Pre-approval and work visas: Western Balkans and skilled workers

1. Identify the appropriate route

The Western Balkans route covers nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. A recognised professional qualification is generally not an entry requirement for this route, although regulated professions retain their own requirements. A concrete job and other conditions are needed, and quotas apply.

The skilled worker route under sections 18a or 18b of the Residence Act instead requires a recognised vocational qualification or an appropriately comparable university degree and qualified employment. Regulated professions need the relevant professional licence. Unskilled auxiliary work is insufficient for this route. Other routes, including professional experience and recognition partnerships, have separate conditions.

2. Distinguish two kinds of pre-approval

BA employment pre-approval is an advance check of employment conditions by the Federal Employment Agency / ZAV before the relevant visa procedure. The result supports the subsequent visa application.

Visa pre-approval in the fast-track skilled worker procedure under section 81a is issued by the responsible immigration authority after coordinating the required checks. The employer initiates that process with the worker’s authorisation. It differs from ordinary BA employment pre-approval.

3. Western Balkans route: practical steps

1. 1

   Prepare a contract or binding job offer with the employer.

2. 2

   Read the BA conditions on eligibility, previous asylum-seeker benefits and any applicable age or retirement-provision requirements.

3. 3

   The employer applies through the appropriate BA procedure. An appointed third party needs the relevant company authorisation.

4. 4

   After a positive result, obtain the pre-approval and employment declaration.

5. 5

   Prepare the appointment and complete visa application under the mission’s current instructions. For Bosnia and Herzegovina, use the Sarajevo embassy’s guidance.

6. 6

   Check the issued visa, dates and employment conditions before travel and work; organise address registration and subsequent residence steps after arrival.

4. Prepare skilled worker documents

• Passport and complete personal information.
• Contract or concrete qualified job offer.
• Vocational or academic qualifications and the appropriate recognition or comparability evidence.
• Professional licence where the occupation is regulated.
• Employer information, forms and any authorisation needed for the fast-track procedure.

5. Keep details consistent

Match names, passport number, employer, duties, hours and pay across documents. Save submitted files, receipts and reference numbers. Notify the responsible office if the job or employer changes. Previous consent does not automatically cover a different offer; check its validity as well.

Support from mucOFFICE

We help collect, organise and prepare documents and coordinate communication between workers and employers in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian, in Munich and digitally. Tell us the worker’s location and nationality, the job offered and any existing case reference. We agree the scope of organisational support. Authorities decide on consent and visas; individual legal route selection requires authorised advice.