By the end of last year, non-EU holders of work visas in Germany reached 419,000 either through a skilled worker visa or an EU Blue Card. These numbers have surprisingly doubled since 2018. Furthermore, these are likely to increase this year by leaps and bounds after the introduction of the “Opportunity Card” on 1 June.
Most highly qualified workers moved from India to Germany through the EU Blue Card. On the other hand, skilled workers were mostly from Balkan countries.
Overall, Germany has currently by the end of 2023, the following number of non-EU foreign workers holding an employment residence permit:
- Residence permits for skilled workers with academic training: 49,000
- Number of skilled workers with vocational training: 52,000
- EU Blue Cards holder: 113,000
- Skilled workers from the West Balkan States: 76,000
Continuous increase in foreign workers in Germany
As per Destatis, which is a federal statistical office, there has been an immense increase in the numbers of non-EU workers in Germany over the past four years which are:
- in 2020: +16,000
- in 2021: +21,000
- in 2022: +56,000
- in 2023: 68,000
This clearly shows that in the past two years, more and more skilled foreigners have moved to Germany and got work permits.
Why did the number of work visas in Germany holders boom?
It all started in March 2020 when a skilled immigration act was introduced in Germany. This removed many hurdles to getting a work visa in Germany from non-EU countries. Up next major changes were once again announced to be implemented from November 2023, March 2024, and June 2024.
It was made easy in November 2023 to apply for the EU blue card. Further changes were also announced for skilled workers from 1 March where they could apply for different work visas even with or without professional qualification. Non-EU national nationals going to Germany for studies purposes were also granted extra benefits by allowing them more working rights. A new opportunity card is also to begin from 1 June which will allow non-EU nationals to apply for one year visa in Germany without having a job offer. Germany is also starting from 26 June with new rules for citizenship according to which the naturalization process requires only 5 or in some cases 3 years stay in Germany.
Category-wise numbers of skilled worker visa holders
Residence permits for skilled workers with academic training (49,000)
A residence permit for skilled workers with academic qualifications reached at the end of 2023 to 49,000. This had a +9,000 increase compared to the previous year. These residence permit holders were mostly from:
- India: 6,000,
- China: 4,000,
- Turkey: 3,000.
The prerequisite is, among other things, a concrete job offer without a salary limit. There are also broader employment opportunities, as it is not only possible to work in the profession that corresponds to one’s qualifications, but also in related professions. The opportunities to work in other professions have been expanded with the new Skilled Immigration Act from November 2023.
Number of skilled workers with vocational training (52,000)
Skilled workers with vocational training got a great chance to be a part of the German labor market thanks to the new Skilled Immigration Act from November 2023 which helped obtain a residence permit with vocational training.
At the end of 2023, about 52,000 people had a residence permit for skilled workers with vocational training. This is 26% more compared with 2022 when the number reached 41,000. The most common nationalities among skilled workers with vocational training were Bosnian-Herzegovinian and Filipino with 7,000 people each.
EU Blue Cards holder (113,000)
At the end of 2023, 113,000 people in Germany had an EU Blue Card. That was more than a quarter of all labor migrants and 23,000 people or 26% more than a year before.
The EU Blue Card was the most common residence permit in the area of temporary employment migration. The holders of this mostly belong to:
- India: 33,000,
- Russia: 10,000,
- Turkish 8,000.
The eligibility criteria for the issuance of the EU Blue Card stand upon a completed university degree and a specific job offer that is appropriate to the qualifications and has a certain minimum salary.
For holders of an EU Blue Card, family reunification is made easier and a permanent settlement permit can be issued more quickly. From November 2023, the group of eligible people has been expanded by the new Skilled Immigration Act.
Skilled workers from the West Balkan States (76,000)
“Western Balkans Regulation” helped around 76,000 people to get a residence permit for employment purposes at the end of 2023.
That was 22% more than in the previous year. About 20,000 Kosovo nationals made up the largest group. Since 2016, the Western Balkans regulation has given workers from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia temporary access to the labor market in Germany under certain conditions. The initially temporary regulation was made permanent by the new Skilled Immigration Act.