Germany granted 30,000 visas to Skilled Workers in 2020

In an official Press Release dated March 1, 2021, Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community has commemorated 1 year of the Skilled Immigration Act.

The Skilled Immigration Act had been specifically designed for meeting the German economy’s requirement for skilled workers.

The Act is a modern regulatory framework providing for orderly, rapid procedures that allow qualified skilled workers from outside the European Union to come to Germany.

Germany’s Skilled Immigration Act – Fachkräfte-Einwanderungsgesetz – extends the opportunities for work overseas in Germany for qualified professionals from outside the European Union. Vocationally training skilled workers,from any of the non-EU countries, without academic qualifications might be able to migrate to Germany for work under the Act. The new rules for the immigration of skilled workers to Germany have been in force since March 2020. Prior to applying for a visa under the new skilled immigration rules for Germany, a candidate will be required to obtain an official recognition of their professional qualification from the relevant German authorities. A candidate might be eligible for a work-and-residence permit [visa] for skilled workers, if – ·         Their foreign degree/certificate has been officially recognized ·         They already have a valid job offer [anErklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis, that is, “declaration regarding a contract of employment” will be required], and ·         They meet the required language skills. Do keep in mind that the German Embassy and German Consulates will be accepting a visa application only after the foreign qualification of the applicant has been officially recognized.

While stating that “so far the results have been positive”, the official communication lays down that even despite the COVID-19 pandemic, “30,000 visas have been issued to skilled workers and trainees from abroad”.

Between March 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, even despite the pandemic, German diplomatic missions overseas issued nearly 30,000 visas to “qualified skilled workers and trainees from third countries”.

A service centre has been set up by the Federal Employment Agency for recognizing the professional qualifications of foreign skilled workers intending to work overseas in Germany.

An increasing use is being made of the new fast-tracked procedure for skilled workers as per Section 81a AufenthG – German Residence Act.

IT professionals might enter Germany without formal qualifications, provided however, that they possess extensive professional experience.

According to Federal Minister Horst Seehofer, "When the Skilled Immigration Act entered into force a year ago, I said it was a milestone in Germany’s migration policy. Today the figures speak for themselves.”

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate Overseas, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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