Work Visa for Germany – Key Information and Documentation

A national visa (Type D visa) is an entry visa for long-term residence in Germany with a specific purpose – in this case, employment. It is issued for a period of three to twelve months, and upon arrival in Germany it is converted into a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) at the relevant foreigners' authority. For healthcare professionals, the work visa is the final step before relocation, coming after diploma recognition and the signing of an employment contract.

Core Documentation

• A valid passport (with sufficient blank pages and an expiry date extending beyond your planned stay) and two photocopies;
• Two fully completed and signed applications for a national visa, including the notice pursuant to Section 54 of the Residence Act – the application is filled out online via the VIDEX portal and printed;
• Two recent biometric photographs;
• A processing fee of €75, which in Bosnia and Herzegovina is paid in convertible marks (approximately 150 BAM).

Additionally, in Original and Two Photocopies

• A signed employment contract or a binding job offer from a specific employer in Germany, no older than six months. The contract must include complete details about both the employer and the employee (full name, company name and address, contact information) as well as the terms of employment: contract type, gross salary, working hours, annual leave entitlement, and any additional payments;
• The "Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis" form, completed by the employer – this is used by the Federal Employment Agency to grant its approval;
• For regulated professions (nurses, physicians, physiotherapists): a decision on diploma recognition or confirmation that the process has been initiated (for the so-called recognition visa under § 16d), and a certificate of German language proficiency at the required level (usually B2);
• A CV and evidence of previous work experience, if requested by the embassy.

Appointment and Application Process

Booking an appointment is free of charge and is done exclusively through the official website of the relevant embassy – in Belgrade, Sarajevo, Podgorica, Skopje, or Pristina. Never pay intermediaries for an appointment. For qualified professionals with recognized diplomas, waiting times for appointments are generally shortest, and the employer in Germany can also initiate an expedited procedure (beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren) through the foreigners' authority, which reduces processing times even further.

In individual cases, the embassy may request additional documentation. Applicants are obliged under Section 82(1) of the Residence Act to cooperate in the procedure; if the requested documents are not submitted, the application may be refused. Up-to-date information sheets with the exact list of required documents are published by the German Embassy in Sarajevo and the German Embassy in Belgrade – check them immediately before your appointment, as the lists are subject to change.

Workers Without a Recognized Qualification

If you do not hold a professional diploma that is recognized in Germany, the path to a work visa runs through the Western Balkans Regulation, under which a binding job offer is sufficient to obtain a visa. For healthcare professionals, however, pursuing diploma recognition is the more advantageous route – see our guide to Anerkennung.

For candidates we place, we prepare the complete visa documentation and accompany them all the way to their embassy appointment. Find out what the entire process looks like.