Work and Stay Agency Digital Skilled Immigration

Work-and-Stay-Agency

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

One portal for everything

Work and Stay Agency

The Federal Cabinet of the 21st legislative period has decided on the framework for implementing a digital agency for skilled immigration - the Work-and-Stay-Agency (WSA). From application to decision, the future service portal is intended to offer the entire process digitally on a single platform. Here you will find advance information on the planned WSA. This site is not an official site of the Federal Government or the Federal Employment Agency.

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For Applicants

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

For Employers

Employers also benefit by being able to initiate the process for their future employees. In this way, the government is reacting to the shortage of skilled workers in many German sectors, which could intensify with the retirement of the baby boomer generation. The newly emerging portal serves as a central point of contact to bundle, digitize, and accelerate all administrative processes.

Core Tasks of the Work-and-Stay-Agency

The WSA will handle labor migration administration by:

  • 1 Streamlining, simplifying, standardizing, and cutting red tape
  • 2 Fully digitizing via a central IT platform structure
  • 3 Optimizing and accelerating through centralization where effective
Work-and-Stay-Agency

Why a Work-and-Stay-Agency?

Securing the supply of skilled labor 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 a 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 danger 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, leading to delays

For Skilled Workers

Foreign applicants can use the central platform to:

  • Apply for their residence permit centrally
  • Upload documents digitally
  • Retrieve notices 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 vacancies
  • Uncomplicated digital application
  • Shortened processing times
  • Central contact person for all questions
Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular are to be relieved.

One-Stop-Government

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

  • Visa offices at home and abroad
  • Federal Employment Agency
  • Foreigners' authorities
  • Recognition bodies
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 Portal of the Federal Foreign Office Digital visa application
  • Service Portal Migration Germany (SMD) Central information platform of the BMI
  • Electronic Labor Market Admission Procedure (AMZ) Digital check 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
  • Procedure-supporting Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Automated document verification
  • Real-time status tracking for applicants
  • Multilingual user interface

Notification at Launch

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Questions & Network

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Work-and-Stay-Agency is a digital platform planned by the federal government that digitizes and centralizes all skilled immigration procedures. It enables foreign skilled workers and their future employers to handle all steps from visa application to residence permit issuance on this single digital platform.
The founding of the agency is to take place in stages. The tender for central IT components is planned for 2026. It is to be created with the participation of the Federal Employment Agency and the Federal Office for Foreign Affairs. A detailed schedule and cost plan is expected by March 1, 2026. Implementation will take place gradually over the coming years. There is not supposed to be a 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 networks all participants – visa offices, Federal Employment Agency, foreigners' authorities – via a central data hub. This reduces interfaces and shortens waiting times.
The WSA builds on existing digital infrastructures, including the Foreign Portal of the AA, the Service Portal Migration Germany (SMD) of the BMI, and the electronic labor market admission procedure (AMZ) of the BA. These will be 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 currently at least seven different authorities are involved in a single visa application, the WSA enables a "One-Stop-Government" solution. Applicants only need to submit their documents once, all participants are networked via a central data hub, and the entire process is accelerated by procedure-supporting AI.

Resources & Documents

Further Information

Skilled Immigration Act Blue Card Jobs in Germany Opportunity Card Accelerated Skilled Worker Procedure Make it in Germany Recognition in Germany Info portal on educational qualifications

Info Documents

PDF
Coalition Agreement 2025 (CDU/CSU & SPD)
PDF
Feasibility Study Labor Migration
PDF
SVR Annual Report 2025
PDF
Key Points Work and Stay Agency WSA

Contact

Contact Person

This page provides neutral advance information on the Work and Stay Agency. You can contact us at any time for questions, exchange, or potential cooperation.

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