Germany raises skilled worker visas for Indians from 20,000 to 90,000 to boost workforce
As per the latest development, Germany in a bid to solve workforce shortage, has stepped up its efforts to attract more skilled workers, particularly from India.
If reports are to go by, the German Government has announced to increase the annual cap on skilled labour visas to 90,000 from 20,000 for Indian professionals.
This initiative will target all those critical gaps that crucial sectors are facing such as nursing, information technology, and caregiving. Reportedly, the new measures are aimed at making it easier for Indian professionals to migrate to the country and contribute to its economy.
Referring to this, German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, informed that the number of visas issued to skilled migrants from India in all likelihood will increase significantly. Currently, the visa cap per year stands at 20,000, whereas the government is all set to raise it to 90,000 annually. These visas will be focused primarily on sectors facing acute labour shortages in Germany, whereas Indian professionals are highly sought after to fill these gaps.
In response to labour demands, the German Government has launched a number of programs to attract Indian labourers. One of the crucial adjustments that it has made is reducing the visa processing time for Indian applicants, under which candidates are required to wait only two weeks to get their visas approved, compared to earlier when the said time line used to be nine months.
The emphasis on attracting Indian talent goes beyond meeting immediate workforce demands; it aims to foster long-term economic and technological partnerships between Germany and India. With strong bilateral relations already in place, the increase in skilled labour visas is expected to deepen their strategic cooperation even further.
Additionally, Germany is facilitating talented Indian workers’ applications for the Blue Card, a non-EU work permit. The pay threshold for migrant workers has been decreased, and the need to demonstrate advanced German language proficiency has been eliminated. The process has been made more simpler by the fact that a university degree is now enough to apply for a Blue Card.
With 570,000 job vacancies currently unfilled, Germany’s labour shortages are significant. According to the German Economic Institute, there are shortages in over 70 professions in the nation, with jobs in manufacturing, transportation, engineering, and healthcare being particularly in high demand. Indian professionals are anticipated to be crucial in filling these vital roles as Germany continues to experience this shortage.