Work and Stay: Will Germany’s flagship immigration agency change anything?

**Germany’s “Work and Stay” Agency Still Awaiting a Clear Mandate**

*Berlin – September 3, 2026* – One year after the German government announced plans for a “Work and Stay Agency” (WSA) – a one‑stop service intended to streamline visa procedures for foreign skilled workers – officials are still working out the agency’s exact role and structure.

**Background**

The labour minister, Bärbel Bas, presented the WSA concept in 2025, promising a more digital, transparent and centralised system that would reduce the current need for applicants to submit documents to multiple authorities. The government’s original planning documents indicated that a detailed implementation schedule and cost plan would be ready by March 2026.

**Current status**

According to a response from the Federal Foreign Office, the question of whether the WSA will involve only a central IT platform or also transfer responsibility for domestic residence‑related procedures to the federal level “is the subject of ongoing coordination processes.” No final model for the agency has been published, and no operational date has been set.

**Stakeholder concerns**

– **National Regulatory Control Council (NKR):** Board member Kerstin Müller, a former minister of state, said the main challenge is not merely digitising existing processes but reducing the number of institutions involved. She noted that a single residence‑permit application can currently pass through at least seven different authorities, including embassies, federal, state and local immigration offices, and labour and recognition bodies. The NKR advocates a “tandem solution” in which the Federal Office for Foreign Affairs and the Federal Employment Agency would handle the bulk of the work.

– **German Industry Association (DIHK):** DIHK expert Stefan Hardege warned that members continue to experience long waiting times, unpredictable processing, and a lack of transparency when recruiting abroad. He stressed that “expedited skilled‑worker procedures operate differently from region to region, depending on the authority” and that a consistent, nationwide process is needed. Hardege added that the WSA “should not merely be a digital portal.”

Both organisations expressed concern that the project could become “nothing more than an IT platform,” meaning that while an online interface might improve user experience, the underlying bureaucratic bottlenecks could remain unchanged.

**Government actions**

The federal cabinet approved key points for the WSA’s implementation in late 2025, with the expectation of a detailed roadmap by March 2026. However, as of September 2026, ministries responsible for the project—including the Federal Labour Ministry, the Foreign Office and the Interior Ministry—have not confirmed a timeline for the agency’s launch.

The Federal Foreign Office’s Federal Office for Foreign Affairs (BfAA) has been expanding its role in visa processing, taking on more responsibilities from German diplomatic missions abroad. Since 2021, the BfAA has grown to nine divisions with 154 employees and plans further expansion as “domestic processing expands.” A Foreign Office spokesperson said the ministry is “pushing ahead with the centralisation of visa procedures independently of the WSA.”

**Implications for foreign workers**

Germany needs an estimated 400,000 skilled workers annually to offset demographic shifts. Persistent complaints about visa delays and fragmented procedures have prompted calls for reform. While the BfAA’s increased staffing and digital initiatives suggest progress toward centralisation, the unresolved status of the WSA leaves it unclear whether the envisioned single‑point service will materialise.

**Outlook**

The WSA’s final design remains under discussion, with coordination between multiple ministries and stakeholder groups ongoing. Until a definitive structure and implementation schedule are announced, foreign workers and German employers will continue to navigate the existing, multi‑agency immigration system.

Article and image source: thelocal.de