The German government proposed a major immigration reform bill in a bid to attract more skilled laborers.
The draft law aims to increase skilled labor migration from non-EU countries by ~60,000 per year.
The reform would create an "opportunity card" visa for individuals without a job offer.
- It would establish a points-based system drawing on five criteria: professional or educational qualifications, German language skills, career experience, connections to Germany, and age.
- The bill would lower the annual income level required to qualify for a German visa and a Blue Card, which grants the right to remain in the EU for up to four years.
- New rules will loosen educational and professional requirements for IT specialists, making it easier for them to migrate to Germany.
- The German government reported 1.98 million unfilled jobs in Q4 2022, the highest number ever.
