Employment migration
The government expects significantly more skilled worker visas in 2024
A new skilled worker immigration law is intended to attract more qualified workers from outside the EU to Germany. Are the first effects now evident?
According to the federal government, simplified rules for the immigration of foreign skilled workers to Germany are being well received. This year, around 200,000 visas are expected to be issued for employment purposes, as the Foreign, Labor and Interior Ministries announced in Berlin. That would correspond to an increase of more than ten percent compared to the previous year. There are particularly strong increases in visas for studying, completing vocational training or having foreign qualifications recognized. The first stage of a reform of the Skilled Immigration Act has been in force for a year.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) said that skilled workers could now come to Germany more quickly and get started. Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) emphasized that the German economy needs qualified specialists. “The law is working, the issuing of visas and consultations abroad are at record levels.” Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) emphasized that application processing is concentrated in the largest visa office for skilled workers in the Federal Office of Foreign Affairs in Brandenburg an der Havel. In addition, digitalization should be promoted.
New rules in force for a year
In November 2023, the first part of a reform of the Skilled Immigration Act, which has existed since 2020 and decided by the traffic light coalition, came into force in order to promote the influx of qualified workers. Above all, it included simplifications for the “EU Blue Card” and for recognized skilled workers. Since March, skilled workers with a degree and professional experience have been able to enter and work in Germany without a prior recognition procedure. So you don’t have to have any training that is recognized in Germany, but you do have to have a job offer with a gross annual salary of at least 40,770 euros – if the employer is bound by collective bargaining agreements, remuneration in accordance with the collective agreement is sufficient.
The FDP, which is no longer part of the coalition, also sees the law as a success, but calls for more effective processes when processing applications from those wishing to immigrate. FDP domestic politician Ann-Veruschka Jurisch, who primarily campaigned for the introduction of a so-called opportunity card, told the German Press Agency: “In the coalition, we pushed for the urgently needed digitalization of processes until the very end.” In order to attract more qualified workers to Germany, reforms are also necessary that would also benefit the population in general. This applies, among other things, to measures against tax burdens and excessive bureaucracy. “Anyone who wants to increase taxes shouldn’t be surprised if skilled workers stay away.”
dpa
Source: Stern
