To address the urgent need for skilled workers, the updated Skilled Immigration Act creates new employment opportunities for skilled workers in Germany. From 1 June 2024, additional elements of the legislative package will apply, including those concerning the opportunity card and the expansion of the Western Balkans regulation. This means that all stages of the new Skilled Immigration Act will be in force.

Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser said: "We are making sure that we can attract the workers and skilled workers our economy has urgently needed for years. This is vital for our country’s future. Important parts of our Skilled Immigration Act are already in force. In this final stage, another very important component will be implemented: the opportunity card, which is based on a points system. When it comes to attracting motivated and talented people to Germany, we assess their language skills, qualifications and experience. These criteria count towards the opportunity card. This will make it quicker and easier for people with experience and potential to find a suitable job and get started."

Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Hubertus Heil said: "Securing skilled workers means securing our economic prosperity. We have to make use of all our existing potential at home, but we also need skilled workers from abroad. The Skilled Immigration Act will help us to achieve the digital and environmental restructuring of our national industry, both in large corporations and in small local craft businesses. All stages of the new Skilled Immigration Act have now entered into force. This allows us, together with the business sector, to actively encourage the immigration of workers and skilled workers. There are now diverse opportunities for foreign workers to move to Germany, reflecting the diverse needs of businesses here. We have lowered thresholds and created new options for people with recognised qualifications or work experience and for those who hold potential."

From 1 June 2024, the opportunity card will be valid as a new tool for labour migration. It is a new type of residence permit for those coming to Germany to look for work. The opportunity card can be obtained in two ways:

1. You are already a skilled worker as defined in Germany’s Residence Act. This means you hold either a German university degree or vocational qualification or a recognised/comparable foreign equivalent. In this case, there are no additional requirements to be met in order to obtain an opportunity card.
2. If you are not a skilled worker, an opportunity card may be obtained under the following conditions:

• You hold a foreign vocational qualification or a foreign university degree. These do not have to be officially recognised in Germany, but in the issuing country.
• You can demonstrate basic (level A1) German or good (level B2) English language skills

If you meet these criteria, there are various ways to collect points. Different numbers of points are awarded, for example for:

• a notice of recognition (or partial recognition) issued by a German certification authority
• German and/or English language skills
• work experience related to the vocational qualification or university degree in question
• a vocational qualification / university degree in an occupation that is subject to labour shortage
• fulfilling certain age criteria at the time of applying for an opportunity card
• previous legal residence in Germany
• your partner also fulfilling the requirements and applying for the opportunity card.

Currently, a minimum of six points are needed in order to obtain an opportunity card. This is only possible by combining different criteria.

While looking for work, secondary employment and probationary employment are permissible. The opportunity card is usually issued for one year. In cases where the job search leads to qualified employment but not all criteria for a work permit are met, the opportunity card may be extended for up to two years subject to approval by the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit).

In addition, the quota of migrant workers allowed under the Western Balkans regulation will be doubled on 1 June 2024: from 25,000 to 50,000 approvals by the Federal Employment Agency. The Western Balkans regulation, which is used frequently, provides access to the labour market for nationals of the Western Balkan countries Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. If a specific job has been offered or an employment contract provided, the individual concerned may come to Germany to work irrespective of qualifications.

An amendment to the Ordinance Governing Residence ensures that in many cases, the foreigners authority responsible for the prospective place of residence in Germany need not be involved before the relevant diplomatic mission can issue an entry visa. This helps to speed up the process.

The first stage of the new regulations regarding skilled immigration already entered into force in November 2023. This mainly allowed easier access to the EU Blue Card and easier conditions for recognised skilled workers.

The second stage in March 2024 facilitated access for foreign workers and skilled workers with experience and for trainees. It also facilitated the recognition of vocational qualifications.

For more information visit:
https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/types/job-search-opportunity-card