Germany plans to halve its Western Balkans work quota from 2027: what applicants and employers should know
by 
Babylon Radio
Listen nowGermany plans to halve the annual quota under its Western Balkans Regulation from 50,000 to 25,000 from 1 January 2027. The Federal Employment Agency (BA) has said it favours keeping the quota at 50,000. Here is what the scheme is, what the draft changes and what it means if you are from the region or hiring from it.
The Western Balkans Regulation (Westbalkanregelung) lets citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia get a visa to take up a job in Germany under simplified conditions. Introduced in 2016, it covers any kind of employment, including roles that need no formal qualification. Each job needs the BA’s approval, and the number of first-time approvals is capped each year.
What the draft changes
The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) has prepared a draft regulation amending the Employment Ordinance (Beschäftigungsverordnung). According to the German Council of Economic Experts’ statement on the draft, it would cut the annual quota of first-time BA approvals in section 26(2) from 50,000 to 25,000 from 1 January 2027. The 2023 reform provided for a higher quota, and the increase from 25,000 to 50,000 took effect on 1 June 2024.
The Council’s statement also notes that qualification-based routes, such as skilled-worker residence permits under sections 18a and 18b of the Residence Act, stay open to citizens of these countries regardless of the quota.
What the BA says
In a press release on 16 October 2026, the BA said the quota was not enough to cover all applications in 2025 and is expected to be used up before the end of 2026. It reported that around 546,000 people from the Western Balkan states were in jobs with social insurance contributions in Germany in September 2026, and that 53% of them work at least at skilled level. In the consultation, the BA has argued for keeping the quota at 50,000. The German Council of Economic Experts made the same recommendation in a statement dated 15 October 2026.
How the quota works
The annual quota is split by month and by nationality. Those monthly limits are set for the BA, which can only process applications while the limit for that month and nationality has not been reached. That is why some approvals can take months to arrive.
What it means for you
- If you are applying under the scheme now: the 50,000 quota still applies for 2026, but the BA expects this year’s places to run out before year end.
- If you plan to apply in 2027: a smaller quota could increase competition and waiting times, depending on demand and monthly nationality allocations. Prepare documents early, but check the final rules and BA guidance before applying.
- What you still need: a binding job offer and the other visa conditions. If your job is in a regulated profession, you still need professional recognition as well.
- If you have a vocational qualification or degree: look at the skilled-worker routes, which are not limited by this quota. Getting your qualification recognised can take time, so start early.
- Once you arrive: registering your address and sorting your paperwork comes next. Our German bureaucracy survival guide walks you through the first steps.
- If you are an employer: plan hiring from the region with the smaller quota in mind, and check whether candidates qualify for a skilled-worker permit instead.
If you are planning a move for 2027, it is also worth budgeting for what you will take home. Our explainer on Germany’s 2027 income tax changes explains what they mean for expats and families.
The quota change is still a proposal. Babylon will report on the final version once it is adopted.