Western Balkans Regulation becomes permanent with 50,000-place quota

The Western Balkans Regulation gives nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia access to German employment in non-regulated occupations, subject to a job offer and Federal Employment Agency approval. The regulation was extended indefinitely and its annual quota rose to 50,000 approvals from June 2024. It is a nationality-specific employment route, not a general waiver of visa or labour-market requirements.