Germany: 19% More National Visas Issued in 2022 Than in 2019

According to a spokesperson in Berlin who disclosed the number of national visas issued last year, such figures represent a 19 per cent increase compared to 2019, despite there being no travel restrictions back then, AtoZSerwisPlus.de reports.

In contrast to usual visas that are issued for a short period of stay in the country, national visas are issued for long-term stays.

The national visa of Germany is mainly issued to highly skilled workers and their family members as well as to those who have applied for family reunification. This suggests that the majority of those who got a German national visa in 2022 were entering the country for work purposes or to be with their families.

Taking into account the high interest that foreigners have in obtaining a national visa to work and reside in Germany, the authorities have already required that the government accelerates the procedures and start applying less strict rules.

Commenting on the matter, the spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the processing time for national visas depends on the staffing capacities and the same stressed that, in some cases, the processing time can take up to a year.

Moreover, the spokesperson revealed that the Foreign Office is planning to update the visa procedures and make it easier for skilled foreign workers to enter the country.

“A modern immigration country needs a modern right of residence,” the spokesperson stated while noting that the government is preparing an action plan to accelerate visa procedures.

The Foreign Office plans on making several changes to the rules this year so that more highly skilled foreign workers get to reach Germany for work purposes under accelerated rules.

Previously, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reported that the government of Germany is taking measures to make the country more attractive for skilled foreign workers by scraping bureaucratic procedures and introducing facilitations for non-EU workers with professional qualifications.

The first change that Germany plans on making to its Skilled Workers Act is to make the Blue Card more accessible for more specialists who hold a university degree.

The same also wants to permit nationals of third countries to move to Germany to work in their field of expertise without requiring them to undergo the procedures for formal recognition of their degree as well as professional skills.