Germany Work Visa Processing Time Reduced for Indian Skilled Workers From 9 months to 2 weeks

Germany has recently made a significant change to its work visa processing time for Indian skilled workers. The processing time has been reduced from nine months to just two weeks, a move that aims to boost the German economy and address the labor shortages that have been affecting the country. Last year alone, Germany had around 570,000 job vacancies, which severely impacted various sectors.

Urgent Need for Skilled Workers

According to a report by Schengen News, Germany’s Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, highlighted the urgent need for skilled workers in the country. The Federal Agency for Foreign Affairs, which handles national visas, has already made considerable efforts to speed up the process. In Delhi, India, the waiting time for national visas has been successfully reduced to two weeks, a drastic improvement from the previous nine-month waiting period.

Baerbock emphasized the importance of this change, stating, “We urgently need skilled workers who can continue to support this process.” This accelerated visa process is expected to help fill the gaps in the labor market and drive economic growth.

Impact of Labor Shortages on the Economy

The German Economic Institute (IW) reported that the country had approximately 570,000 job vacancies in 2023. The prolonged visa processing times had also delayed the arrival of individuals invited for training and conferences, further exacerbating the labor shortages. Indian companies investing in Germany have also faced challenges in bringing their specialists into the country due to these delays.

The IW estimated that the lost production potential from unfilled jobs could reach €74 billion by 2027. Despite the Foreign Ministry’s ‘Visa Acceleration Action Plan’ launched in 2023, the IW expressed concerns that it may not yield the best results and could cause an economic loss of €49 billion.

Strengthening India-Germany Relations

The reduction in visa processing times is also a reflection of the strengthening ties between India and Germany. On August 14, India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, welcomed German MPs Jurgen Hardt and Ralph Brinkhaus to India. During their meeting in Delhi, they discussed the growing relationship between the two countries and exchanged views on regional developments.

In addition, on August 13, German Ambassador Phillip Ackerman attended the joint exercise ‘Tarang Shakti’ in Tamil Nadu, marking the first time the German Air Force conducted exercises with the Indian Air Force (IAF). A day earlier, the German Embassy in India and Fraunhofer hosted a conference on sustainability in New Delhi, focusing on German innovations in India.

These developments highlight the expanding collaboration between India and Germany, particularly in areas like skilled labor mobility, defense cooperation, and technological innovation. The reduction in visa processing times is expected to further enhance these ties by facilitating easier movement of skilled workers between the two countries.

Read More at How to Abroad

How to find the right hospital in Germany when you get sick?

Germany Job Opportunity Card to Be Introduced from June 2024