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Employment in Germany becomes more difficult, quotas for six Balkan countries halved
2026-11-09 11:09:00 / AKTUALITET
The German government has approved a draft regulation that foresees halving the number of annual employment approvals for citizens from the Western Balkans. According to the proposed changes, the quota will be reduced from 50 thousand to 25 thousand initial approvals per year, starting from January 1, 2027.
The decision was made by the federal cabinet on November 4, but to become final it must also receive the approval of the Bundesrat, the chamber representing the German states.
The restriction affects citizens of Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia, who benefit from the Western Balkans Regulation, adopted in 2016 to facilitate their employment in Germany.
This scheme enables citizens of these countries to apply for a work visa even in professions that do not necessarily require a university degree or professional qualification recognized in Germany.
The initiative has met with opposition from the Federal Employment Agency, which has called for the current quota to be maintained. According to it, in September 2026 alone, around 546,000 citizens from the Western Balkan countries were employed in Germany in sectors subject to social security.
The agency warns that reducing the quota could make it difficult to fill vacancies, especially in construction, transport, logistics, gastronomy and healthcare, where the demand for employees remains high.
On the other hand, the German government argues that the restriction aims to give priority to people who are already available on the domestic labor market. However, the change does not mean closing employment opportunities for citizens of the Western Balkans, who will also be able to apply through other legal schemes, especially those related to qualified workers.
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