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Berlin Business Location Center > Our services > Business Immigration Service

Business Immigration Service

The Business Immigration Service enables the quick and uncomplicated issuing of residence permits for entrepreneurs and qualified specialists.

Berlin-based businesses can quickly and easily find answers to all questions relating to residence permits for their employees and family members from the Business Immigration Service (BIS) and submit the corresponding applications to the relevant department of the State Office for Immigration. The same applies for foreign investors and founders who want to become economically active here in Berlin.

Service

  • Information about the topic of preliminary approval and visas (Berlin partners and IHK)
  • Information and advice regarding the topic of residence permits (Berlin partners and IHK)
  • Review, creation and issue of residence permits (Foreigners’ Registration Office - LEA)
  • Support in applying for accommodation at the Citizen’s Office (Bürgeramt)

The BIS is a company service and can be used exclusively by businesses, founders and independents who have registered as customers with the Berlin Immigration Office. This also applies for member companies of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Berlin Chamber of Crafts.

Registration

Not yet registered but want to use the Business Immigration Service?

Please check this website:
www.berlin.de/einwanderung/service/business-immigration-service/
(Currently only available in German.)

Registration as a new customer in the BIS
(Currently only available in German.)

Students and other individuals should contact the
Berlin Immigration Office

Have you already registered?

Then please use this page:
Online application for registered BIS customers
(Currently only available in German.) 

Cooperation partners

The Business Immigration Service (BIS) is a unique network of participants from Berlin’s economic and administration sector for visa and residency queries. Fast communication and transparent, solution-oriented work processes ensure cooperation at its best.

Preliminary information - what, when and how?

As an initial overview, we have compiled information about the topic of visas and residence permits for employees:

The new Skilled Immigration Act (FEG)

The first amendments to the Skilled Immigration Act (FEG) came into force on 18.11.2023. You can find detailed information on this on the website of Make it in Germany.

Skilled workers:
The new FEG identifies three paths for the immigration of skilled workers:

Qualification - Experience - Potential

For skilled workers with academic university degrees, both the university and the degree obtained must be recognized:
The degree should be listed in the anabin database. The university must be rated as “H+” and the degree should be comparable to a German degree qualification. If found, you create a PDF of the evaluation and submit this along with the other application documents.

There are a number of new regulations on the subject of professional qualifications/non-academic professional certificates: Please refer to the pages of Make it in Germany.

For more information on whether a non-academic degree is recognized in Germany, please see www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de.

With a statement of recognition for their professional qualification and a job offer, skilled workers abroad can apply directly for a visa for employment. If the German authorities have only partially recognized the professional qualification, interested parties can obtain a visa for the purpose of further training and qualification if they have a job offer in Germany.  

From March 2024, the so-called. 2+2 rule will apply: Anyone with at least two years of professional experience and a vocational qualification recognized by the country of origin with at least two years of training will be able to immigrate as a worker. In the future, professional qualifications no longer need to be recognised in Germany - this means less bureaucracy and therefore shorter procedures.

Skilled workers with sufficient German language skills and financial means to support their livelihood can apply for a 6-month visa to look for a job. In addition, an "opportunity card" based on a points system will be introduced from June 2024. Read more: Make it in Germany.

Special regulations apply to professionals older than 45 years. Those coming to Germany for the purpose of employment must submit a work application with a specified minimum salary or proof of an adequate pension scheme.

Vocational training in Germany:

School graduates under the age of 35 can come to Germany for up to nine months to apply for a training place if their school-leaving certificate entitles them to study at a university, they have German language skills (level B1) and the financial means to support their livelihood. This residence permit allows up to 20 hours of employment on a trial basis, after which or during which a job should be offered. This change will apply from March 2024.

Further information:

Please note the following:        

  • A binding offer of employment or training is required.
  • German language skills are only partially required.
  • Work experience + post-qualification = qualification
  • The employer must keep a copy of the current residence permit in the personnel file.
  • If the contract ends prematurely, the employer must report this to the LEA within four weeks and the talent must inform the LEA immediately.

The „Beschleunigte Fachkräfteverfahren“ (accelerated skilled worker procedure):

  • Fee €411
  • The application process does not start abroad, but in Berlin (Germany) by the employer
  • The LEA obtains approval from the Federal Employment Agency and checks everything required, issues a preliminary approval 
  • The employer sends this document to the applicant who presents it to the embassy
  • The embassy will arrange an appointment within three weeks and take a decision on the visa within an additional three weeks
  • The accelerated procedure is also available for the immigration of family members if joint arrival - within three months - is envisaged (€411 per person)

(Sources: Landeseinwohneramt, Auswärtiges Amt, BMI, BMAS und MiiG)

Visa and residence permit - what is the difference?

A visa allows you to enter Germany. An application for a visa is issued by the local German embassy in the country of origin or the country of residence of the person applying. The visa's period of validity depends on which type of visa you applied for. The Schengen visa (category "C") permits a short-term stay of up to 90 days within a time frame of 180 days. The national visa (category "D") is issued to persons who wish to study, work or stay permanently in the Federal Republic of Germany. 

Overview of residence titles

A residence title/ residence permit entitles the holder to stay in Germany and includes or excludes permission to pursue gainful employment, depending on the legal basis of the residence permit. Residence permits can only be applied for at an immigration office. The responsibility of the immigration office depends on the place where the person concerned has registered. In Berlin, the State Office for Immigration is responsible for this. A residence permit will only be issued if you can also prove that you have German health insurance.

Both a visa and a residence permit are issued for a specific purpose and are valid for a fixed period of time.

Overview of the relevant visa and residence titles for employees

Nationals who require a visa to enter Germany or who cannot change their status (tourist) in Germany despite being entitled to enter without a visa must first apply for a visa in their home country or country of residence.

Nationals who enter the country without a visa and can change their status here (tourist to employee/self-employed person) must have applied for and received a corresponding residence permit from the State Immigration Office before taking up work.

Residence title for the purpose of employment based on §18a immigration law

A residence permit for employment can be issued if a recognised vocational qualification and a concrete job offer/employment contract exist and the Federal Employment Agency has approved the employment.

Residence title for the purpose of employment based on §18b immigration law

A residence permit for employment can be issued if an academic qualification and a concrete job offer/employment contract exist and the Federal Employment Agency has approved the employment.

Residence title for the purpose of employment based on §18g immigration law (EU Blue Card)

Three requirements must be met to receive an EU Blue Card:

  1. a German university degree or a degree from a foreign university which is recognised in Germany,
  2. an employment contract or a concrete job offer for a position that suits the educational background and 
  3. a minimum annual salary of € 45,300.

The salary threshold of the EU Blue Card for so-called shortage occupations, especially in STEM* and medical fields, is slightly lower at € 41,042. In these cases, the Federal Employment Agency’s approval is required for employment.

* Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics 

plus (new):

  • Manufacturing, mining, construction, or distribution managers, ICT service managers
  • Professional services managers, such as childcare or health services managers
  • Veterinarians, dentists, pharmacists
  • Nursing or midwifery professionals
  • School and out-of-school teachers and educators 

In addition, IT specialists without an academic degree and young graduates can also apply for a Blue Card.

Further information:
www.make-it-in-germany.com/de/visum-aufenthalt/fachkraefteeinwanderungsgesetz

Extension and amendment of a residence title for employees

Extensions of the residence permit and changes to the basis of the residence permit for employment, such as a change of employer or a change of position in the company, may require the approval of the Immigration Office, i.e. a new application. For residence titles for employment according to §18a and §18b, an application for a change of employer or for a change of position in the company must only be submitted within the first two years of employment. If you hold an EU Blue Card (§18g), this is only required for the first year.

Investors, self-employed, freelancers and selected cases

From 1 March 2024, there will be a residence permit for talents with a start-up scholarship:
Skilled workers pursuant to § 18 Abs. 3 AufenthG will be able to obtain a residence permit for up to 18 months to set up a company if they are granted a scholarship from a German scientific organization or public body for this purpose.

In selected cases (investors, self-employed people and people who are of particular economic or cultural interest for the state of Berlin), the Business Immigration Service of the LEA Berlin also issues residence permits for individuals who are not represented by a company. The connection is usually established via Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie or via the IHK Berlin. In these selected cases, there must be a justified economic or cultural interest of the city of Berlin. Freelancers should generally turn to their respective country department at the Berlin Immigration Office.

Application for Freelancers

Your contact at the Industrie- und Handelskammer Berlin:

Maxim Kempe
Starter Center und Startups
+49 30 31510-298


Your contact at Berlin Partner for Business and Technology:


Marion Schönicke
Talent | Business Immigration Service
+49 30 46302-432

Rouven Sperling
Projekt Manager Talent
+49 30 46302-229

David Kremers
Projekt Manager Talent
+49 30 46302-353

For existing companies:
Berlin Partner's areas of expertise
For entrepreneurs:
CCI sectors
Health Care Industries / Life Sciences
ICT
Media and Creative Industries
Transport, Mobility, Logistics
Energy technologies
Photonics
Chemicals and plastics
Food and beverage industries
Service industries
Construction and Real Estate Industry
Services
Digital Economy
Health Industry
Trade
Industry
Creative Industry
Tourism
Transport

Other residence titles

Other residence permits that may be relevant for companies looking for foreign emloyees:

  • Residence permits for students (§16b immigration law) 
    Based on their residence permit, foreign students are allowed to take up employment totalling no more than 120 days or 240 half-days per year, and to take up part-time student employment. 
  • Residence permit for job seekers after graduation from a German university (§20 immigration law)
    A person who holds this residence permit for up to 18 months is allowed to start working immediately. Changing this residence permit into one for employment reasons is much easier due to the German university degree.
  • Family reunion to Germans (§28 Residence Act), to foreigners with a valid residence title (§30 Residence Act) or to EU citizens (§3 Freedom of Movement Act EU)
    People who hold a valid residence permit for family reunion (marriage or marriage-equivalent partnerships) may work without restriction.

Acknowlegdment of a foreign degree

For foreign university degrees that are not recognised in the anabin database, recognition of these can be applied for via the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen - ZAB). The application is submitted online and then all the required documents sent by post. Copies and certified translations are sufficient here. A response is received within around three months.

If the purpose of the recognition is to receive a Blue Card, the application will be processed within several weeks.

Information on statements of comparability

Good to know

Incomplete applications lead to considerably delayed processing! Please only send applications with all required documents to the Immigration Office (LEA).

Service at all LEA locations is generally by appointment only.
Please also refer to the current notices on the LEA website.

Sooner rather than later: Even though the BIS cooperation partners work hand in hand to provide the best possible support for Berlin's economy, the required documents must be submitted at an early stage.  

Temporary residence permits from other EU countries have the same effect in Germany as a Schengen visa: Entry and stay of up to 90 days for tourism purposes are permitted.

If an applicant has already stayed in Germany for a longer period of time (no tourist stay), delays may occur. In such cases, the embassy will involve the „Einreisestelle“ of the Berlin Immigration Office, which may take up to three months.

Note on processing time

At the responsible immigration office, the processing time until an appointment is made is currently approx. 4 weeks from receipt of the complete application. Please refrain from inquiring about the status of your application in the meantime. The immigration office will contact you, the BIS client, as soon as possible.

No appointment available at the LEA?

If you are not a BIS customer, your employees can also upload their application for an extension online to the LEA department responsible for employment.

other applications

Your Contact

Marion Schönicke

Talent | International | Business Immigration Service
Berlin Partner for Business and Technology

marion.schoenicke@berlin-partner.de
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German residence permit as an entrepreneur