Amendments to the Skilled Immigration Act (FEG) came into force on 11/18/2023, 03/01/2024 and 06/01/2024 respectively. You can find detailed information on this on the website of Make it in Germany.
Skilled workers:
The new FEG identifies three paths for the immigration of skilled workers:
Qualification - Experience - Potential
For skilled workers with academic university degrees, both the university and the degree obtained must be recognized:
The degree should be listed in the anabin database. The university must be rated as “H+” and the degree should be comparable to a German degree qualification. Create a PDF of the respective assessment and submit it together with the required documents.
There are a number of new regulations on the subject of professional qualifications/non-academic professional certificates: Please refer to the pages of Make it in Germany.
For more information on whether a non-academic degree is recognized in Germany, please see www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de.
With a statement of recognition for their professional qualification and a job offer, skilled workers abroad can apply directly for a visa for employment. If the German authorities have only partially recognized the professional qualification, interested parties can obtain a visa for the purpose of further training and qualification if they have a job offer in Germany.
2+2 Regulation:
Anyone with at least two years of professional experience and a vocational qualification recognized by the state in their country of origin with at least two years of training should be able to immigrate as a worker. In the future, the professional qualification will no longer have to be recognized in Germany – this means less bureaucracy and therefore shorter procedures.
Job search:
Skilled workers with sufficient German language skills and financial means to support their livelihood can apply for a 6-month visa to look for a job. In addition, an "Opportunity card" based on a points system will be introduced from June 2024. Read more: Make it in Germany.
Special regulations apply to professionals older than 45 years. Those coming to Germany for the purpose of employment must submit a work application with a specified minimum salary or proof of an adequate pension scheme.
Vocational training in Germany:
Apprenticeship search:
People under the age of 35 can come to Germany for up to nine months, to apply for a training place if their school-leaving certificate entitles them to study at a university, they have German language skills (level B1) and the financial means to support their livelihood. This residence permit allows up to 20 hours of employment on a trial basis, after which or during which a job should be offered.
Further information:
The „Beschleunigte Fachkräfteverfahren“ (accelerated skilled worker procedure):
- Fee €411
- The application process does not start abroad, but in Berlin (Germany) by the employer
- The LEA obtains approval from the Federal Employment Agency and checks everything required, issues a preliminary approval
- The employer sends this document to the applicant who presents it to the embassy
- The embassy will arrange an appointment within three weeks and take a decision on the visa within an additional three weeks
- The accelerated procedure is also available for the immigration of family members if joint arrival - within three months - is envisaged (€411 per skilled worker)
In principle, the following must be observed for employment:
- A binding offer of employment or training is required.
- German language skills are only partially required.
- Work experience + post-qualification = qualification
- The employer must make sure that the specialist has a valid residence permit and keep a copy of it in the personnel file.
- If the contract ends prematurely, both the specialist and the employer must inform the LEA promptly.
(Sources: Landeseinwohneramt, Auswärtiges Amt, BMI, BMAS und MiiG)
