Western Balkans Regulation (Westbalkanregelung): 2026 Guide

The Western Balkans Regulation (Westbalkanregelung) is a German rule that since 2016 has let workers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo get a German work permit without recognition of their qualifications. The condition is a concrete job offer from a German employer, and the Federal Employment Agency (BA) checks the working conditions and the salary. The rules provide for a priority check in favour of local workers (Vorrangprüfung), but the BA has suspended it until further notice since November 2023. In 2026 it is still the largest entry channel into Germany for workers from the Western Balkans. Below you will find the current rules, the changes from 2024 to 2026 and the plan for 2027.

In legal terms, the Westbalkanregelung is § 26 of the Beschäftigungsverordnung (BeschV, the German Employment Ordinance). It allows citizens of 6 Western Balkan countries to get a work visa and work permit through a simplified procedure, even if their professional qualifications are not recognised in Germany.

Key facts at a glance

• Quota: up to 50,000 BA approvals per year (since 1 June 2024, previously 25,000)
• 6 countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo
• Permanent rule with no expiry date (since 1 June 2024)
• The BA checks working conditions and pay; the priority check for local workers (Vorrangprüfung) is set out in § 26 BeschV, but the BA has suspended it until further notice since November 2023
• No recognition of qualifications (Anerkennung) required
• Main condition: a concrete offer from a German employer
• Largest sectors: construction, hospitality, transport, care, agriculture, manufacturing
• Permit duration: up to 2 years, renewable
• 2027 plan: the coalition agreement foresees cutting the quota to 25,000 from 1 January 2027 (not yet law)

1. Brief history

• 2016: introduction of the original version, initially without a quota
• 2021: quota of 25,000 approvals per year introduced
• 2023: the Act on the Further Development of Skilled Immigration made the rule permanent
• 1 June 2024: the permanent rule and the 50,000 annual quota took effect
• 2026: the 50,000 quota remains, processing takes 2 to 4 months

2. Who qualifies (worker requirements 2026)

Citizenship

The worker must be a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania or Kosovo.

What the worker needs

1. Passport valid for at least 6 months
2. Concrete employer offer (Arbeitsvertrag with a German company)
3. Medical fitness for the position
4. Certificate of no criminal record
5. Salary at least at the level of the sectoral collective agreement

What is not required

• Professional qualification recognised in Germany
• A set level of German (§ 26 BeschV does not require one; for most physical jobs employers ask for A1–A2)

3. The process step by step

Phase 1: Employer finds a worker (1 to 30 days)

You can contact a worker directly or through a specialised agency. With us, you get the first qualified candidate within 15 working days of signing the order.

Phase 2: Employment contract (1 to 7 days)

Phase 3: Vorabzustimmung, the preliminary approval from the BA (4 to 8 weeks)

The employer submits the request to the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (BA, Federal Employment Agency). The BA checks the collective agreement, the salary and the working conditions, which must be comparable to those of local workers. § 26(2) BeschV also provides for a priority check (Vorrangprüfung), but under an instruction of 3 November 2023 the BA does not carry it out until further notice.

Phase 4: Visa D at the German embassy (2 to 6 weeks)

The worker takes the Vorabzustimmung, the contract and the other documents to the competent German embassy in their country of origin.

Phase 5: Travel and Anmeldung (3 to 7 days)

The worker travels to Germany, registers the address (Anmeldung) within 14 days and visits the Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) for the residence permit.

Phase 6: Start of work

Work starts only after the worker receives the Aufenthaltstitel card.

Realistically, the whole process takes 3 to 5 months from first contact to the first working day.

4. What changed from 2024 to 2026

Improvements

• The quota rose from 25,000 to 50,000 (2024).
• Some parts of the process can now be done online.
• Embassies expanded their capacity and offer more appointments.
• The BA works faster: Vorabzustimmung now takes 4 to 6 weeks on average.

Drawbacks

• In the peak season (April and May), embassy waiting times are long.
• Checks are stricter. That lowers the risk of fraud, but some procedures take longer.

5. What is planned for 2027

The German government's coalition agreement foresees cutting the quota from 50,000 to 25,000 approvals per year from 1 January 2027. For now this is a plan: § 26 BeschV still says 50,000 (as of 2 October 2026). The German construction federation ZDB warns that construction alone could lose around 8,000 workers, since about 30% of the visas issued go to that sector (bau.bi, 25 September 2026).

If you plan to bring in workers in 2027, assume the quota may be halved and submit your requests early.

6. Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Can I use the Westbalkanregelung for a Bosnian worker already working in Croatia?

Yes, but the worker has to apply for the visa D in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Under § 26(2) BeschV the visa application is filed at the competent German embassy in one of the six Western Balkan countries, not in Zagreb.

Do workers need to speak German?

§ 26 BeschV does not set a German level. For most physical jobs employers ask for A1–A2; for care work, jobs with guest contact and office work they usually ask for more.

What happens if the quota runs out during the year?

Once the quota is used up, you have to wait for the next year. That is why it pays to submit requests in Q1 (January to March).

Does the employer have to guarantee a 2-year contract?

Not strictly. The contract can be fixed-term (most often 1 to 2 years) or permanent. A probation period of up to 6 months is allowed.

Related: C+E drivers from the Western Balkans for EU spedition, Caregivers from the Western Balkans for DE/AT and CNC operators and welders for serial production.

7. Next steps

For employers in Germany

1. Work with a specialised agency that knows the Westbalkanregelung process.
2. Apply for the Vorabzustimmung in Q1 (January to March) if you want the worker to arrive in Q2 or Q3.
3. Arrange accommodation before you submit the request.
4. Pay above the sectoral minimum if you want the worker to stay.

For workers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo

1. You need a concrete employer offer before anything else.
2. An agency can connect you with an employer and tell you which documents you need and how long each one is valid. You collect the documents yourself.
3. Have the apostille and translations ready in advance.
4. Expect 3 to 5 months from your first contact with the agency to your first working day.

Sources:

• Beschäftigungsverordnung (BeschV) § 26, Westbalkanregelung: gesetze-im-internet.de/beschv_2013/__26.html
• Make it in Germany, the official information portal for skilled workers: make-it-in-germany.com/en
• BA instruction (Weisung) 202311002 of 3 November 2023 suspending the priority check: arbeitsagentur.de
• Bundesagentur für Arbeit (BA), Vorabzustimmung procedure 2026: arbeitsagentur.de
• bau.bi, 25 September 2026: ZDB on the planned quota cut to 25,000: bau.bi
• Auswärtiges Amt: visa statistics 2024–2025

Numbers and timelines are indicative. This article is not legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a German lawyer or a specialised agency.