Who it covers
The provision covers nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Consents to take up any employment can be given with a labour-market test (Vorrangprüfung).
Where the application is made
The first consent may only be given if the application for the residence title is made at the competent German mission in one of these states.
The annual limit
The ordinance limits the number of consents in these cases to up to 50 000 per calendar year. The text sets the limit for these cases together; it does not itself divide it by country or month, and it does not state how quickly the limit is used.
When consent is not given
Consent may not be given if, in the 24 months before the application, the applicant received benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz).
What this article does not establish
It does not state salary levels, processing times, other conditions that may apply, other routes (such as the EU Blue Card), naturalisation rules or any planned change to the limit. Confirm current conditions with the German mission and the Federal Employment Agency.
Questions before acting
Can the first application be made from inside Germany?
The ordinance says the first consent may only be given if the application is made at the competent German mission in one of the six states.
Is the 50 000 limit per country?
The text limits the consents in these cases to up to 50 000 per calendar year and does not divide that number by country.
Corrections in this revision
The previous version included statements without sufficient direct support. This revision removes or corrects:
- 'No age restriction' statement
- Minimum wage, Blue Card and citizenship figures that were outdated
- Procedure described in the wrong order
- Description of the asylum bar as being about voluntary-return benefits
- Generic FAQ and irrelevant reference links
Review scope: legal and financial statements in this revised article. Recheck on a provider, professional, immigration or tax-rule change; reuse of dated figures requires a new check.
See recorded sources
- Gesetze im Internet: § 26 BeschV — Germany — federal ordinance. Ordinance text as published, read 29 September 2026
- Gesetze im Internet: § 26 BeschV (place of application) — Germany — federal ordinance. Ordinance text as published, read 29 September 2026
These primary references have the jurisdiction, product and scope stated above. A source link is not proof of personalised eligibility.
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About the author
António Mira is the founder of whereTOemigrate. For over a decade he has worked at the intersection of Portuguese real estate and overseas business, helping international clients navigate the cross-border decisions that come with relocating. He sits on the board of CCIAP (Portuguese-Arab Chamber of Commerce), the Portuguese-Saudi Business Council, and the Portugal-Hong Kong Business Association — always with one focus: enabling overseas business and human mobility into and out of Portugal.
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