum seeker benefits received in Germany in the past 24 months

KEY CRITERIA

Job Offer

Required

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport

Completed national visa application form

Signed employment contract or job offer

Pre-approval from the Federal Employment Agency (BA)

Proof of health insurance

Biometric passport-sized photos

Application Process