Germany's new immigration law is making it easier for foreign workers to move there

16.10.2023 - 23:47 / euronews.com / Angela Symons

The first stages of a new law that will make it easier for skilled workers from outside the EU to move to Germany are expected to come in November. 

The German government gave its final approval for the law in July this year. It is expected to come into force in three steps in November 2023, March 2024 and June 2024.

The new law aims to attract skilled foreign workers and combat labour shortages in the country.

The plans to modernise the country's immigration legislation are expected to make it easier for third-country nationals to work in Germany. It could increase the number of non-EU workers in Germany by 60,000 per year.

The reforms to the Skilled Immigration Act particularly focus on workers with vocational, non-academic training. Existing rules for qualified professionals with university degrees will also be relaxed.

Like many countries in Europe, Germany is facing a shortage of skilled workers. 

In 2022, the country's labour shortage rose to an all-time high: the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) found 1.74 million vacant positions throughout Germany.

In July last year, staff shortages affected almost half of all companies surveyed by Munich-based research institute IFO, forcing them to slow down their operations.

It hopes to fill this gap with qualified professionals from outside the EU. But currently, red tape is slowing down the country's immigration process.

During a press conference held at the Federal Office for Foreign Affairs (BfAA) on 17 January 2023, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said modernising the visa process would mean “turning it upside down”.

Together with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, she emphasised removing bureaucracy and improving the digitisation and efficiency of the system.

“We know that we can only guarantee our future, the efficiency of our economy and the efficiency of our social security systems if we have enough skilled workers at our disposal,” said Scholz.

“From within the European Union, that's not so difficult, because there is freedom of movement. With regard to the rest of the world, it is a greater challenge,” he added.

Germany is hoping to combat its shortage of skilled workers with a new ‘opportunity card’. 

The ‘chancenkarte’ will use a points-based system to enable workers with the required skills to come to Germany more easily.

It is part of a strategy proposed by Labour Minister Hubertus Heil to address the country’s labour shortages and is aimed at people who do not yet have a work contract in Germany. 

The points-based system will take into account qualifications, professional experience, age, German language skills and ties to Germany such as family members in the country.

Every year, quotas will be set depending on which industries need workers.