Migration in Germany, what to expect in 2024

2024-01-16 08:43:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Migration in Germany, what to expect in 2024

Illustrative photo

As Germany should become more attractive for skilled worker immigration, it will become more difficult to grant asylum. What rules are expected?

More skilled workers

Since October 18, a law has come into force in Germany that facilitates immigration for foreign workers. The most important element of the new law will be the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte), which is based on a point-based system of entry into Germany. This part of the law comes into force in June, and provides for a one-year residence permit with the possibility of extension. During this time, cardholders can look for a job. The conditions for obtaining it are: academic level, diplomas, knowledge of the German or English language, work experience and personal connection to Germany.

From October, the part of the Blue Card law came into force, according to which qualified foreign workers will have to have a minimum gross salary of around 43,800 euros per year (so far 58,400 euros) to receive it.

Asylum seekers who entered the country before 29 March 2023 and have qualifications and a job offer - will be able to apply for a residence permit as a skilled worker if they withdraw their asylum claim. Until now they had to first leave the country and then apply for a work visa from abroad.
Anyone coming to Germany as a qualified professional from a country outside the EU can bring their spouse, children and parents. However, the prerequisite is to ensure the existence of the family. Parents cannot apply for social assistance.

Blue Card and Regulation for the Western Balkans

The existing regulation for skilled workers with higher education, such as the EU Blue Card, has been made easier to obtain. The list according to which the Blue Card can be obtained has been expanded. While before this list was more or less only professions from mathematics, computer science, engineering professions and medicine, now it also applies to pharmacists, educators, caregivers and many other professions.

If employers in Germany and candidates from countries outside the EU enter into a so-called contract for the recognition of qualifications, foreign workers will be able to come and work in Germany from March 2024, while the process of recognition of qualifications continues . So they can come without the recognition of diplomas, while they have to do this after their arrival.

If they want to bring spouses or minor children, skilled workers must prove that they can support them on their own, but no longer have to prove that they have a designated accommodation space.

While the Regulation for workers from the Western Balkans, for the employment of workers from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia will change in June. It will no longer have a fixed validity period. From June 2024, the annual quota will double to 50,000 workers.
More deportations

In future, evictions will no longer be notified in advance and the maximum length of detention for people being deported will be extended from ten to 28 days. The police will be given wider powers when searching the homes of refugees.

It provides for tougher penalties for smugglers, the possibility of checking the asylum seeker's phone and the possibility of deporting those suspected of membership in a criminal organization even if they have not committed any crime. The law on these rules is expected to be voted on in January and could enter into force at the end of April 2024.

Deporting migrants

Georgia, Moldova, Kenya, Colombia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan - these are the six countries with which the agreement on the return of migrants is being negotiated. . The first contract with Georgia was signed in mid-December. In addition, more countries should be classified as safe countries of origin, as was done with Georgia and Moldova in November. It is then easier to return people whose asylum application has been rejected. The government also wants to reactivate the EU-Turkey agreement on the readmission of refugees. Most of the refugees coming to Germany are from Syria, Afghanistan and Turkey.

Faster asylum decisions

Asylum application procedures in administrative courts in Germany take an average of 26.6 months. In the future, this should be accelerated significantly. Procedures for nationals of countries with a recognition rate of less than five percent must be completed within three months. In all other cases - the maximum should be six months.

Fewer social benefits

Until now, asylum seekers were entitled to a special refugee allowance, and after 18 months the right to social assistance, which is a higher amount. In the future, these rules will also change and the deadlines will be shortened. In addition, instead of the previous payment of compensation in cash, the so-called "Socialcard" will be introduced - a payment card with which asylum seekers can only buy food and other daily necessities. The purpose of this measure is to limit the possibility of sending money to relatives in the homeland./ DW