With the final addition of the opportunity card and citizenship rules in June 2024, all three stages of Germany’s new immigration law are finally complete. Starting in November 2023, the due process has been adopted by the government to overcome skilled labor issues in the labor market, and to let immigrants feel that they have a great future in Germany.
The law is anticipated to take effect in 3 stages between November 2023 and June 2024, according to the government, which announced this after it was approved.
The first round of immigration rules
Germany started its new immigration rules in November 2023 to overcome the labor shortage in the local labor market. The main aim was to attract skilled workers, trainees, and highly qualified people from non-EU countries. The main changes announced for the first round were as follows:
- Suspension of the checks if there are available workers either in Germany or EU countries for the applied job of the foreigners. This will surely help to make the job offer process faster and more vocational and skilled jobs would be open for non-EU workers.
- The previously exercised norm, immigration only for highly skilled ‘Academically Qualified’ persons is to be joined by the vocationally skilled workers. This will help even diploma holders and those with professional experience in skilled work to count.
- Under some restrictions, students will be able to come to Germany to attend vocational training courses.
- Permanent residency is possible with less time.
The details about the first round of immigration rules can be found here.
Second round of immigration rules
On 1 March, the German government started the second round of new immigration rules for non-EU skilled workers to successfully start working in Germany. Vocational training candidates, nurses, and workers with degree qualifications will benefit from the immigration rules. The major changes included:
- opportunities for those having two years of work experience and 2 years of recognized qualification;
- candidates interested in vocational training will have a streamlined entry path;
- qualification recognition candidates after getting a visa will be able to work in Germany part-time until they finish their project;
- tolerated asylum seekers (Duldung status holder) will be able to take part in vocational training programs;
- 25,000 new work visas for seasonal workers in 2024;
- nurses in the care sector, with recognized qualifications, will be able to get a work visa in Germany.
More in-depth details can be found about the second round of immigration rules here.
The third round of immigration rules
The third round of immigration includes introducing the famous “Opportunity Card” for foreigners who can search for jobs in Germany for an allowed stay of up to a year from 1 June. This visa is processed under a special points-based system that requires 6 points to score under qualification, work experience, language proficiency, and financial resources. More details on opportunity cards can be found here.
Secondly, on 27 June the new “Citizenship Law” was introduced that will allow foreigners. This will allow them to apply for the naturalization process even after a stay of 5 years, and in some special cases of extraordinary integration after 3 years. The eligibility criteria also require the candidates to show that they have a German language proficiency level at B1, a life in Germany integration test certificate, and ample sources of livelihood. More in-depth details can be found here.