The German Embassy has suspended the issuance of work visas, as Kosovo citizens have submitted over 8,000 work visa applications in two weeks. Find out what the visa quota is for Kosovo citizens in Germany and whether the permit procedure will be resumed this year

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In January 2025, Germany began accepting applications for work visas. However, in the first 13 days, more than 8,000 applications for a work visa to Germany were submitted by citizens of Kosovo. In this regard, the German embassy has suspended the acceptance of applications. Will the work visa procedure be resumed? More details later in this article.

How many applications for German work visas did citizens of Kosovo submit in 2025?

According to local media, in the first two weeks of accepting applications, the annual quota for work visas for citizens of Kosovo was exhausted. In total, citizens of the country submitted about 8,000 applications for a German visa.

In this regard, the German embassy in the capital of Kosovo has suspended the acceptance of applications for work visas. A new competition for applications will be resumed in 2026.

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Work visa quota for citizens of Balkan countries

In an effort to meet the labor shortage in its industries, Germany introduced the Western Balkans Regulation, which initially granted 25,000 work visas to citizens of Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

Later, in June 2024, the number of permits was doubled, meaning that citizens of the country can now apply for 50,000 work visas.

Citizens of Kosovo are the largest group of workers from the Western Balkans who have found work in Germany.

Given that the number of requests for German work visas from citizens of Kosovo has exceeded the established quota, representatives of this country will now have to wait until next year to apply for a visa.

Reminder! In 2025, Germany introduced visa reforms to attract talent from all over the world, as the country faces a severe labor shortage. In particular, during this year, the country planned to issue 400,000 work visas. We have already told you what changes to migration legislation in 2025 await foreigners in Germany, which positions are better for expats to get a job, and the current procedure for obtaining a work visa.

Book a consultation with an employment lawyer to get detailed information on obtaining a German work visa and understand all the intricacies of applying for a visa and preparing a resume!

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