New regulations for skilled workers in Germany

On 07.07.2023, the Federal Council ("Bundesrat") approved the new law on the further development of skilled labour immigration. 

It will now be forwarded to the Federal President for signature and then published in the Federal Law Gazette. Individual parts of the law will already come into force after its promulgation. 

The following new regulations await foreign skilled workers and German companies:

• Reduction of the minimum salary - Limits of the so-called Blue Card
• Professional recognition can possibly be carried out in Germany if the following requirements are met:

2 years of relevant professional experience, two years of training recognised by the state in the country of origin.

• Opportunity card  ("Chancenkarte") as a new residence titleIt is initially issued for one year in the form of a so-called "search opportunity card". It can only be extended in Germany under very strict conditions. 
  It is issued on the basis of a points system. 

Relevant points include: Pre-qualification, German language skills at level A2 or English language skills at level B2; 

Parents of skilled workers, among others, who enter Germany for the first time after 1 March 2024 with a corresponding residence permit, can obtain a residence title if proof is provided that they can secure their livelihood. This may also apply to parents-in-law. In this context, the requirement of "exceptional hardship" is waived. 

However, the implementation in practice remains to be seen. The capacities of the German missions abroad, but also of the domestic authorities, are already exhausted.