Hiring Talent from the Western Balkans: What Employers in Germany Need to Know About the Western Balkans Regulation (Westbalkanregelung)
For German employers facing ongoing labor shortages—particularly in logistics, hospitality, manufacturing, construction, and various service sectors—the Western Balkans Regulation (Westbalkanregelung) offers a highly flexible and attractive pathway to recruit motivated workers from outside the EU. Unlike skilled worker routes such as the EU Blue Card, the Western Balkans Regulation does not require applicants to hold formal professional qualifications, making it especially useful for roles where practical experience or on-the-job training is sufficient.
This article outlines how the Western Balkans Regulation works, who can qualify, the role of the Federal Employment Agency (BA), common challenges employers should expect, and what HR and People teams need to prepare when hiring talent from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, or Serbia.
What Is the Western Balkans Regulation?
The Western Balkans Regulation is an immigration route that allows employers in Germany to hire workers from six Western Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. It was introduced to promote legal migration and give German companies structured access to urgently needed labor across a wide range of industries.
A major advantage of the Western Balkans Regulation is that it does not require recognition of formal vocational qualifications. This opens the door to candidates whose professions are not regulated in Germany or whose qualifications would otherwise require lengthy assessment processes. As a result, the regulation has become one of the most versatile and employer-friendly pathways for filling essential roles that cannot be staffed through the domestic or EU labor market.
By enabling nationals of these countries to come to Germany for employment purposes, the Western Balkans Regulation not only supports German employers but also offers candidates a clear, legal, and transparent route into the German workforce.
Who can qualify under the Western Balkans Regulation?
The Western Balkans Regulation applies exclusively to nationals of the six Western Balkan countries. One of its major advantages is that individuals can apply regardless of whether they hold formal professional qualifications, making this regulation one of the most flexible legal routes for hiring international workers in Germany. To qualify, applicants generally need a valid job offer from a German employer and must obtain labor market approval from the Federal Employment Agency.
Applicants must apply for their visa in their home country. Employers benefit from this regulation because it simplifies the recruitment of motivated workers even when their occupations are not formally regulated or recognized in Germany.
Even though the Western Balkans Regulation does not require formal qualification recognition, applicants must still meet all standard visa requirements. This includes holding a valid passport, demonstrating sufficient health insurance coverage, providing clean criminal record documentation, and submitting all required forms and evidence requested by the embassy and the Federal Employment Agency. Ensuring these documents are complete and accurate is essential to avoid delays or rejections.
Key requirements include:
A valid job offer from a German employer
Labor market approval from the Federal Employment Agency (BA)
Salary aligned with the Entgeldatlas
Employment Flexibility and Employer Changes under Western Balkans Regulation
While the regulation enables broad employment access, there are administrative considerations:
Residence permits may be restricted to a single employer.
Changing employers requires new approval from the Federal Employment Agency.
The Federal Employment Agency reviews salary, working conditions, and whether the position meets regulatory requirements.
Considerations for Employers for Western Balkans Regulation
Although the Western Balkans Regulation is a strong recruitment tool, employers should be aware of several constraints:
1. Annual Quotas
The regulation is subject to yearly quotas, limiting how many workers may enter Germany through this route. Early planning is essential.
2. High Demand
Because of the regulation's popularity, applicants face:
Long waiting times for the Federal Employment Agency approval
Extended processing periods
Competition for quota slots
3. Federal Employment Agency Approval Requirements
Every application requires case-by-case evaluation by the Federal Employment Agency, which reviews:
Employment contract
Salary and labor conditions
Compliance with German labor standards
4. Documentation and Reliability
Proper documentation, proof of job offer, and accuracy in all forms are crucial to avoid rejection.
No Qualification Recognition Required for the Western Balkans Regulation
One of the defining advantages of the Western Balkans Regulation is that recognition of foreign professional qualifications is not required. This opens the door for workers whose professions do not have regulated vocational standards or whose qualification recognition process would otherwise be lengthy.
Annual Quotas and Waiting Times for Western Balkans Regulation
The regulation is limited to 50,000 approvals per year. Due to high demand, particularly from Kosovo and Serbia, employers must anticipate long waiting times and should strategize recruitment accordingly. Employers should be aware that processing times and quota availability for the Western Balkans Regulation vary significantly from country to country. In general, waiting times can range from just a few days in countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro to several months in places such as Albania, Serbia, or North Macedonia. Kosovo remains one of the slowest locations, often requiring around eleven months for processing. These timelines are not fixed and can change at any point.
It is also important to note that annual quotas play a major role. Each year, countries can reach their quota limits very early—sometimes within the first few months of the year. Once a country’s quota is full, no new applications will be processed for that calendar year. This is currently the case for Kosovo, where applications for 2025 can no longer be considered due to an exceeded quota. For employers relying on the Western Balkans Regulation, this means early planning, continuous quota monitoring, and realistic expectations regarding processing times are essential to securing talent in time.
Hiring Beyond the Western Balkans Regulation
While the Western Balkans Regulation is an excellent option for candidates without formal qualifications, it is not the only immigration pathway available to nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. If a candidate does hold a recognized qualification and meets the required salary thresholds, applying for an EU Blue Card or another Skilled Worker Permit is often the more advantageous choice. These pathways typically offer faster processing times, greater long-term security, simplified family reunification, and increased mobility within the EU. Employers should always evaluate whether a role and candidate profile align with skilled worker requirements before defaulting to the Western Balkans Regulation.
How relokate Supports Employers
Hiring from the Western Balkans can be complex—but it doesn’t have to be. At relokate, we take over the entire process for your candidates, including:
Visa preparation and application
Federal Employment Agency (BA) approval handling
Coordination with embassies and authorities
Relocation, settling-in, registration, and integration support in Germany
Employer compliance and documentation guidance
With our support, HR teams gain a clear process, reduced administrative workload, and faster, more predictable outcomes.
If you're hiring talent from the Western Balkans, partner with us to ensure your candidates arrive smoothly, legally, and fully supported—so you can focus on growing your team.