Fast-Track Service · §81a AufenthG
Germany Fast-Track Visa:
4 weeks instead of 6 months.
The official accelerated procedure for skilled workers (§81a AufenthG).
The fast-track procedure for skilled workers (Beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren, §81a AufenthG) is Germany's official accelerated immigration process. It cuts standard processing from 3–6 months down to 4–8 weeks — provided documents are ready and the employer is registered. relokate manages the entire procedure end-to-end.
Quick answer
The §81a fast-track procedure for skilled workers takes 4–8 weeks total: 1–2 weeks document preparation, 2–4 weeks Ausländerbehörde + Bundesagentur für Arbeit pre-approval, and 3 working days for embassy visa issuance after the appointment. Government fee: €411.
Official Relocation PartnerFlink: 24-hour case activation, 4–12 week processing.
Flink operates 160+ hubs across Europe and employs 10,000+ team members. With a fully international workforce and a bias for action, they needed an immigration partner that moves at their pace — and uses fast-track wherever eligible.
24h
Case activation
4–12wk
Avg. processing
10%
Partner discount
“It gives us the flexibility we need. As a fast-growing team, we can hand over cases on an ad-hoc basis when we don't have capacity — and relokate activates within 24 hours. That's exactly what we were looking for.”
— Head of People, Flink SE
| Aspect | Standard Process | Fast-Track (§81a) |
|---|---|---|
| Total processing time | 3-6 months | 4-8 weeks |
| Visa issuance at embassy | 2-12 weeks | 3 working days (after pre-approval) |
| Priority handling | No — standard queue | Yes — employer-initiated, pre-approved |
| Government fee | EUR 75 | EUR 411 |
| Who initiates | Employee at embassy | Employer via local Ausländerbehörde |
| Authority liaison | Employee handles communication | relokate manages all authority contact |
| Pre-approval included | No | Yes — Ausländerbehörde + BA pre-approve before embassy visit |
| Qualification recognition | Must be completed before application | Can be initiated in parallel |
How the fast-track procedure works
relokate handles every step. Your HR team stays informed via the dashboard.
Eligibility assessment
Day 1We evaluate your hire's profile against fast-track requirements: visa type, qualification recognition status, and employer eligibility. Not every case qualifies — we tell you upfront.
Document preparation
Week 1-2We prepare the complete fast-track application package: employment contract, qualification documents, power of attorney, employer declaration, and all authority-specific forms.
Submission to Ausländerbehörde
Week 2relokate submits the application directly to the employer's local immigration authority. The Ausländerbehörde coordinates with the Federal Employment Agency (BA) for labour market approval.
Pre-approval & embassy notification
Week 3-5Once pre-approved, the Ausländerbehörde notifies the German embassy in the employee's home country. The embassy must issue the visa within 3 working days of the appointment.
Embassy appointment & visa issuance
Week 5-8We coordinate the embassy appointment. The employee receives their visa — typically within 3 working days of the appointment, not the usual 2-12 weeks.
Entry & registration
Week 8+Your hire enters Germany with the fast-track visa. relokate manages Anmeldung, health insurance activation, and residence permit application.
Who qualifies for fast-track?
The fast-track procedure is available for most skilled worker visa types — but not all cases qualify.
Eligible visa types
- EU Blue Card (§18g AufenthG)
- Skilled Worker Visa (§18a / §18b AufenthG)
- ICT Card (§19 AufenthG)
- Vocational training visa (§16a AufenthG)
- Recognition Partnership (§16d AufenthG)
- Research visa (§18d / §18f AufenthG)
Not eligible
- Employees already in Germany (status change)
- Job seeker visa / Chancenkarte (no employer sponsor)
- Family reunification (separate process)
- Student visa conversions
- Freelance / self-employment visa
Why use relokate for fast-track?
We know which cases qualify
Not every hire is eligible. We assess upfront and recommend the fastest route — fast-track if it fits, alternative pathways if not.
Direct authority submission
relokate submits directly to the Ausländerbehörde on behalf of the employer. No back-and-forth, no delays from missing documents.
Attorney escalation if needed
If the authority stalls despite the fast-track, we escalate — formal inaction letter first, partner attorney takeover if needed.
Full relocation included
Fast-track covers the visa. relokate also handles Anmeldung, health insurance, bank account, and housing — the complete relocation.
The #1 bottleneck
Fast-track fails when documents aren't ready
The most common reason fast-track cases stall isn't the authorities — it's incomplete documents from the talent. A missing apostille, an expired passport, a degree certificate without certified translation — any of these can add weeks to what should be a 4-8 week process.
That's why relokate takes a proactive approach. When we onboard a new client, we don't wait for a case to arrive. We implement customised document checklists for your HR team and your talents from day one — so when a hire needs fast-track, the documents are already prepared.
Full interactive checklist available for relokate clients
Book a demo to see the full checklist⚖️ Updated for the 2024 reform
The Skilled Immigration Act expanded fast-track eligibility
The 2024 Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz reform widened §81a coverage to include IT specialists without formal degrees, vocational training visas, and recognition partnerships. If you assessed eligibility before 2024 — reassess now. relokate's eligibility check reflects the 2026 rules.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the fast-track procedure for skilled workers take?
The §81a fast-track procedure takes 4–8 weeks total: 1–2 weeks document preparation, 2–4 weeks Ausländerbehörde + Bundesagentur für Arbeit pre-approval, plus 3 working days for embassy visa issuance after the appointment. Compared to standard processing (3–6 months), it cuts time by ~70%.
How much does the §81a fast-track procedure cost?
The government fee for the fast-track procedure is EUR 411 (vs. EUR 75 for standard). relokate's service fee for managing the process is included in the per-case pricing — no additional charge for choosing fast-track.
Who qualifies for the fast-track procedure?
Available for EU Blue Card (§18g), Skilled Worker Visa (§18a/§18b), ICT Card (§19), vocational training visa (§16a), recognition partnership (§16d), and research visa (§18d/§18f) — applying from abroad. Not eligible: employees already in Germany, job seekers without an employer sponsor, family reunification, student visa conversions, and freelance/self-employment visas.
Can we use fast-track for someone already in Germany?
No. The fast-track procedure (§81a) is only available for employees applying from abroad. For status changes within Germany, standard Ausländerbehörde processing applies.
What if our hire doesn't qualify for fast-track?
We'll identify this in the eligibility assessment and recommend the fastest alternative route. In many cases, strong document preparation and early submission can achieve comparable timelines without the formal fast-track.
Do we need to register as an employer first?
The employer must be registered with the local Ausländerbehörde to use the fast-track procedure. relokate handles this registration as part of the process.
Trusted by startups and corporates alike
Related guides
Background reading on the visa types and processes that qualify for fast-track.
EU Blue Card: Requirements & process
The most common fast-track visa type — full guide
Degree Recognition: Speed up the process
When recognition is required and how fast-track runs it in parallel
Skilled Immigration Act reform
The 2023-2024 law changes that expanded fast-track eligibility
Check which fast-track route fits your hire
Free 2-minute assessment — visa type and fast-track eligibility
Blue Card Salary Calculator
Check if your candidate's salary meets the 2026 threshold
Get the 2026 Employer's Guide
9-page PDF covering immigration pathways, compliance obligations, and practical timelines for HR leaders.
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