The goal of Germany’s recently passed specialized staff immigration law is to draw in more skilled non-EU immigrants. According to the German Press Agency the Foreign Office granted over 80,000 work visas in the first half of this year, with skilled workers receiving more than half of those permits. Compared to the previous fiscal year when almost 37,000 skilled worker visas were issued, this represents an increase.
Over 157,000 work visas were issued by the Foreign Office in 2023, with 79,000 of those being granted to skilled workers. Since its introduction on June 1, the Opportunity Card has not had much of an impact only 200 visas have been granted through this scheme.
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At least two years of accredited vocational training or an equivalent university degree, together with proficiency in German or English, are requirements for obtaining an Opportunity Card. Candidates are awarded points according to their age, German connections, professional experience, and language ability. Extra points are awarded for occupations in which shortages exist. If they get enough points, they can travel to Germany and work for a year to obtain a permanent position. A one-time two-year extension may be possible under specific circumstances.
Simplifying the process for the “Blue Card EU” and recognizing skilled workers was the goal of November 2023’s change of Germany’s skilled immigration law, which had been in place since 2020. Since March, if a skilled worker has a job offer with a gross annual wage of at least €40,770, they can work in Germany without having to go through the recognition process beforehand. The compensation must be under any collective agreements to which the employer is subject.
On June 1, employment opportunities for workers from Western Balkan countries were increased. Additionally, everyone living in the EU is entitled to the freedom to select where they work. The difficulty of the visa application procedure and the length of time it takes to schedule an appointment at a German embassy or consulate both affect the number of individuals from non-EU nations who come to work in Germany.
Work visas for skilled professionals are given priority by the Foreign Office. To streamline the application process and possibly increase the number of skilled workers from non-EU countries entering Germany, the visa system is anticipated to be fully digitalized by January 1, 2025.
Germany hopes to address labor shortages and draw in more talented professionals by streamlining the visa application process and giving priority to work visas for smart workers.
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