Germany Visa Overview

In the first half of 2024, Germany issued 80,000 work visas, with 40,000 of these granted to skilled workers. This increase reflects Germany's ongoing efforts to address labor shortages in key sectors such as transportation, manufacturing, construction, healthcare, engineering, and IT.

Germany's new immigration law, effective in 2024, aims to attract more skilled workers from outside the EU. The law introduces an "Opportunity Card" based on a points system, considering qualifications, professional experience, and links to Germany. This initiative is part of Germany's strategy to address its skilled labor shortage.

To facilitate skilled worker immigration, Germany has lowered the minimum salary requirements for the EU Blue Card, making it more accessible to professionals from non-EU countries. Additionally, Germany has increased the annual number of work visas under the Western Balkans Regulation to 50,000.

Germany remains a leading destination for Schengen visa applications, with significant demand from countries like Turkey, Russia, and India. The low rejection rate for these visas makes Germany an attractive option for travelers within the Schengen Area.

Facing a labor shortage with nearly 1.74 million job vacancies, Germany has implemented changes in immigration laws to attract more foreign workers and address the economic impact of unfilled positions.

For more information on visa types and the application process, you can visit the Federal Foreign Office's visa service page.