.svg)
.png)
- Germany has launched a fully digital visa portal, linking all 167 visa offices worldwide to modernize and simplify applications for work, study, and family reunion.
- The online system replaces paper-based procedures, cutting in-person visits and paperwork delays to create a faster, more convenient visa experience for global applicants.
- This digitalisation supports Germany’s strategy to tackle acute labour shortages, with the country needing around 400,000 skilled workers annually and over 1 million jobs currently unfilled, especially in healthcare and technology.
- For employers, the new portal makes it easier to hire and relocate international talent to Germany, strengthening global mobility strategies and complementing initiatives like the Opportunity Card and targeted recruitment from countries such as India.
Germany has launched a new online platform for visa applications, taking an important step to modernizing its immigration system. This digital portal, available to all 167 German visa offices worldwide, will simplify the process for individuals seeking to work, study, or join family in Germany.
Faster, simpler visa application
The new system replaces outdated paper-based procedures, which often involved lengthy forms and in-person visits to consulates. Now, applicants can submit their applications online, reducing delays caused by paperwork and mail.
The new online portal is part of a larger effort to make Germany a more attractive destination for international students, workers, and their families. By speeding up the visa application process, and making it more convenient and accessible for applicants worldwide, the country wants to create a more welcoming and efficient immigration system.
Addressing skilled worker shortages
Germany needs at least 400,000 skilled workers each year, facing a significant talent shortage that impacts important industries like healthcare and technology. The launch of this online visa platform follows initiatives like the German Opportunity card and the "Focus on India" plan, as part of a broader effort to make the country more competitive in attracting global talent.
Germany currently has over 1 million jobs vacant, with a particularly acute shortage in sectors like healthcare and technology, both of which heavily rely on foreign workers. The healthcare sector is facing the most severe crisis, with close to 50,000 positions remaining unfilled in 2023/2024.
These numbers highlight the important role of immigration in sustaining the German economy. In fact, over the past five years, Germany's workforce grew by 1.6 million, with a significant 89% of these roles filled by foreigners.
Relocating international skilled workers to Germany
Germany’s new online Visa Portal is good news for employers looking to hire and relocate international skilled workers. Contact our employee relocation experts to make the most of these changes and strengthen your global mobility strategy.
.jpeg)
.svg)
