In 2024, Germany plans to issue about 200,000 national visas, which is 10% more than in 2023, when 177,000 were issued. This will happen as part of the implementation of the new Law on Skilled Immigration, aimed at attracting foreign workers.
Key changes
The main provisions of the Law on Qualified Immigration:
- recognition of candidates' professional experience;
- introduction of the opportunity card (Chancenkarte), which allows you to work in Germany without knowing German;
- increase in the number of national visas and promotion of vocational training for migrants.
Interior Minister Nancy Feizer stressed: "The figures show that the changes are working. Qualified specialists can come and get to work faster." One of the mechanisms aimed at attracting professionals has become the Digital Nomad Visa program. We analyzed its conditions in detail and opened the opportunity to receive qualified advice.
The role of digitalization and prospects
Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock noted that visa application processes are gradually being digitalized. This reduces administrative barriers and makes the system more efficient. However, the authorities are striving to further improve the process, as the lack of specialists slows down economic development.
From 2018 to 2023, the number of jobs where social insurance contributions are paid increased by 1,6 million, with 89 % of new jobs coming from foreigners. Despite the increase, the number of such jobs decreased by 80,000 in 2023, which indicates the need to accelerate migration procedures.
Forecasts and expert opinion
Experts predict that an increase in the number of visas and simplification of the processes of attracting relocators will strengthen the German economy. Nevertheless, in order to achieve a sustainable result of the reforms, it will be necessary to solve the problem of insufficient integration of migrants, including language barriers and adaptation to the cultural environment.
Compared to the past, Germany has already gone through similar periods: in 2015, the flow of visitors increased due to the refugee crisis, but the main problem was their retraining and employment. Modern mechanisms such as the opportunity map can eliminate such barriers.
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