Authorities and institutions

Here you will find a clear overview of authorities and institutions with further information that may be relevant to you as an expat / international professional. On some portals you will also find corresponding forms that you may need depending on the procedure and subject matter.

Are you planning to live in Düsseldorf or in the County of Mettmann? Then here you will find a list of the websites of our project partners – the City of Düsseldorf, Mettmann District Council and the IHK Düsseldorf – along with the relevant local authorities: The authority relevant to you will depend on your place of residence.

At state level, you will find the following helpful portals:

The North Rhine-Westphalia Central Office for the Immigration of Skilled Workers (ZFE NRW) helps both employees and employers to meet the legal requirements for the granting of a visa.

 

At federal level:

­The website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees provides clear and understandable information on the basic requirements for people living and working in Germany.

The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs provides a wealth of information on the subject of international professionals and integration:

On the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community you will find information on the current legal situation concerning the Immigration Act for Skilled Workers and on other matters related to skilled.

­In some cases, the Federal Employment Agency will be involved in the process of obtaining a work permit. You will also find support here on the subject of ‘recruiting skilled workers from abroad’.

The KOFA (Research Unit on Securing Skilled Labour) is a project commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). It offers SMEs free information and webinars and publishes relevant studies on the subject of securing skilled workers.

‘Make it in Germany’ is the federal government’s multilingual information portal for international skilled workers and managers, also serving as a partner to businesses. Comprehensive information on entry and visa procedures as well as employment and life in Germany is provided here.

Network IQ (‘Integration through Qualification’) provides helpful information on labour market opportunities and the recognition of international professional qualifications obtained by people with a migration background.

The federal government’s portal on the recognition of international professional qualifications provides information on the basis of the Federal Recognition Act (Anerkennungsgesetz), which gives skilled workers from abroad the right to check their professional qualifications for equivalence with the German reference occupation.

The IHK Foreign Skills Approval (IHK FOSA) portal helps with the recognition of international professional qualifications in the industrial, retail, gastronomy and service sectors.