Germany’s Skilled Immigration Act entered into force on 1 March 2020 with the aim of making the German labour market more accessible to qualified professionals from outside the EU.
Several years later, the impact can increasingly be seen in the data.
By June 2025, around 420,000 employees in social-security employment held a residence or settlement permit based on employment in Germany. In 2020, the figure had been just over 200,000. Labour migration within this group has therefore more than doubled.
Written By:
Hanna Holmberg
Legal Expert
Expertly reviewed by:
Daniel Dirmeier
Attorney at Law / Lawyer
- The Skilled Immigration Act entered into force on 1 March 2020
- Just over 200,000 employees held an employment-based residence title in 2020
- By June 2025, the figure had increased to around 420,000
- Around 164,000 third-country nationals in social-security employment held an EU Blue Card by mid-2025
- The number of employed Blue Card holders increased by 114 percent compared with 2020
- The Federal Employment Agency provided 23,600 consultations on professional recognition in 2025 alone
Germany has fundamentally redesigned skilled immigration
The original 2020 Act was only the beginning.
Further reforms entered into force in stages between November 2023 and June 2024. Eligibility for the EU Blue Card was expanded, new options were created for experienced professionals, the recognition partnership was introduced and the Opportunity Card established a new route for jobseekers.
One important shift is that full German recognition of a foreign qualification no longer has to be completed before entering Germany in every immigration route.
Vocationally qualified professionals are an important part of the system
Public debate often focuses on university graduates and the EU Blue Card.
However, Germany is also increasingly recruiting workers with vocational qualifications.
In 2025, 35,260 residence permits were issued under Section 18a to skilled workers with vocational qualifications. Another 29,251 permits were issued under Section 18b to academically qualified professionals, alongside 54,951 EU Blue Cards.
The EU Blue Card has grown particularly strongly
The development of the EU Blue Card has been especially significant.
By mid-2025, around 164,000 employees from non-EU countries in social-security employment held an EU Blue Card, an increase of 114 percent compared with 2020.
The 2023 reform lowered salary thresholds, expanded shortage occupations and opened the Blue Card to additional recent graduates and certain experienced IT professionals without a traditional university degree.
Recognition can now take place after arrival in some cases
The recognition partnership, introduced in March 2024, created another significant change.
Under this route, eligible professionals can enter Germany, begin qualified employment and conduct the formal recognition process after arrival.
Requirements include an appropriate foreign qualification, a suitable job offer, an agreement with the employer and generally German language skills at A2 level.
The Opportunity Card added a job-search route
Since 1 June 2024, the Opportunity Card under Section 20a AufenthG has provided another route.
Eligible third-country nationals can come to Germany to search for qualified employment without already having a permanent job offer. Depending on their qualifications, applicants can qualify directly as recognised skilled workers or through the points system.
Opportunity Card holders can generally work for up to 20 hours per week while searching and may undertake limited job trials.
Labour-market approvals have also increased sharply
The Federal Employment Agency issued more than 521,000 labour-market approvals in 2025.
This was 17 percent more than in 2024 and around 140 percent more than in 2021. More than three quarters of these approvals related to planned employment within skilled and labour migration.
The Agency also reports that around 99 percent of complete applications are decided within 14 days.
This is important because Germany’s immigration procedure involves several different authorities. Delays in an overall case therefore do not necessarily originate with the Federal Employment Agency.
More legal routes also mean more strategic choices
Germany’s skilled-immigration system is considerably more flexible than it was in 2020.
But greater flexibility also means that applicants may have several possible residence routes.
An academically qualified professional may qualify either for Section 18b or an EU Blue Card. Another applicant may need to compare the experienced-worker route, recognition partnership and Opportunity Card.
The question is therefore increasingly not simply whether someone can work in Germany, but which residence route provides the best basis for their professional and long-term plans.
Conclusion
Germany has opened its labour market considerably since 2020.
The number of employees with employment-based residence titles has more than doubled, while the legal system now provides several different pathways for international professionals at different stages of recruitment and qualification recognition.
The long-term success of the reforms will, however, depend on more than the number of people entering Germany.
Processing times, recognition of qualifications, access to permanent residence and whether international professionals ultimately decide to build their future in Germany will be just as important.
Daniel Dirmeier
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Dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley.
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