Federal Republic of Germany · Processing time

Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG): how long does it take?

By Sam Parks · Last checked: 1 June 2026

Consular decisions on Germany’s skilled-worker visa (§ 18a/18b AufenthG) typically take 1–3 months once you have an appointment. For most applicants the larger variable is everything that happens beforehand: securing a German employment contract and, in regulated professions, having your foreign qualification formally recognised.

How long does the Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG) take to process in Germany?

The typical published decision window is 4 weeks – 3 months from a complete application. Consular decisions on Germany’s skilled-worker visa (§ 18a/18b AufenthG) typically take 1–3 months once you have an appointment. For most applicants the larger variable is everything that happens beforehand: securing a German employment contract and, in regulated professions, having your foreign qualification formally recognised.

Verified against Make-it-in-Germany — Skilled Worker visa on 1 June 2026.

Typical wait

4 weeks – 3 months

from complete application

Government fees

Visa €75; residence permit €100.

Last checked

1 June 2026

What is the Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG)?

Sponsored work and residence permit for qualified non-EU workers from any country worldwide who have a German job offer and a recognised qualification.

The German Skilled Worker permit (§18a and §18b AufenthG) is the standard work visa for qualified professionals moving to Germany with a job offer. §18a covers people with vocational training (such as IT specialists, tradespeople, and healthcare workers), while §18b covers those with a university degree. Unlike the EU Blue Card, there is no salary floor — the focus is on whether your qualification matches your intended role. The 2023–24 Skilled Immigration Act significantly broadened which qualifications are recognised and which roles qualify, making the permit accessible to a much wider range of skilled workers than before. Germany does not operate a sponsor licence system: any German employer can hire you by signing a contract, with no separate accreditation required on their side.

Sponsorship: You need a job offer or employer sponsor in Federal Republic of Germany.
Settlement: This route can lead to permanent residency in Federal Republic of Germany.
Typical permit length: Usually up to 4 years or contract length plus 3 months.
Indicative government fees: Visa €75; residence permit €100.

Priority and fast-track options

Recognition of your qualification – via the anabin database for university degrees, or a profession-specific recognition (Anerkennung) for regulated jobs such as nursing, teaching, or engineering – usually has to be settled before you apply, and it is the step that most often adds months. The busiest German missions (for example Delhi, Lagos, and Manila) also carry longer appointment queues than the consular decision itself.

How to read this estimate

The 4 weeks – 3 months window is the time Make-it-in-Germany — Skilled Worker visa typically associates with the Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG) — measured from a complete, correctly-lodged application through to a decision, not from when you start gathering documents.

Collecting documents, getting qualifications recognised, and booking consular appointments all happen before the clock starts.
If the authority requests more information, the clock pauses until you reply — so a fast, complete response keeps your place in the queue.
Processing times shift with application volumes and policy changes. The Make-it-in-Germany — Skilled Worker visa page linked below is the only figure that is current on the day you apply.

Official source

Make-it-in-Germany — Skilled Worker visa

https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/types/skilled-workers

Frequently asked questions

How long does the Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG) take to process?+

The typical wait is 4 weeks – 3 months from submitting a complete application. Consular decisions on Germany’s skilled-worker visa (§ 18a/18b AufenthG) typically take 1–3 months once you have an appointment. For most applicants the larger variable is everything that happens beforehand: securing a German employment contract and, in regulated professions, having your foreign qualification formally recognised. These figures come from Make-it-in-Germany — Skilled Worker visa and were last verified on 2026-06-01. Always confirm on the primary source before you apply.

When does the 4 weeks – 3 months clock start?+

The clock starts when Make-it-in-Germany — Skilled Worker visa receives a complete, valid application — not when you begin collecting documents. Gathering evidence, getting qualifications recognised, and booking consular appointments all happen before the window starts.

Is there a way to speed up the decision?+

What makes an application take longer than expected?+

The most common reasons for delays beyond the published window are: missing or incorrect documents, a request for more information (which pauses the clock until you reply), background or medical checks, and consular appointment backlogs in your country. Submitting a complete, well-organised application on day one is the single biggest thing you can do to stay inside the published window.

When should I treat my Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG) application as delayed?+

Wait until you have passed the upper end of the published window (4 weeks – 3 months) before treating it as delayed. At that point, a single polite status enquiry through the official channel is reasonable. Do not chase repeatedly, as this tends to slow a case rather than speed it up.