About the Work-and-Stay-Agency
Germany needs qualified employees from abroad. The Federal Cabinet of the 21st legislative period has approved the framework for a digital agency for skilled immigration - the Work-and-Stay-Agency. With it, the government wants to counteract the shortage of skilled workers in many sectors.
Specifically, applicants should only submit their data and documents once according to the "Once-Only" principle. They only have to 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 management in English should further reduce barriers.
Employers also benefit by being able to initiate the process for their future employees. The government is thus responding to the shortage of skilled workers in many German sectors, which could intensify with the departure of the baby boomer generations from the workforce. The portal under development is intended to serve as a central point of contact with a unified IT platform to bundle, digitalize and accelerate all administrative processes of labor migration. The goal is to significantly simplify the path to the German labor market for international skilled workers.
Core Tasks of the Work-and-Stay-Agency
The WSA will streamline administrative processes of labor migration:
1. Streamline, simplify, standardize and reduce bureaucracy
2. Fully digitalize via a central IT platform structure
3. Where appropriate, optimize and accelerate through centralization
Why a Work-and-Stay-Agency?
Securing the skilled workforce is one of the major challenges for politics, business and science. According to the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Germany must compensate for a delta 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 shortage of skilled workers as the greatest threat to their business development
- Currently, every second company in Germany cannot fill positions partially
- Currently, at least seven authorities are involved in a single visa application, leading to delays
The Work-and-Stay-Agency is intended to bundle these processes and thus make Germany more attractive for qualified workers from abroad.
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 from:
- Faster filling of open positions
- Uncomplicated digital application process
- Shortened processing times
- Central contact point for all questions
Small and medium-sized businesses in particular should be relieved.
One-Stop-Government
The Work-and-Stay-Agency functions as a central data hub and networks:
- 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 more user-friendly.
Digitalization and Modernization
The Work-and-Stay-Agency builds on digitalization progress already achieved and develops it further:
Existing Digital Infrastructure
- Foreign Office Portal: Digital visa application
- Migration Service Portal Germany (SMD): Central information platform of the BMI
- Electronic Labor Market Approval Procedure (AMZ): Digital review by the Federal Employment Agency
- Register Portal of the Federal Office of Administration: Central data management
Planned Extensions
- Fully digital application from anywhere in the world
- Process-supporting Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Automated document verification
- Real-time status tracking for applicants
- Multilingual user interface
Frequently Asked Questions
The Work-and-Stay-Agency is a federal authority planned by the German government that digitalizes and centralizes all skilled immigration procedures. It enables foreign skilled workers and their future employers to complete all steps from visa application to residence permit issuance on a single digital platform.
The key points for the design of the new digital agency have been drafted jointly by the AA, BMAS and BMI and are to be adopted by the federal government shortly. A detailed time and cost plan is expected by March 1, 2026. Gradual implementation will take place in the coming years.
No. The recognition of foreign professional qualifications remains the responsibility of the states or chambers. The Work-and-Stay-Agency functions as a "One-Stop-Government" and networks 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 Portal, the Migration Service Portal Germany (SMD) of the BMI, and the electronic Labor Market Approval Procedure (AMZ) of the BA. These will be merged into a central IT platform and expanded. The use of process-supporting artificial intelligence is also planned.
The Work-and-Stay-Agency is the first to bundle all skilled immigration procedures on a central digital platform. While at least seven different authorities are currently involved in a single visa application, the WSA enables a "One-Stop-Government" solution. Applicants only need to submit their documents once, all parties are networked via a central data hub, and the entire process is accelerated by process-supporting AI.
