In an attempt to alleviate severe labor shortages, Germany plans to grant 200,000 skilled worker visas by the end of 2024.
This ruling coincides with loosened immigration laws meant to draw in highly qualified professionals.
The reforms allow university graduates and qualified professionals from non-EU nations to enter Germany for work or study without requiring prior qualification recognition. One such reform is the introduction of the Opportunity Card, a points-based system akin to Canada’s.
The Opportunity Card has made the process easier for talented people, filling 1.34 million employment openings in the German labor market, said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
Compared to 2023, this new program represents a more than 10% increase in visa approvals.
