Most foreigners who come to Germany later return home.
Most foreigners came to Germany from Europe. 85% of immigrants arrived from EU countries, with Romania (98,000 migrants), Poland (96,000) and Bulgaria (38,000) leading. Germany became especially popular for Romanians and Bulgarians because last year the last restrictions on job searching in Germany were lifted for citizens of these countries. In addition, in 2014 the number of immigrants from Croatia increased significantly (+202%).
From EU countries currently hit by economic crisis – Greece, Spain, Italy – only the number of Italian arrivals increased last year (+28%). The number of Spaniards who decided to try their luck in Germany remained unchanged, while the number of Greek arrivals even decreased (−7%).
The most immigrants from European countries not yet in the EU arrived last year from Bosnia and Herzegovina (+71%) and from Serbia (+60%). In addition, last year Germany accepted many residents of Africa (+51%), mainly as refugees, the Americas (+6%) and Asia (+37%). Although, of course, the largest number of refugees came from Syria (+242%), which has been in a civil war for years.
But, despite all these impressive figures, compared to countries like Canada, the USA or Australia, Germany remains a region of 'short-term' immigration. After all, most foreign arrivals return home after some time. Thus, in the first half of last year, 427,000 people left Germany, 358,000 of them foreigners. This number increased by 24% compared to 2013, as did the number of native Germans (+12%) who decided to emigrate from Germany. In recent years, 600-700 thousand residents of Germany leave the country annually; 75% emigrate to a European country, one in ten heads to Asia, 8% to Australia and the USA.
Motives for leaving are varied, but labor migration is the leading reason today. People choose countries where it is easier to find well-paid work. Many Italians, for example, unable to find a suitable job in their home country due to the crisis, decide to move to Germany for a while. But one can be sure that if the economic situation in Germany changes for the better tomorrow, most immigrants will immediately return to Rome or Tuscany.
Three out of four foreigners leave Germany without having lived here for 4 years. One in two stays in the country less than a year. Incidentally, many Russian citizens, according to statistical office data, return home very quickly. Japanese, Indians and Americans also do not stay in Germany long. And Chinese usually leave Germany after completing their studies at a German university.
Therefore, according to experts, the political debate over a new immigration law in Germany should not focus on how to attract qualified specialists to Germany, but on how to keep them here. After all, it is much easier to invite an Indian engineer to work than to make Germany attractive in the long term for highly qualified foreigners.
Incidentally, not only citizens of other countries leave Germany, but also 'natives'. Last year their number exceeded 140,000. Typically, Germans head to other EU countries. One in ten decides to emigrate to the USA, while the UK and Switzerland remain very attractive (21,000 emigrants). Since the 1990s, the 'exodus' of Germans to Turkey has also increased. Usually these are German citizens of Turkish origin who easily find good jobs in their home country, while in Germany their chances of finding a good vacancy are not as high.
In recent years, fewer people have moved from Turkey to Germany for permanent residence than in the opposite direction. Turkey, once a country of potential emigrants, has become a state that successfully uses the high qualifications of its compatriots who received a German education. Among professionals, scientists and doctors are the most mobile.
For German scientists, the most attractive country remains the USA due to excellent working conditions. Besides the USA, doctors also choose Austria and Switzerland for a new life. 3,000 German physicians left Germany last year. Their places are taken, in turn, by doctors from other countries, primarily from Eastern European states.