German construction industry warns of visa quota cuts

The German construction industry is warning of severe consequences following government plans to halve the West Balkan regulation visa quota. Starting January 1, 2027, the annual number of visas for workers from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia is scheduled to drop from 50,000 to 25,000.

The Central Association of the German Construction Industry (ZDB) stated that approximately 30 percent of these visas are utilized by the construction sector, more than any other industry. ZDB Managing Director Felix Pakleppa warned that the reduction could lead to the loss of roughly 8,000 workers in the construction sector by the end of the year and could stall critical infrastructure projects.

While the federal government cites rising unemployment as the reason for the cut, the ZDB argues that the move contradicts federal spending on bridges, rail, and housing. The demand for these visas remains high; the 2025 quota was already exhausted by late November, leading to rejected applications.