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About DastN
International talent. Employed directly by you.
Recruitment from Berlin · founded 2021
DastN places qualified talent from countries outside the EU with employers in Germany.
International recruitment is our core business. We rely on long-term cooperation and want to convince you with reliability, not with big promises.
You hire directly and stay the employer. We accompany your new employees from the first conversation to the start.
Language and bureaucracy are the biggest hurdles when hiring from abroad. We support you with both.
Source: KfW SME Panel, January 2026
360° – from preselection to aftercare
Preselection
Suitable profiles for your role
Practical test
On request: skills tested in practice
Contract
Directly between you and your skilled worker
Pre-approval
Documents prepared for the Federal Employment Agency; it decides
Recognition
Documents, translation and certification coordinated
Language courses
German courses organised and supported
Preparation
For everyday work and your company
Visa
Documents and appointments, also in the accelerated skilled worker procedure (Section 81a of the German Residence Act)
Flight
Flight tickets via our partners
Health insurance
Choice of statutory health insurance supported
Arrival
Registration, bank account, help with the housing search
Family
Family reunification: documents and appointments
Adaptation
Adaptation qualification for recognition
Funding
Pointers on further training and funding programmes
Aftercare
Regular contact in the first months
Law firms
Specialised law firms, if a case needs them
Sectors
Our focus areas
Occupations for which Germany is looking for skilled workers
Professional driving (lorry, bus) · construction machinery (excavator, wheel loader, crane) · civil engineering and road building · warehouse logistics.
We coordinate the driving licence and Code 95 with driving schools and test centres.
Electronics (energy and building technology, industrial engineering) · plant mechanics for plumbing, heating and air conditioning · automotive mechatronics · mechatronics.
We put together the evidence for recognition.
Registered nurses · elderly care · paediatric nursing · nursing assistants, qualified (from 2027) · care helpers
Cooks and chefs · kitchen staff · restaurant professionals · hotel professionals
IT administration · software development · cloud and infrastructure · AI and data · IT security
Looking for other skilled workers? Talk to us.
Visa service
You have chosen.
We coordinate the paperwork.
For employers who have already found their international skilled worker.
You met your skilled worker in the interview and want to hire them? With power of attorney from you and your skilled worker, we put the documents together and coordinate the appointments. You file the application as the employer; legal questions in the individual case are handled by specialised law firms.
You run your business. We run the file.
- 1
Power of attorney
You and your skilled worker sign, we coordinate the dealings with the authorities.
- 2
Documents
Translation and recognition coordinated.
- 3
Pre-approval
Documents prepared for the Federal Employment Agency; it decides.
- 4
Procedure § 81a
If chosen: accelerated skilled worker procedure; the immigration office then obtains the consent of the Federal Employment Agency.
- 5
Visa
File and appointment at the German mission abroad.
- 6
Arrival
Registration, bank account and the first weeks supported.
Training
Trainees from abroad
Your skilled workers of tomorrow – trained in your company
Many companies find it hard to fill training places. We place trainees from countries outside the EU in your dual training and prepare them for language, occupation and everyday life in Germany.
How we support your trainees
- 1
Selection
We clarify motivation, school qualification and German skills in advance.
- 2
German
We organise a language course that prepares for the level the occupation and vocational school require.
- 3
Visa
We coordinate the training contract and visa; whether approval by the Federal Employment Agency is needed depends on the case.
- 4
Arrival
Registration, bank account, statutory health insurance and housing search supported.
- 5
Integration
Orientation in everyday life, at work and at vocational school.
- 6
Aftercare
We stay in touch with you during the training.
Process
How it works
From preselection to the start at your company.
Direct employment by you: your skilled worker is employed by you.
You remain the employer.
DastN combines placement and relocation: you remain the employer – we accompany the whole way into your company.
First call
We get to know your needs and show which profiles and routes suit you.
Offer
We define the role, qualification and language level together. Then you receive our offer, including a realistic schedule.
Selection
You receive preselected profiles, with a practical test on request. You conduct the interviews and decide.
Contract
You offer the employment contract. From now on you and your skilled worker know at every step where the procedure stands.
Process
From contract to the workplace
We coordinate. You keep the overview.
Recognition and visa
With power of attorney from you and your skilled worker, we compile the documents and coordinate the appointments with the recognition body, the Federal Employment Agency, the immigration office and the mission abroad.
Arrival and integration
We support the first weeks: registration, bank account, statutory health insurance, housing search and orientation in everyday life and at work.
What you can rely on
Status updates at every key stage – for you and your skilled worker.
If someone drops out, we will look at a replacement search with you. The terms are in your offer.
We stay in touch with you and your skilled worker after the start, too.
Residence routes
Routes to Germany
The main routes for skilled workers from countries outside the EU.
Section 18a of the German Residence Act
Skilled worker with a recognised vocational qualification
For skilled workers whose vocational qualification is recognised in Germany.
Sections 18b and 18g of the German Residence Act
Academic skilled worker · EU Blue Card
For skilled workers with a recognised or comparable university degree.
Section 19c, subsection 2 of the German Residence Act in conjunction with Section 6 of the German Employment Ordinance
Employment with professional experience
For experienced professionals with at least two years of professional experience and a state-recognised qualification from their country of origin – in non-regulated occupations without recognition in Germany, with a minimum salary or collective agreement and consent of the Federal Employment Agency.
Section 16d, subsection 3 of the German Residence Act
Recognition partnership
For skilled workers who go through the recognition procedure only in Germany – alongside work in your company.
Section 16a of the German Residence Act
Training in Germany
For trainees who start dual training in your company.
Section 20a of the German Residence Act
Opportunity Card
For skilled workers who enter to look for work – for example for a trial employment in your company.
Which route fits, we discuss with you in the first call. The competent authorities decide.
As of 11/2026 · No legal advice – the case-by-case review is carried out by the competent bodies or law firms.
Procedure
The route step by step
Who acts when – and where we coordinate.
Needs and profile
Role, qualification and suitable route are clarified.
EmployerDastN coordinatesSelection and contract
Interviews, your decision, employment contract.
EmployerSkilled workerDastN coordinatesRecognition
Assessment of the foreign qualification, where the route requires it.
Skilled workerDastN coordinatesRecognition bodyConsent of the Federal Employment Agency – as pre-approval or within the accelerated skilled worker procedure (Section 81a of the German Residence Act).
The Federal Employment Agency decides on consent; in the accelerated procedure the immigration office requests it.
EmployerDastN coordinatesFederal Employment Agency · Immigration officeStart at your company
Onboarding, first weeks and aftercare.
EmployerSkilled workerDastN supportsEntry and residence permit
Register the residence, residence permit at the immigration office.
Skilled workerDastN supportsImmigration officeVisa
Application and appointment at the German mission abroad.
Skilled workerDastN coordinatesMission abroadWho acts?
EmployerSkilled workerDastN coordinates and supportsAuthority or competent body decides- 1
Needs and profile
Role, qualification and suitable route are clarified.
EmployerDastN coordinates - 2
Selection and contract
Interviews, your decision, employment contract.
EmployerSkilled workerDastN coordinates - 3
Recognition
Assessment of the foreign qualification, where the route requires it.
Skilled workerDastN coordinatesRecognition body - 4
Consent of the Federal Employment Agency – as pre-approval or within the accelerated skilled worker procedure (Section 81a of the German Residence Act).
The Federal Employment Agency decides on consent; in the accelerated procedure the immigration office requests it.
EmployerDastN coordinatesFederal Employment Agency · Immigration office - 5
Visa
Application and appointment at the German mission abroad.
Skilled workerDastN coordinatesMission abroad - 6
Entry and residence permit
Register the residence, residence permit at the immigration office.
Skilled workerDastN supportsImmigration office - 7
Start at your company
Onboarding, first weeks and aftercare.
EmployerSkilled workerDastN supports
Order and steps depend on route and occupation. In the recognition partnership (§ 16d para. 3) the recognition procedure is carried out after entry; in the accelerated skilled worker procedure the immigration office initiates it. Source: Residence Act, make-it-in-germany.com (as of 11/2026)
Costs
What you pay for what
Three items, kept separate.
Our fee
- One fee per placement, plus VAT.
- Amount depends on occupation and effort
- You receive your offer as soon as your needs are clarified
- Payment plan and conditions in writing before you sign
- Visa service on its own: separate fee, named in your offer
Fees and third-party costs
- Official fees for procedures, visa and residence permit – who bears them is set out in your offer
- Recognition and certified translations
- Driving school, exams, courses – you contract with the provider and pay them directly; we give you an estimate in advance
You contract with and pay all these providers yourself; DastN does not invoice these costs
Your costs in the company
- Wages according to collective agreement or local standards, from the first working day
- Workplace and onboarding
- Accommodation, if you provide it
- Agreed qualification – with advice on funding programmes
Frequently asked questions
What happens if …
Answers before you ask.
… a skilled worker drops out?
If someone drops out, we will look at a replacement search with you. The terms are in your offer.
… it takes longer?
How long it takes depends on occupation, country of origin and authority. In the first call we give you a realistic schedule – after that you know at the key stages where your procedure stands.
… the works council or staff council has a say?
We provide the information you need to involve the works council or staff council, with the candidate's consent.
… a state route suits better?
Then we tell you openly, for example for placement via the Federal Employment Agency.
Principles
How we work
Principles you can rely on.
People choose.
No algorithm assesses or ranks candidates. We look at every profile personally.
Rules of the country of origin
Before every project we check the rules of the country of origin. Where recruitment is not permitted there, we do not place.
No binding clauses
Our contracts with candidates contain no binding or repayment clauses.
Data with consent
We pass on documents only with the candidate's consent. We process all data in line with the GDPR.
Traceable
We document every step in a traceable way.
Clear decisions
At every step we tell you who decides.
Arrival
The first 30 days
Arriving well, at work and in the city.
We accompany
- Reception on arrival
- Housing: we support the search, documents and viewings – your skilled worker signs the lease directly with the landlord
- Registering the residence
- Statutory health insurance and bank account
- Public transport and mobile phone
- Accompaniment to authority appointments
You prepare
With an onboarding plan, ready for the first day.
One person in the team who takes care.
The data for registration with social insurance.
Location
Your partner in Berlin
Kurfürstendamm 194 · 10707 Berlin
Our office is on Kurfürstendamm, in the middle of Berlin. We meet you in person here – or online, as suits you.
Book an appointment: +49 30 466901111
First call
We reply within 1 working day.
Briefly describe your needs. We show which profiles and routes suit your company.
We prepare every step carefully; the decisions are issued by the competent authorities.