General Information

With the new immigration regulations for skilled workers of 2020, a fast-track procedure for skilled workers was introduced to shorten the recognition and visa process. The fast-track procedure can only be used in the following cases: skilled workers with academic or vocational training, higly qualified workers, researchers/scientists, managers, vocational training courses, measures to obtain recognition of foreign vocational qualifications.

Also accompanying family members can be involved.

You can authorise your employer in Germany to submit a fast-track application for you as a skilled worker to the local foreigners authority, i.e. at your future place of work. The foreigners authority will advise your employer and be of assistance in filing an application for recognition of your foreign degree or certificate. The authority is also responsible for obtaining the necessary approval from the Federal Employment Agency. When all prerequisites that can be examined in Germany have been met, the foreigners authority will issue what is called preliminary approval, which your employer will then send to you. As soon as you have received preliminary approval, you can book an appointment with the respective German Mission abroad in order to apply for your visa.

The fee for this fast-track procedure is 411 Euros, to be paid to the foreigners authority. In addition, there are fees for the recognition of your degree or certificate as well as the visa procedure.

You can find more information and FAQ concerning the new regulations for skilled workers and the fast-track procedure here.

Prepare your application

You should start preparing your visa application as soon as your employer has applied for the fast-track procedure. As soon as you receive the preliminary approval from the foreigners authority, please book an appointment and submit the documents with 1 copy when applying for a visa:

• copy of valid passport (including all pages that are not blank)
• a completed and personally signed national visa application form (please use the online application form VIDEX )
• 2 recent biometric passport photos (not older than 3 months)
• Saudi ID or Iqama or Saudi Arabian visa & entry stamp

• original preliminary approval from the foreigners authority
  

• originals of all documents that are attached to the preliminary approval
  

• proof of the successfully completed university or vocational education
  

• if necessary: proof of German/English language knowledge

• in case of accompanying spouse/minor children: birth/marriage certificates, if applicable family register or custody order
  

• visa fee of 75€, to be paid in SAR (cash only)
  

Before the visa can be issued, the German Mission will request a health insurance for Germany valid until the start of your employment.

All documents are to be presented in original or certified copy along with one set of copies.

Foreign documents issued in other languages than English or German have to be submitted with an official translation.

The German Missions reserve the right to request additional documents.

Important notes on the visa procedure

Please do not send unrequested documents to the German Mission, especially not before applying for the visa, as those cannot be kept. Please submit all documents when applying in person at the mission. Incomplete applications will be rejected or denied.

Foreign public documents need to be duly legalized by the competent German Mission in the issuing country, or, if applicable, provided with an Apostille. For documents from some countries, individual document verification might be necessary, that process would require more time and an additional fee.

Processing

The processing of the visa application usually takes three weeks. It might take longer if the mission has to contact the foreigners authority or foreign documents have to undergo additional verification.

The German Mission evaluates and decides on your application. You will be contacted as soon as the application has been decided. Please note that questions regarding the status of your visa application cannot be answered. Due to data protection regulation, no status updates can be given via phone.

Book your appointment

Alternative way:

To submit your application, please book an appointment and appear in person at the German Embassy in Riyadh. The Embassy will accept your complete application documents including the visa fee. We will conduct a short interview with you and register your biometric data. New appointments are released on a regular basis.

Please book an appointment through the online system of the Embassy in Riyadh.

Additional information

The respective German foreigners authority will be able to give you and your employer more detailed information on the first part of the procedure. Please contact the foreigners authority in whose jurisdiction area you will live and work.

You can find general information on professional migration on the web portal “make-it-in-germany” .