Photo credit: Emirates 24/7
Germany has introduced a new immigration law for specialized work personnel to attract more qualified workers from non-EU countries.
Emirates 24/7 reports that the foreign office issued over 80,000 work visas in the first half of this year. Over half of the new visas were issued to skilled workers.
It is an increase over the 37,000 issued to skilled workers in 2023.
The Opportunity Card was introduced on June 1. The basic requirements include at least two years of recognized vocational training or an equivalent university degree and language skills in German or English. Applicants are given points based on language proficiency, professional experience, age, and connections to Germany. They are also given additional points for qualifications in shortage occupations. Those who score enough points can move to Germany and have one year to find a permanent job. In some conditions, a one-year time extension is possible.
The Skilled Immigration Law has been in effect since 2020. It was reformed in 2023 to simplify procedures for the “Blue Card EU” and recognise skilled workers. Since March, skilled workers with a degree and professional experience have been able to work in Germany without prior recognition procedures if they have a job offer with a gross annual salary of at least 40,700 euros. However, if a collective agreement binds an employee, the salary must align with the agreement.
Opportunities for workers from Western Balkan countries were expanded on June1. In addition, EU citizens are given the right to freely choose their place of work within the European Union. the number from non_EU countries going to work in Germany also depends on the complexity of the visa application process and potentially increase the number of skilled workers from non-EU countries going to Germany.
by prioritizing work visas for skilled workers and digitalizing the visa procedure, the German authorities aim to address labor shortage and attract more qualified professionals to the workforce.
