For people with an ambitious and adventurous mindset, Berlin is a great city to visit — or even settle in. It attracts creatives, tech professionals, and people looking for new opportunities. For startups and companies in the creative industry, Berlin is also an excellent place to find talented people from all over the world.

However, if you’re an employer trying to hire someone from outside the EU/EEA, there’s some additional paperwork involved. One important step is applying for a work permit pre-approval through the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, or BA).

In this article, I’ll share my personal experience going through this process as a non-EU applicant and what I learned along the way. Please note that I’m not a legal expert, this is simply based on what worked for me.

What is ZAV?

The Zentrale Auslands- und Fachvermittlung or ZAV (Central Agency for International and Specialized Services) is a division of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, or BA) that supports the international labor market. It connects employers in Germany with skilled professionals from abroad and provides tailored services for specific sectors, such as:

• Skilled professional roles (e.g. IT specialists, engineers)

• Internships, traineeships, and Ausbildung: ZAV way abroad, Internship in Germany

• Jobs in arts, culture, media: ZAV artist agency

• Speciality hospitality roles (e.g. specialized chefs): ZAV health and care

• Entsendung (seconded employees)

• Quota-based short-term employment

As a designer in the creative industry, my role fell under one of the categories typically reviewed by the ZAV — especially for jobs in arts, culture, or media.

However, not every pre-approval goes through ZAV. In most cases, namely regular skilled positions or visa-route backend, the regional employment agency team (Regional Agentur für Arbeit Teams) handles the process, depending on where the company is located.

What Is a Work Permit Pre-Approval?

The work permit pre-approval (Vorabzustimmung) is a formal approval from the Federal Employment Agency that allows a non-EU citizen to work in Germany. It is usually required when applying for a *Type D national visa at the German embassy or consulate in your home country.

The Federal Employment Agency checks:

• Whether the job offer is valid and concrete,

• Whether working conditions (such as: salary, working hours, duties) match those of domestic workers,

• Whether there are privileged candidates (German, EU/EEA, or other eligible residents) available for the position — this is called a priority check and is waived in many skilled labor cases.

If all criteria are met, the Federal Employment Agency grants approval, and job seekers can proceed with the visa application.

Tip for Employers: Start Early

In my case, my employer submitted the job advertisement and required forms to the local employment agency before I submitted the visa application. This helped shorten the process significantly.

If you’re an employer, I recommend contacting your local employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit) in advance to confirm which documents are needed. It can prevent unnecessary delays later on.

Documents We Submitted

Here’s a list of documents that my employer and I submitted:

From the Employer:

• Job Description (Stellenbeschreibung)

• Pre-Approval Application Form (Anfrage zur Vorabzustimmung)
  Based on § 39 of the Residence Act (AufenthG)

• Employment Contract
  Should include job title, salary, working hours, and contract duration

From Me (the Employee):

• Copy of my university diploma
  Since my degree was from outside Germany, I looked it up on the ANABIN database and included a ANABIN listing of its status

• My CV / Resume

• Copy of my passport (photo page)

• Any professional certificates or licenses relevant to my job

Application Process: Step-by-Step

Here’s how the process worked for us:

1. Employer called the local employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit) to confirm the correct process.
   *Even though the ZAV (Central Foreign and Specialist Placement Office) often handles work permit pre-approvals, it’s smart to start by contacting your local employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit). They can confirm whether your case should be sent to ZAV or a specific regional AMZ (Arbeitsmarktzulassung) team. Some approvals are processed locally depending on the job type and company location.

2. We submitted all documents by mail (some offices may accept email — check first).

3. The employment agency team reviewed the documents and followed up with my employer by phone for minor clarifications.

4. Pre-approval was granted within about two weeks.

5. I used the approval letter to apply for a Type D national visa.

If anything is unclear or missing, the agency will contact your employer. Stay patient and responsive — clear communication really helps.

Final Thoughts

The pre-approval process might seem intimidating at first, but it’s actually quite structured. As long as your documents are complete and your job offer is solid, things usually go smoothly.

I feel lucky that my employer was proactive and helpful throughout the process — that really made all the difference.

If you’re a non-EU professional looking to work in Germany, I hope this article gives you some confidence. And if you’re an employer, don’t let the paperwork discourage you — hiring international talent is worth it.

Disclaimer

This article is based on my personal experience applying for a work permit pre-approval as a non-EU citizen in Germany back to 2017. I’ve updated the content based on information valid in 2025.

Please keep in mind that immigration rules and procedures can vary depending on the role, location, or applicant’s background. Always consult your local employment agency, immigration office, or an immigration advisor for the most accurate guidance.