Since March 1, 2020, when the regulation came into force, a milestone 50,000 visas have been issued to skilled workers and trainees from third countries through the Skilled Workers Immigration Act.
The Act implements easier procedures and rules for working in Germany for non-EU nationals by making it possible for these workers to gain employment in Germany, even in jobs that could be filled by Germans or EU nationals. The Act also permits foreigners to come to Germany for up to half a year to seek work.
A German Federal Foreign Office spokesperson has revealed citizens who were granted the most visas under the Act included highly skilled workers from four Western Balkans countries – Kosovo, Serbia, Herzegovina and Bosnia, and Albania.
Many employment positions remain vacant in the country due to a lack of skills and workers and German authorities wish to grant easier access to the labour market for qualified workers who could fill many of these positions.