The German government has announced that there has been a significant rise in the number of skilled immigrants from outside the European Union settling in the country.
Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) says that approximately 27,000 skilled non-EU migrants relocated to Germany in 2018 – a 25.4 per cent jump over 2017, and more than in any previous year.
Some 42.3 per cent of the migrants who settled in Germany last year had never been to the country before, whereas the other 57.8 per cent extended their existing status.
One-third of Germany’s Blue Card recipients in 2018 hailed from India, while 25.9 per cent came from China and 8.5 per cent from Russia.
Recipients of EU Blue Cards (the document which allows non-EU immigrants to live in a member state) must have a university degree and a guarantee for a job paying at least €53,600 ($60,280). Those working as doctors, engineers, and scientists are required to have salary guarantees of at least €41,808.
The BAMF statistics show that there were around 51,130 Blue Card holders residing in Germany by the end of 2018. Of that number, 28,200 also held permanent residency status.
“The numbers clearly show that Germany is becoming ever more attractive for highly-qualified migrants from outside the EU,” said Andrea Schumacher, the BAMF’s Vice-President. “We are confident that the popularity of the EU Blue Card will remain strong into the future.”
Over the last 18 months, Germany has been making a concentrated effort to be more welcoming and appealing to immigrants from outside the EU. With a rapidly ageing workforce, skilled immigration has been highlighted as an essential component in keeping the country’s economy strong.
Article published 5th June 2019