Work and Stay Agency Digital Skilled Immigration

Work-and-Stay-Agency

The central digital platform that simplifies and accelerates skilled immigration to Germany.

One portal for everything

Work and Stay Agency

The German Federal Cabinet of the 21st legislative period has approved the framework for implementing a digital agency for skilled immigration - the Work-and-Stay-Agency (WSA). One portal for everything. From application to decision, the future service portal will offer the entire process digitally on a single platform. Here you will find preliminary information


For Applicants

Specifically, applicants should only submit their data and documents once according to the "Once-Only Principle". They only deal with one point of contact instead of many different authorities. In addition, procedures become more transparent as the processing status can be viewed online. Fewer personal appointments and an optional procedure in English should further reduce barriers.

For Employers

Employers also benefit by being able to initiate the process for their future employees. This is how the government is responding to the skilled labor shortage in many German industries, which could be further exacerbated by the retirement of baby boomers. The new portal is intended to bundle, digitize and accelerate all administrative processes as a central point of contact.

Core Tasks of the Work-and-Stay-Agency

The WSA will streamline the administrative processes of labor migration:

  • 1 Streamline, simplify, standardize and reduce bureaucracy
  • 2 Fully digitize through a central IT platform structure
  • 3 Where effective, optimize and accelerate through centralization
Work-and-Stay-Agency

Why a Work-and-Stay-Agency?

Securing skilled labor needs is one of the major challenges for politics, business and science. According to the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Germany must compensate for a gap in the working population of 400,000 people per year.

Current Challenges

The number of D-visa applications has increased by one third in the last six years – to over 485,000 per year

More than 50% of companies see the skilled labor shortage as the greatest threat to their business development

Every second company in Germany is currently unable to fill positions partially

Currently at least seven authorities are involved in a single visa application, which leads to delays

For Skilled Workers

Foreign applicants can use the central platform to:

  • Apply for their residence permit centrally
  • Upload documents digitally
  • Retrieve decisions digitally
  • Track all steps transparently
Procedures become more transparent and faster.

For Employers

Companies – whether global corporations or family businesses – benefit through:

  • Faster filling of open positions
  • Uncomplicated digital application
  • Reduced processing times
  • Central point of contact for all questions
Medium-sized companies in particular should be relieved.

One-Stop-Government

The Work-and-Stay-Agency acts as a central data hub and connects:

  • Visa offices at home and abroad
  • Federal Employment Agency
  • Immigration offices
  • Recognition authorities
Interfaces are reduced, waiting times shortened.

Digital Future

The Work-and-Stay-Agency offers modern digital solutions:

  • Fully digital application
  • Real-time status tracking
  • AI-supported procedures
  • Multilingual user interface
All processes become faster, more transparent and user-friendly.

Digitalization and Modernization

The Work-and-Stay-Agency builds on existing digitalization progress and develops it further.

Existing Digital Infrastructure

  • Foreign Office Portal Digital visa application
  • Service Portal Migration Germany (SMD) Central information platform of the BMI
  • Electronic Labor Market Admission Procedure (AMZ) Digital review by the Federal Employment Agency
  • Federal Office of Administration Registry Portal Central data management

Planned Extensions

  • Fully digital application from anywhere in the world
  • Procedure-supporting Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Automated document review
  • Real-time status tracking for applicants
  • Multilingual user interface

Launch Notification

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Questions & Network

Do you have questions or would you like to network?

Frequently Asked Questions

The Work-and-Stay-Agency is a digital platform planned by the German federal government that digitizes and centralizes all procedures for skilled immigration. It enables foreign skilled workers and their future employers to complete all steps from visa application to residence permit issuance on this single digital platform.
The establishment of the agency is to be phased. In 2026, the tender for central IT components is planned. It is to be created with the participation of the Federal Employment Agency and the Federal Office for Foreign Affairs. A detailed time and cost plan is expected by March 1, 2026. Step-by-step implementation will take place in the coming years. There will be no new authority.
No. The recognition of foreign professional qualifications remains the responsibility of the states or chambers. The Work-and-Stay-Agency acts as "One-Stop-Government" and connects all parties involved – visa offices, Federal Employment Agency, immigration offices – via a central data hub. This reduces interfaces and shortens waiting times.
The WSA builds on existing digital infrastructures, including the Foreign Office's portal, the Service Portal Migration Germany (SMD) of the BMI and the electronic labor market admission procedure (AMZ) of the BA. These are merged into a central IT platform and expanded. The use of procedure-supporting artificial intelligence is also planned.
The Work-and-Stay-Agency bundles all skilled immigration procedures on a central digital platform for the first time. While at least seven different authorities are currently involved in a visa application, the WSA enables a "One-Stop-Government" solution. Applicants only need to submit their documents once, all parties are connected via a central data hub, and the entire process is accelerated by procedure-supporting AI.

Resources & Documents

Contact

Contact Person

This page provides neutral preliminary information about the Work and Stay Agency. For questions, exchange or possible cooperation, please feel free to contact us at any time.