2024-10-28 14:55:00
Germany’s governing coalition – made up of the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Free Democrats (FDP) – has significantly relaxed laws on skilled workers in gradual stages over the past year.
Politicians have made it a priority due to concerns about worker shortages. According to the Foreign Ministry, there is a shortage of skilled workers in Germany that is growing by around 400,000 workers every year, resulting in vacancies across the entire job market, from construction and IT to the healthcare sector.
Indicates the Opportunity card (opportunity card). This points-based visa allows non-EU citizens who hold an academic degree or professional qualification and who know the German or English language to come to Germany for a period of 12 months to find work or pursue additional qualifications with the aim of finding a job. Work.
Taking effect in June this year, politicians and business leaders said they hoped the visa could provide skilled workers with another route into Germany that involves less red tape. Other policies launched in the last year include: easing rules on family reunification for new skilled workers, easing conditions for international students and cutting the requirements for obtaining the Blue Card.
As many readers of The Local will know, another big change affects Germany simplified rules for obtaining citizenship came into force on June 27 this year. The government hopes that dual citizenship can help convince foreigners to settle in Germany in the long term.
How many people have taken advantage of the Chancenkarte?
According to estimates made before the law came into force, the government hoped to see 30,000 opportunity cards applied for each year. However, the real number could turn out to be much lower.
German newspaper Image have recently reported that far fewer people than expected are applying for visas. In the first four months, just under 2,350 applications arrived, or 590 per month.
Image said: “This emerges from documents from the Ministry of the Interior, which was in charge of implementation. The Ministry expected 10,000 (2,500 applications per month).”
Although the requests were less successful than expected, the Interior Ministry said Image it “still sees a lot of potential in the opportunity map as a new tool.”
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Meanwhile, data shows that since June only about 15% of requests have been rejected.
The countries with the highest number of visa applicants are India, followed by China, Türkiye and Russia. Tunisia is in fifth place.
Is immigration of skilled workers increasing in Germany?
According to government data, there hasn’t been a huge increase in skilled workers coming to Germany, even with the new laws in place.
But as Imogen Goodman wrote for The Local in our weekend newsletter for members we are moving forward. “It seems that the campaign to rebrand Germany as the go-to destination for skilled workers has only just begun and incremental progress is continually being made.
“From next year, applying for German residence permits should be possible online from anywhere in the world, while local immigration offices, such as Berlin, are also attempting to digitize their processes.”
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And on Friday last week, the government announced a deal aimed at hiking the number of skilled worker visas granted to Indians ranges from 20,000 to 90,000 per year.
Therefore the number of workers from non-EU countries could increase significantly in the coming years. At least that’s what the government and businesses hope.
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