Pathway 02 of 06 · FOR SKILLED PROFESSIONALS
Qualified Work Visa
Work in Germany with a job offer in your field, bring your family, and reach permanent residence in as little as 21 months.
- Processing
- 4–12 weeks
- Embassy fee
- €75
- Permanent residence
- 21–33 months
All figures checked against auswaertiges-amt.de · last updated 12 Aug 2026
Requirements
Updated 12 Aug 2026- Job offer or signed contract from a German employer
- University degree or professional qualification recognised in Germany (anabin check)
- Relevant work experience for the role
- Salary at or above the minimum threshold for your occupation
- Health insurance and a valid passport
- German language is not required, but helps at interview and for residence later
Document checklist
Updated 12 Aug 2026- Valid passport (2+ years remaining)
- Employment contract or job offer
- Degree certificate + transcripts
- ZAB recognition (if required)
- CV in German or English format
- Declaration of employment (Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis)
- Health insurance confirmation
- Two biometric photos + completed VIDEX form
Step by step
Updated 12 Aug 202601 · 1–6 months
Find a job
Apply directly to German employers. We show you where they actually post.
02 · 1–2 weeks
Employer sends documents
Contract, job description, and the declaration of employment form.
03 · 2–8 weeks
Get your degree recognised
Where anabin doesn't list your university, you need a ZAB statement of comparability.
04 · book early
Book the embassy appointment
Accra appointments are the bottleneck. Book the moment your contract is signed.
05 · 1 day
Submit, pay €75, give biometrics
Bring originals and one copy set of everything on the checklist.
06 · 4–12 weeks
Decision, then travel
Register your address within two weeks of arriving.
What it costs
Updated 12 Aug 2026- Visa fee€75
- ZAB recognition (if needed)€200
- Document translation, per page€25–40
- Flight, Accra → Frankfurt€550–900
No blocked account is required on this route, anyone telling you otherwise is guessing.
Mistakes we see weekly
12 Aug 2026- 1.Applying before checking anabin, then the degree isn't recognised
- 2.Accepting a salary below the threshold for your occupation
- 3.Paying an "agent" for a job offer. Buying an offer is fraud and it is detected
- 4.Booking a flight before the visa is in the passport
- 5.Uncertified translations, or copies without the originals at the appointment
Is this your route?
45 minutes to be sure
Bring your degree, CV and any offer. We confirm the route, or point you to the one that fits better.
€25/ 45 min
Information and application support. Not legal advice.
Other routes
Updated 12 Aug 2026Official sourceAlways cross-check with the German Federal Foreign Office: auswaertiges-amt.de