Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten

The Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten (BfAA) is an independent federal authority that operates within the business area of the Federal Foreign Office. Founded on January 1, 2021, the BfAA has its headquarters in Brandenburg an der Havel and additional locations in Berlin and Bonn.

The BfAA supports German foreign policy and federal administration with a variety of services and expert knowledge in the field of foreign affairs. The main tasks include:

• Visa Processing: The BfAA processes particularly D-visa applications, especially in the area of skilled worker immigration, thereby relieving the German diplomatic missions[1][3][5].
• Grant Management: The department is responsible for processing and approving grants within the framework of project funding and institutional funding of the Federal Foreign Office[1][3].
• Real Estate Management: The BfAA is responsible for the construction, operation, and furnishing of the foreign properties of the Federal Foreign Office[1].
• Personnel Administration: The office takes on tasks of personnel administration, including payroll and training of the employees of the Federal Foreign Office and the BfAA[1].
• Central Services: The central department manages the resources and processes within the BfAA as well as between the BfAA and the Federal Foreign Office[1].

The BfAA strives to act as an indispensable service provider for the foreign service. The mission of the BfAA is based on the guiding principle of "finding intelligent solutions together." This includes providing efficient and high-quality services to meet Germany's foreign policy challenges[5].

The BfAA is engaged in various areas that contribute to the sustainability and stability of international relations:

• Humanitarian Aid: The office is involved in the management of funding for humanitarian aid projects, reflecting the growing importance of humanitarian aid in German foreign policy[3].