Germany Issues 10% More Skilled Worker Visas in 2024
Germany Predicts 10% Increase in Skilled Worker Visas for 2024
The German government anticipates issuing 10% more skilled worker visas in 2024 compared to 2023, following the introduction of its new skilled worker immigration law.
Target Set at 200,000 Skilled Worker Visas
Germany is on track to process 200,000 skilled worker visas in 2024, marking a 10% increase from the previous year. This comes a year after implementing the first phase of the Skilled Immigration Act, designed to address Germany’s record-high labor shortage. The law allows non-EU nationals with vocational qualifications or university degrees to work in Germany, regardless of whether their job directly relates to their qualifications.
With 1.34 million job vacancies, the head of the Federal Employment Office (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) estimates Germany needs 400,000 migrants annually to meet workforce demands.
Additionally, student visas issued to non-EU nationals have risen by 20%, vocational trainee visas by two-thirds, and applications for recognizing foreign qualifications have increased by nearly 50%.
Chancenkarte Faces Criticism for Limited Impact
While the Skilled Immigration Act shows promising results, the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card), introduced in June 2024 as part of the law's second phase, has faced criticism. Modeled after Canada’s points-based system, the Chancenkarte allows qualified non-EU nationals to move to Germany without a job offer. However, only 2,360 applications were filed in its first four months.
Experts from the German Institute for Job Markets and Career Research (IAB) and TU Dresden attribute the low uptake to the program’s complexity and restrictive requirements. IAB’s Herbert Brücker labeled the program’s impact as “negligible,” while Hans Vorländer from TU Dresden emphasized Germany’s need for general labor, not just skilled workers.
The debate highlights the challenges of balancing ambitious immigration reforms with practical implementation to meet labor market needs.