Germany's new policy begins: Those who collect 6 points can go to the country

The Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) program, part of a law aimed at facilitating the migration of skilled labor to Germany, comes into effect as of June 1. The new policy allows individuals from non-European Union (EU) countries to come to Germany to search for work. With the Opportunity Card, it is possible to come to Germany for work purposes even without an employment contract. The most notable feature of the new policy is that it is based on a points system.

According to DW Turkish, the first requirement to apply for the Opportunity Card is A1-level German or B2-level English proficiency. Additionally, it is required to have a university degree or to have completed at least 2 years of vocational training. It is also mandatory for the individual to prove that they have sufficient financial resources to cover their expenses during their stay in Germany. This amount has been set at 1,027 Euros per month for 2024; for a one-year visa, a total of 12,324 Euros must be deposited into a blocked account in Germany. Meanwhile, the fee required for an Opportunity Card application is 75 Euros.

SIX POINTS REQUIRED FOR VISA

After the basic requirements are met, at least 6 points are needed for the Opportunity Card. The points system works as follows:

4 Points: Those with recognized qualifications in professions based on a diploma, such as teachers, nurses, or engineers.

3 Points: Those with 5 years of continuous experience in their field over the last 7 years or B2-level German proficiency.

2 Points: Two years of work experience or B1-level German. Applicants under the age of 35 are also awarded 2 points.

1 Point: Awarded to those under the age of 40 or those who have previously stayed in Germany for at least 6 months for non-touristic purposes. C1-level English is also worth one point.

TEMPORARY AND SHORT-TERM WORK IS POSSIBLE

It was possible to come to Germany to look for work before this new policy as well. However, the old job-seeker visa was issued for a maximum duration of 6 months. Furthermore, it was not possible to work in temporary or short-term jobs while searching for work with the old visa. The most important advantage of the Opportunity Card is that it allows for temporary and short-term work while searching for a job. With the Opportunity Card, it is possible to work in side jobs for up to 20 hours per week. The time granted to search for a job is one year, and in most cases, it is not possible to extend this. Additionally, this card is only valid in Germany, meaning it does not provide the opportunity to work in other EU countries. Once a permanent job is found, it is necessary to apply for a residence permit, for which the required fee is 100 Euros.

TARGET OF 400 THOUSAND WORKERS PER YEAR

With the Opportunity Card program, which will come into effect under the three-stage Skilled Immigration Act passed by the Federal Parliament last June, the government wants to provide a solution to the skilled labor shortage, one of the biggest challenges facing the economy. Statistics show that more than 1.5 million positions across Germany remain vacant due to a lack of personnel. As the population ages, it is projected that the working-age population will gradually decrease along with those who will retire in the near future. Drawing attention to this problem, German Minister of Labour Hubertus Heil announced that 7 million new workers would be needed by 2035 due to the population retiring.

There is a shortage in Germany, particularly in the health and IT sectors, as well as in fields requiring vocational training. With the Opportunity Card, the goal is for 400,000 people from abroad to come to Germany to work and live each year. Katharina Dröge, the Parliamentary Group Chair of the Green Party, expressed her satisfaction with the policy coming into effect on June 1, stating, "The labor shortage is a real risk for the country's economy. This is an opportunity not only for foreign workers but also for Germany."

BLUE CARD PROGRAM

The first regulations under the Skilled Immigration Act came into effect on November 18, 2023. In the first phase, skilled workers and academics whose diplomas were recognized in Germany were allowed to work in Germany. In this context, facilitations were made to the "Blue Card" program, the required annual income amount was lowered, and facilitations were introduced for family reunification. According to the regulations that came into effect as of March 1, 2024, the path was opened for individuals coming to Germany from countries outside the European Union to work in Germany if they possess a professionally recognized vocational training or higher education degree from their home country and two years of work experience. Additionally, some facilitations were introduced for nurses and caregivers to work in Germany.

News Source: 12punto