Skilled Immigration Act Germany

Skilled Immigration Act Germany

Find out more about our Visa Services.

The Skilled Immigration Act from 2020 has been brought into German legislation to recognize the skilled labor shortage in Germany. What makes it interesting for your recruitment (and also is one of the main differences to the prerequisites of the EU Blue Card) is, that under the Skilled Immigration Act, a university or college degree is not necessarily required.

The Act allows to find suitable candidates that have completed foreign vocational training, that is equivalent to German vocational training.

Frequently asked questions regarding the Skilled Immigration Act

Below, you will find a list of the most frequently asked questions about our services with regard to the Skilled Immigration Act. If you have any further questions feel free to contact us at any time.

Yes, as well as the EU Blue Card, it applies to workers from outside the EU. EU workers do not require a visa to move to Germany.

The applicant should provide a

  • German or a foreign higher educational degree recognized or otherwise equivalent to a German higher educational degree or
  • should have completed vocational training in Germany or have a non-German occupational qualification which is comparable to one acquired in Germany.
  • Additionally the applicant usually needs to speak German on at least a B1 Level. Though it is possible to waive the language requirement. Contact us to evaluate the chances of waiving this requirement for your applicants!

In the IT area, it is even possible to recruit workers that have no university degree or vocational training but have extensive professional experience in the industry of at least three years that they gained within the last seven years and earn a certain minimum amount of money annually.

Skilled workers can apply for permanent residence 4 years after finding work.

Employers are not obliged to fulfil the obligations of a resident labour market test – meaning they do not need to confirm there was no resident (German or EU citizen) who could fill the role in question. This makes it easier to hire non-EU workers and employers are no longer restricted to hiring non-EU workers for “shortage positions”.

In certain professions you need to have your qualifications examined to make sure they are up to German Standards of education and vocational training. Find out more here.

Contact us now

„Business Immigration Germany – by Schlun & Elseven“ is a website for all matters of Business Immigration from all over the world to Germany by the renowned German Law firm Schlun & Elseven. Due to our extensive experience in German residence and work permits, family reunification and various immigration cases, we can offer full-service legal advice and comprehensive support you can trust. 

Don’t hesitate to use our contact form. Our lawyers are happy to help you figure out the best way to approach your business immigration process now.

Locations & Office Times

Mo – Fr: 09:00 – 19:00
24h Contact: 0221 93295960
Email: info@se-legal.de
Appointments made by telephone only.

Business Immigration Germany
Düsseldorf

Düsseldorfer Str. 70
40545 Düsseldorf
Tel: +49 211 171 8280
Fax: 0221 932959669

Business Immigration Germany
Cologne

Kyffhäuserstr. 45
50674 Cologne
Tel: +49 221 93295960
Fax: 0221 932959669

Business Immigration Germany
Aachen

Von-Coels-Str. 214
52080 Aachen
Tel: +49 241 4757140
Fax: 0241 47571469

Locations & Office Times

Mo – Fr: 09:00 – 19:00

24h Contact: 0221 93295960

Conference Rooms

Berlin 10785, Potsdamer Platz 10

Hamburg 20354, Neuer Wall 63

München 80339, Theresienhöhe 28

Frankfurt 60314, Hanauer Landstrasse 291 B