Germany — Work (Skilled-worker visa (§18a/§18b) with pre-approval)

Main requirements

The skilled-worker visa (§18a vocational, §18b academic) is for people whose qualification is recognised in Germany and who have a job offer. The Tehran embassy says this visa currently needs a pre-approval from the Federal Employment Agency or from the foreigners' authority under the fast-track procedure (§81a) before you can apply. The employer requests the BA pre-approval online; it is valid for 9 months. If you are over 45 and earn below a set threshold you must show adequate pension provision (insurance, assets, property or life insurance); for 2026 the threshold is a gross annual salary of EUR 55,770 per the Interior Ministry notice (the Tehran embassy page still shows the 2025 figure of EUR 53,130). If your qualification is not fully recognised, the 'pronounced professional experience' route (§19c(2)) exists, requiring a gross salary of at least EUR 45,630 for 2026 per the Interior Ministry notice.

Documents

Embassy list: biometric photo; VIDEX; passport; pre-approval; employment contract with start date, duration, gross pay, weekly hours, job description, original signatures, company register number and employer contact; Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis; language proof or employer confirmation; education documents with German translation certified by the Iranian MFA; recognition: for regulated professions or vocational qualifications the decision of the recognition authority or licence, for non-regulated academic degrees two anabin printouts or a ZAB statement; motivation letter; CV; work records, payslips and insurance records; health insurance; EUR 75 cash.

Language

The embassy wants German or English proof or employer confirmation; without language skills the employer must explain how the job works. For regulated professions the recognition authority sets its own language level.

Costs and proof of funds

No separate funds needed. Costs: visa EUR 75 cash; ZAB EUR 208 if needed; vocational recognition fee depends on the authority; translations, insurance, travel and start-up costs.

Steps and timeline

Get recognition first (anabin, ZAB or recognition authority; anerkennung-in-deutschland.de finds the right authority), then find a job and have the employer get a pre-approval. Per the embassy (2026-10-14): appointments are now issued for fast-track (§81a) pre-approvals in any profession registered on the new lists since 15 July 2026; for BA pre-approvals only the medical and care list is currently served and no appointments are announced for 'Pre-Approval ... Other Professions'. So for non-medical jobs the §81a fast-track is effectively the faster path. The fast-track fee is EUR 411 (usually paid by the employer); by law the recognition authority should decide within two months of a complete file and the mission must give an appointment within three weeks and decide within three more weeks, but do not count on these deadlines given the Tehran embassy's current situation. If your salary meets the Blue Card threshold, consider the Blue Card list too.

Notes for Iranian applicants

Iranian degrees that count as vocational training in Germany must go through a vocational recognition authority. ZAB fees can only be paid by PayPal, credit card or SEPA account. Iranian airspace is closed per the embassy (2026-10-14). Applications in neighbouring countries are not accepted.

After arrival (work while studying, post-study stay, path to permanent residence)

Families of applicants with only a BA pre-approval register separately on the embassy family-reunion list; under fast-track, family members included in the pre-approval get appointments together. Per DAAD a settlement permit requires among other things at least three years' stay, self-sufficiency and German B1.