Immigration: Germany lowers work visa requirements for IT specialists, to ease residence permit and settlement permit rules from March

Nursing sector: All persons from third countries with nursing training below the three-year regulated specialist training in the health and care sector can be employed. However, they will have to provide proof of a foreign nursing qualification that has been recognised in Germany. It should be noted here that training and professional qualifications are organised differently from state to state and the recognition of the professional qualification as a care assistant by the German authorities will depend on the work location.

Nursing assistants and care assistants: Nursing assistants and care assistants from third countries who have completed their training in Germany will be able to apply for a residence permit to look for a job after completing their training. The residence permit is issued for up to 12 months and can be extended by up to 6 months. It is mandatory for the applicants to prove that they can support themselves financially.

Easier family reunification for skilled workers: From March 1, 2024, if spouses or underage children move to Germany to join certain skilled workers, proof of sufficient living space will not be required. In addition, such skilled workers can also bring their parents and – if the spouse is also permanently resident in Germany – parents-in-law to join them if they receive their residence permit for the first time on or after 1 March 2024.

Settlement Permit: Foreign skilled workers (under certain categories) who have a residence permit and have not completed a domestic vocational training programme or a course of study in Germany will receive a settlement permit in Germany after just three years (previously, four years). In addition, holders of an EU Blue Card will receive a settlement permit even more quickly - after 27 months in employment with an EU Blue Card, they can be granted a settlement permit, and if they have sufficient knowledge of German (level B1 CEFR), it is 21 months.

Special regulation for people with professional experience: Under amended rules, the requirement for a work visa will apply to all non-regulated professions (these are almost all training professions, not including many medical, nursing and therapeutic professions) in all sectors:

You need a recognised professional or university degree in your own country.

If you have a vocational qualification, a training period of at least two years is required.

At least two years of experience in the desired profession is also required.

Formal recognition of the qualification in Germany is not required.

Easier rules for IT specialists: The required relevant professional experience will be reduced to two years (previously, three years). A professional or university degree is still not required. Language skills no longer need to be proven for the visa itself. The employer decides how much German is required and whether English is sufficient for the job, for example.

Employment of trainees: The age limit for potential applicants has been raised from 25 to 35 years, and the requirements for German language skills have been lowered to level B1 (CEFR). The previous maximum duration of stay of 6 months will be increased to 9 months. In addition, people with this residence permit will be able to work part-time for up to 20 hours a week as well as trial employment for up to two weeks. Proof of the ability to support yourself financially is mandatory.