Germany: plans for points-based immigration system to attract qualified workers from across the world

The three parties set to form Germany’s new coalition government – the SPD, Greens and FDP – have indicated in their coalition contract that they plan an overhaul of the country’s immigration system. “We need a change of paradigm,” the parties say, adding that the new rules should be “befitting of a modern country of immigration”. With a view to alleviating the shortage of skilled labour in Germany, the new coalition’s plans include improving the law on economic immigration, adopted in December 2018 by Angela Merkel’s government (see article n°10948), by introducing a Canadian-style “points system”. Dubbed the “opportunity card”, this system will complement the law on economic immigration “as a second pillar”. Furthermore, the future coalition intends to make life easier for asylum seekers whose application has been rejected but who are already well integrated in the labour market. From 1 January 2022, people who have lived in Germany for five years without committing any crime will be granted a one-year residence permit with a view to regularisation or naturalisation. This “bridging” system was one of the main sticking points within Germany’s previous grand coalition. The conservative opposition has criticised the measures, which they say could increase illegal immigration.