Germany's new immigration points calculator to attract skilled foreign professionals

Highlights: Germany Skilled Immigration Points Calculator 2023

• Germany will pass an immigration reform law this week, aiming to make it easier for skilled.
• The reform is a response to the labor shortages Germany is facing, with vacant positions reaching a record high of 1.74 million in 2022.
• The draft legislation focuses on accepting skilled workers and increasing the number of non-EU workers by 60,000 per year.
• Germany plans to introduce an "opportunity card" to allow workers to come and seek employment without a job offer.
• The reforms include making it easier for professionals with job offers and providing permanent residency.

*Check your eligibility to Germany through Germany Immigration Points Calculator.

Germany's Immigration Reform Aims to Attract Skilled Foreign Workers

Germany is passing an immigration reform law that aims to make it easier for skilled workers from non-European Union (EU) countries to move and work in the country. The government's decision to pass the law this week is a significant step toward addressing the labor shortages that Germany is currently facing. The reform is expected to modernize Germany's immigration policies and attract workers from abroad.

Tackling workforce shortages in Germany

Germany has been struggling with a shortage of skilled workers, reaching a critical point in 2022 when the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) identified 1.74 million vacant positions in Germany. This shortage has had a profound impact on businesses, with nearly half of the surveyed companies in a study conducted by the Munich-based research institute IFO reporting staff shortages that slowed down their operations. In response, the German government recognized the urgency to fill this gap with qualified professionals from outside the EU.
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Skilled Immigration Act Reforms

To address the labor shortages and attract skilled foreign workers, the German government developed a comprehensive plan known as the Skilled Immigration Act. The draft legislation was unveiled at the end of March this year and focused on making it easier for third-country nationals, especially those with vocational, non-academic training, to work in Germany. The reform is expected to increase the number of non-EU workers in the country by approximately 60,000 per year.

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Opportunity card for Germany

One of the key features of the proposed reforms is the introduction of the "opportunity card." This innovative approach aims to create a points-based system that evaluates qualifications, professional experience, age, German language skills, and ties to Germany. 

The opportunity card will provide job seekers with the chance to come to Germany and search for employment, even without a job offer. Applicants must meet specific criteria, such as:

• Having a degree or vocational training
• 3 years of professional experience
• Language skills or a previous stay in Germany
• 35 years old or younger.

Under the Skilled Immigration Act, Germany plans to ease the rules for qualified professionals with university degrees and recognized professional qualifications from their native countries. 

The reforms aim to make it easier for job seekers with a job offer to relocate to Germany. Salary thresholds will be lowered, facilitating family reunification and providing a smoother pathway to permanent residency for skilled workers.

Germany has 2 million job vacancies

The labor shortages in Germany have affected various industries and sectors. In particular, Germany is actively seeking for:

• Skilled workers
• Electrical engineers
• IT specialists
• Caregivers
• Nurses
• Catering professionals
• Hospitality professionals

The service sector, including accommodation and event industries, has been hit hardest, are:

• Warehousing and storage
• Service providers
• Manufacturing
• Retail
• Construction
• Wholesalers

Recognizing the need for skills, IT specialists with relevant job experience will even be eligible for EU Blue Cards, regardless of having a university degree.

Need step-by-step guidance to apply to migrate to Germany? Talk to Y-Axis, world’s No.1 Overseas Immigration Consultant.

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