Work and Stay Agency Germany 2026: Implementation Guide
Germany's biggest administrative shift for skilled immigration. The Work and Stay Agency (WSA) is a flagship digital project to centralise and speed up skilled immigration by 2026. A single "one-stop-government" portal is meant to replace the need to deal with up to seven different authorities, giving one entry point for labour migration steps.
Below: what the WSA is, main 2026 deadlines, what it offers, who can use it, how to prepare, and what it means for skilled workers and employers.
What this means for you
The WSA is not a new ministry but a
digital hub that links 550+ local immigration offices with federal bodies. You upload documents once; all relevant authorities use the same data. Full operation is planned by 2029; in 2026 the advisory service starts (1 Jan), IT tenders and planning deadlines apply (1 Mar), and a Frankfurt Airport desk is planned for mid-year. Prepare by digitising documents (PDF/A), getting one set of certified translations, and following
only official government portals for when the portal goes live:
Make it in Germany and the
Federal Government (skilled immigration).
What Is the Work and Stay Agency (WSA)?
The Work and Stay Agency (WSA) is a central digital platform that coordinates existing immigration authorities into one process for skilled workers. It connects 550+ local immigration offices with the Federal Foreign Office, Federal Employment Agency, and Federal Ministry of the Interior. Core idea: one digital hub where you upload documents once and all involved authorities access the same data—no new government department, but a single coordination layer.
Key 2026 Deadlines and Milestones
| Date |
Milestone |
What happens |
| 1 January 2026 |
National advisory service |
"Faire Integration" launches. Employers must inform new foreign hires about free legal and social labour-law advice on their first day of work. |
| 1 March 2026 |
IT tenders and cost plan |
Participating ministries submit final time and cost plan for full rollout. Public tenders for central IT infrastructure are issued. |
| Early 2026 |
IT tenders |
Tenders for central IT to merge Foreign Office, Employment Agency, and Interior Ministry portals. |
| Mid-2026 |
Frankfurt Airport desk |
Physical service desk at Frankfurt Airport for immediate document issues on arrival. |
| Late 2026 |
Pilot phase |
Pilot with limited functionality expected. |
| 2026–2029 |
Phased rollout |
Gradual expansion of services. |
| 2029 |
Full operation |
Full operational status planned, including end-to-end residence permit handling. |
What the WSA Offers
Today, skilled immigration is spread across 550 local offices and 200 visa sections abroad. The WSA aims to bundle this into one platform.
One-stop portal. You upload contracts, diplomas, and proof of housing once. Employment Agency, Foreign Office, and local offices use the same central data. The "once-only" principle: one submission, one set of certified translations in principle.
AI support. The platform is planned to use AI for document checks, triage, and routing to the right authority, plus status tracking. Pilots have already shown shorter wait times at some visa posts.
Employer side. Employers can start applications for employees, track progress, and upload employment details. Large firms may integrate via API. Status updates go through the portal.
Relocation support. Guidance on recognition, housing, integration courses, and the "Faire Integration" advisory service, with a central information hub.
Who Can Use the WSA?
Applicants: Non-EU citizens coming to work or train in Germany—skilled workers (vocational or academic), job seekers (including Chancenkarte users), trainees and apprentices, IT and healthcare workers, engineers.
Employers: Companies of all sizes hiring from abroad; HR and recruitment agencies. Large employers can plan for API links to their HR systems.
Current System vs WSA (2026+)
| Aspect |
Current (pre-2026) |
WSA (2026+) |
| Authorities |
Up to 7 different bodies |
Single portal |
| Documents |
Same documents to multiple places |
Upload once, shared |
| Translations |
Multiple certified sets |
One set (once-only) |
| Tracking |
No central view |
Real-time status |
| Processing |
Months, varies by office |
Faster, AI-supported |
| Employers |
Mostly passive |
Can initiate and monitor |
How the WSA Process Is Designed to Work
1. Registration. When the portal is live, you register there. Follow only official sources for the link: Make it in Germany and the Federal Government (skilled immigration).
2. Documents. Prepare contracts, diplomas, proof of housing, passport/ID, health insurance, and any other required papers in machine-readable PDF/A.
3. Upload. Upload once to the central hub; the once-only principle applies.
4. Verification. AI is planned to verify, triage, and route documents; authorities then review using the shared data.
5. Tracking and decision. You follow status in the portal and get the decision there. Support for next steps (recognition, housing, integration) is part of the offer.
Funding and What the WSA Does Not Replace
The WSA is funded from special funds (costs may exceed initial estimates). It is not a new authority but a coordinator. It does not replace the 1,500+ state recognition bodies—they stay; the WSA is a central submission and coordination point. Local immigration offices and embassies remain but are coordinated through the WSA.
2026 Visa and Salary Thresholds
Alongside WSA, financial thresholds for skilled workers in 2026:
| Visa type |
2026 requirement |
Note |
| EU Blue Card (standard) |
€50,700 gross/year |
Standard professions |
| EU Blue Card (bottleneck) |
€45,934.20 gross/year |
IT, STEM, healthcare shortage |
| Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) |
€1,091 net/month |
Proof of means for job seekers |
| Visa experience route |
€45,630 min. salary |
Significant professional experience |
Details: EU Blue Card Salary Thresholds 2026.
Frankfurt Airport Service Desk
Mid-2026: a physical desk at Frankfurt Airport is planned for arriving professionals who need immediate help with documents or visa issues, linked to WSA services.
"Faire Integration" (1 January 2026)
Mandatory national advisory service: free legal and social labour-law advice for foreign workers. Employers must inform new foreign hires about it on their first day of work. Covers labour and social law, rights and obligations, and workplace issues.
How to Prepare for 2026
Applicants: Digitise all certificates, contracts, and IDs in PDF/A. Get one set of certified translations. Follow only Make it in Germany and the Federal Government (skilled immigration) for official WSA portal launch and registration.
Employers: From 1 January 2026, inform new foreign hires about "Faire Integration" on day one. Prepare for employer portal use; large companies can plan API integration. Have contracts and related documents ready in digital form.
When Will What Be Available?
| Phase |
When |
What |
| Advisory service |
1 Jan 2026 |
"Faire Integration" |
| Planning |
1 Mar 2026 |
IT tenders and cost plans |
| IT development |
Early–mid 2026 |
Infrastructure build |
| Airport desk |
Mid-2026 |
Frankfurt Airport service desk |
| Pilot |
Late 2026 |
Limited pilot |
| Rollout |
2026–2029 |
Gradual expansion |
| Full operation |
2029 |
End-to-end residence permits |
Official Sources
Only government and official institutional sources. For WSA rollout and registration, use these official portals.
Last checked: February 2026.
Next Steps
Digitise documents (PDF/A), get certified translations, and follow the official portals above for the WSA registration link. Employers: apply the "Faire Integration" obligation from 1 January 2026 and prepare for the employer portal. Use current pathways in the meantime: EU Blue Card Salary Thresholds 2026, Consular Services Portal, and other skilled immigration routes that will later feed into the WSA.
