The Bundestag on 3 March released the first official evaluation of Germany’s 2023 Skilled Immigration Act, revealing that 17,489 ‘Opportunity Cards’ and 838 experience-pillar visas were issued between June 2024 and November 2025. While the numbers are encouraging, labour minister Bärbel Bas warned that demographic pressure means Germany must attract “hundreds of thousands” of additional qualified workers annually.
To streamline the process, Bas announced a one-stop digital platform dubbed the “Work-and-Stay Agency”. The portal will allow foreign professionals and German employers to file, track and finalise visa and residence-permit applications in one place, using the once-only principle for documents and real-time status updates. The agency will act as a data hub connecting foreign missions, the Federal Employment Agency and local immigration offices, but credential-recognition decisions will remain with the Länder and professional chambers.
For applicants who would rather not wait until the new portal is fully up and running, VisaHQ already provides an end-to-end digital service to secure German work visas and residence permits. The company pre-checks documentation, auto-fills official forms and liaises with consulates—helping both employers and skilled workers avoid common pitfalls long before they land in Germany. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/germany/
![Berlin unveils digital ‘Work-and-Stay Agency’ after first review of Skilled Immigration Act]()
Business advocates welcomed the move, noting that small and mid-sized firms struggle with the patchwork of authorities currently involved. The Confederation of German Employers (BDA) said a fully digital path could shave months off recruitment cycles, reduce onboarding costs and make Germany more competitive against talent magnets such as Canada and Australia.
Immigration lawyers caution that the success of the WSA will depend on adequate staffing, interoperability with existing IT systems and clear accountability for service levels. They also urge policymakers to maintain robust data-protection safeguards as biometric and employment records flow across multiple agencies.
For global mobility teams the announcement is significant: once live, the WSA should simplify document collection, cut legal fees and provide predictable timelines for Blue Cards, ICT permits and the increasingly popular Opportunity Card route. A pilot launch is expected later in 2026, with phased roll-out over the next two years.
To streamline the process, Bas announced a one-stop digital platform dubbed the “Work-and-Stay Agency”. The portal will allow foreign professionals and German employers to file, track and finalise visa and residence-permit applications in one place, using the once-only principle for documents and real-time status updates. The agency will act as a data hub connecting foreign missions, the Federal Employment Agency and local immigration offices, but credential-recognition decisions will remain with the Länder and professional chambers.
For applicants who would rather not wait until the new portal is fully up and running, VisaHQ already provides an end-to-end digital service to secure German work visas and residence permits. The company pre-checks documentation, auto-fills official forms and liaises with consulates—helping both employers and skilled workers avoid common pitfalls long before they land in Germany. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/germany/
Business advocates welcomed the move, noting that small and mid-sized firms struggle with the patchwork of authorities currently involved. The Confederation of German Employers (BDA) said a fully digital path could shave months off recruitment cycles, reduce onboarding costs and make Germany more competitive against talent magnets such as Canada and Australia.
Immigration lawyers caution that the success of the WSA will depend on adequate staffing, interoperability with existing IT systems and clear accountability for service levels. They also urge policymakers to maintain robust data-protection safeguards as biometric and employment records flow across multiple agencies.
For global mobility teams the announcement is significant: once live, the WSA should simplify document collection, cut legal fees and provide predictable timelines for Blue Cards, ICT permits and the increasingly popular Opportunity Card route. A pilot launch is expected later in 2026, with phased roll-out over the next two years.
