Long-stay visas (Type D)
German Skilled Worker Visa (Qualified Professionals)
Germany's core employment route for people with a recognised university degree or vocational qualification who have a job offer.
Important information
- Issued by
- German mission abroad (visa); residence permit by the local Ausländerbehörde
- Legal basis
- Sections 18a / 18b Residence Act (AufenthG)
- Core requirement
- Recognised qualification + concrete job offer
- Typical duration
- Up to 4 years or the contract length, renewable
- Path to settlement
- Settlement permit generally after 3 years (sometimes sooner)
- Timelines depend on qualification, salary and German language level
Who it's for
- Third-country nationals with a completed university degree recognised in Germany
- Third-country nationals with completed vocational training recognised as equivalent to a German qualification
- Professionals who already have a concrete job offer or employment contract in Germany
Requirements
- Recognition (or comparability) of your foreign qualification for the German labour market
- A concrete job offer or employment contract in Germany
- Employment appropriate to your qualification
- In regulated professions, the licence/permit to practise
- For most cases, approval of the Federal Employment Agency (often handled internally)
- Valid passport and sufficient means of subsistence
What you can do
- Take up qualified employment with your sponsoring employer
- Bring your spouse and minor children via family reunification
- Change employer (subject to the usual conditions)
- Progress toward a permanent settlement permit
How to apply
Have your qualification recognised (via the 'Recognition in Germany' portal / ZAB for degrees or the relevant competent body for vocational qualifications) and secure a job offer.
Apply for the national visa at the German embassy or consulate in your country of residence, often through the Federal Foreign Office online consular services portal, and attend an appointment for biometrics.
After entering Germany, register your address and apply for the residence permit at the local foreigners' authority (Ausländerbehörde).
Documents
- Valid passport and biometric photos
- Completed national visa application form
- Recognition notice / equivalence assessment of your qualification
- Employment contract or binding job offer
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of qualifications (degree/training certificates), CV
Frequently asked questions
For a university degree it must at least be comparable/recognised for the German labour market (the ZAB/anabin database is used); for vocational qualifications you generally need a formal recognition decision. A recognition partnership can allow you to start work while completing recognition in Germany.
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official gov.uk sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.
Related German visas
- WORKRESIDENCE PERMITEU-WIDEEU Blue CardThe EU-wide residence permit for university graduates with a qualifying job offer above a set salary threshold, with a fast track to settlement.View visa details
- JOB SEEKERPOINTS-BASEDNO JOB OFFEROpportunity Card (Chancenkarte)A points-based job-seeker visa letting qualified non-EU nationals enter Germany to look for work without a prior job offer.View visa details
- SELF-EMPLOYEDBUSINESSFREELANCESelf-Employment and Freelance VisaA residence permit for people setting up a business or working as a freelancer in a liberal profession in Germany.View visa details