Every year, more and more highly qualified specialists come to Germany under the facilitated employment program
As Deutsche Welle notes, in the first six months of last year alone, about 11,000 highly qualified specialists from non-EU countries came to work in Germany under the Blue Card program. Most labor migrants who received the 'blue card' – the European equivalent of the American Green Card – are citizens of India. Almost every fourth holder of the 'blue card' is from this country. In second place in terms of the number of work permits received in Germany is China (9.3 percent of the total number of Blue Cards issued).
The list of those who most often used the right to apply for a 'blue card' also includes specialists from Russia (6.5 percent), Ukraine (4.4 percent) and Syria (3.7 percent).
Compared to other European countries, Germany is the undisputed leader in attracting highly qualified foreign specialists under this facilitated employment program. In 2016, 95 percent of all 'blue cards' issued in Europe went to the German labor market. Germany is followed by Italy and Austria.
The opportunity to apply for a Blue Card to work in Germany became available to foreigners on August 1, 2012. With this program, German politicians hope to partially solve the problem of personnel shortage.
According to economists' forecasts, Germany will face a further deterioration of the situation in the coming years. To provide the country's growing economy with the necessary personnel, German employers will have to increasingly attract foreign specialists from outside the EU.
Specialists with a higher education diploma who have concluded an employment contract with a German employer can apply for the 'blue card'. An annual salary of at least 50,800 euros (before taxes) must be guaranteed. For representatives of the most in-demand professions, in particular, scientists, doctors, engineers, programmers, it may be lower: the minimum limit is 39,624 euros.
The 'blue card' is issued for four years. If the employment relationship is maintained, after three years the specialist can apply for a German residence permit. If the foreign specialist speaks German at the B1 level, they can obtain a residence permit after just two years of stay in Germany under the Blue Card program.