Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Skilled Immigration Act Changes
- Immediate Changes from November 18, 2023
- Annual Salary Limits and Occupations
- IT Sector and EU Blue Card
- Acceleration of Approval Process
- Future Changes on March 1, 2024, and June 1, 2024
- Conclusion
Introduction
Germany faces a pressing need for skilled workers from abroad, particularly in sectors such as IT, technology, medical care, contracting, and logistics. To address this shortage, the German parliament passed the Skilled Immigration Act, initiating changes set to take effect on November 18, 2023.
Skilled Immigration Act Changes
EU Blue Card
The EU Blue Card system undergoes modifications, allowing more academic workers from non-EU countries to enter Germany without German language requirements. Annual salary limits are adjusted, making it easier for skilled workers to qualify, including educators and nurses.
Right of Residence and Flexibility
Skilled workers meeting professional or academic criteria gain entitlement to a residence permit, streamlining the approval process. Recognizing qualifications becomes more straightforward, and experienced workers may not need additional recognition if they have at least two years of professional experience.
Qualifications and Training
Changes in training provisions allow individuals undergoing qualification training in Germany to stay for up to three years, working part-time. Skilled workers can come to Germany before qualification recognition, with extended stays contingent on professional qualifications and a minimum A2 level of German proficiency.
Family Reunification
Spouses and children of skilled workers face eased requirements for family reunification, focusing on financial support rather than living space. Additional changes are anticipated on June 1, 2024.
Opportunity Card
A points-based “opportunity card” is introduced, enabling individuals with foreign qualifications to seek employment in Germany for a year, provided they demonstrate financial independence. Extended opportunities exist for those with qualified employment contracts.
Western Balkans Regulation
A regulation doubles the quota for workers from western Balkan countries to 50,000, facilitating entry for individuals from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
Immediate Changes from November 18, 2023
The initial phase of changes under the Skilled Immigration Act takes effect, marking the beginning of a three-stage implementation.
Annual Salary Limits and Occupations
Salary limits for entry-level and in-demand jobs, known as “bottleneck occupations,” are lowered to promote easier entry for skilled workers, including those in the IT sector, with or without a university degree.
IT Sector and EU Blue Card
Skilled workers in the IT sector without a university degree may now obtain an EU Blue Card with three years of relevant professional experience. Similar provisions apply to nursing assistants with less than three years of training.
Acceleration of Approval Process
The Federal Employment Agency is tasked with expediting the approval process for prospective foreign workers, particularly for those with recognized qualifications and professional experience.
Future Changes on March 1, 2024, and June 1, 2024
Additional changes, including extended part-time work opportunities and family reunification adjustments, are slated for implementation on March 1, 2024. The introduction of the opportunity card is expected on June 1, 2024.
Conclusion
The evolving Skilled Immigration Act aims to address Germany’s labor shortages by facilitating the entry of skilled workers from non-EU countries. With phased implementation and adjustments to various aspects of immigration policies, Germany seeks to attract and retain valuable talent to bolster its workforce.
