Official Expert Answer
Processing times genuinely differ a lot between Bundesländer and even between individual authorities, because they have different staffing, backlog, and how strictly they pre-check files. A few realistic points:
• Speed is only one factor. You usually have to be registered (and later work) in the same Bundesland for Berufserlaubnis and the §16d visa, so picking a far-away state just for speed can backfire.
• A clean, complete file is the biggest lever you control. Most delays come from missing or expired documents, not from the state itself.
• Ask the authority for their current average processing time and a completeness check rather than choosing blindly.
So: optimise for where you can realistically live, work, and get supervised, then make your file airtight. That beats chasing a “fast” Bundesland.
• Speed is only one factor. You usually have to be registered (and later work) in the same Bundesland for Berufserlaubnis and the §16d visa, so picking a far-away state just for speed can backfire.
• A clean, complete file is the biggest lever you control. Most delays come from missing or expired documents, not from the state itself.
• Ask the authority for their current average processing time and a completeness check rather than choosing blindly.
So: optimise for where you can realistically live, work, and get supervised, then make your file airtight. That beats chasing a “fast” Bundesland.