Germany to Halve Western Balkans Work Quota to 25,000 From 2027

Germany will halve its annual quota for workers from the Western Balkans from 1 January 2027, cutting the number of places under the so-called Western Balkans Regulation from 50,000 to 25,000. The scheme covers citizens of North Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania, and is one of the main routes into the German labour market for people from the region.

Key facts

• Effective date: 1 January 2027
• New annual quota: 25,000, down from 50,000
• Who it covers: Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania
• Main advantage: a visa for employment without prior recognition of formal professional qualifications
• 2025 outcome: 50,000 preliminary approvals issued and 33,731 visa applications processed

What is changing?

The reduction was already set out in the German government's 2025 coalition agreement, and the start of implementation at the beginning of 2027 was confirmed by the German government at a press conference on 3 July 2026. From that date, half as many places will be available each year under the regulation.

At the end of September, the German Construction Industry Federation warned about the possible effects of the change. The association said construction accounted for around 30 percent of visas issued under the programme, and that halving the quota could particularly affect a sector that relies heavily on workers from Western Balkan countries.

Who can use the Western Balkans Regulation?

Germany's Federal Employment Agency says the regulation allows applicants to obtain a visa for employment in Germany without prior recognition of their formal professional qualifications and, in principle, applies to almost all types of employment. Applicants therefore do not need their qualifications formally recognised before being employed.

How many people used the route in 2025?

A spokesperson for Germany's Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs said Kosovo citizens received the largest number of preliminary employment approvals in 2025, at 11,980. Albania followed with 10,345, North Macedonia with 9,917, Serbia with 9,253, Bosnia and Herzegovina with 7,525 and Montenegro with 980 — exactly 50,000 in total. These were preliminary approvals issued by the Federal Employment Agency, not the final number of visas issued.

Germany's Federal Foreign Office said 33,731 visa applications were processed under the regulation in 2025: 7,279 from Kosovo citizens, 6,929 from North Macedonia, 6,893 from Albania, 6,161 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 5,837 from Serbia and 632 from Montenegro.

Are other routes into Germany still open?

Germany's Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs points out that other pathways remain available for workers from third countries. These include short-term quota-based employment, special regulations for skilled workers with recognised vocational or university qualifications, and specific procedures for certain categories of workers, including caregivers and professional drivers.

What this means for travellers

People from the six Western Balkans countries planning to work in Germany under this regulation will face roughly half the number of places from 2027. An employment agency director in Skopje, Aleksandra Bozinovska, said "the reduction will hit Kosovo and Albania the hardest", where waiting times for work permits are longest, while documents in North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro are processed on a daily basis and the allocated quota is sufficient.

Bozinovska said the regulation does not channel workers into specific occupations, and that no single age group dominates among those leaving. She also noted that employment agencies' volumes have declined over the past two years, citing Germany's economic situation and priority being given to German workers in recruitment.

Economic and employment experts in the region said the smaller quota will not stop emigration. Albanian expert Eduard Djokutaj said the decision does not close the door to employment in Germany, but reduces the available places and could affect the conclusion of employment contracts and the placement of workers in particular cities. He noted that Germany has more than 170 occupations experiencing labour shortages and wants a better distribution of workers.