Germany Increases Skilled Visa Quota for Indians to 90,000: A Big Leap Forward

Key Highlights:

Visa Quota Boost:

• The annual visa quota for skilled Indian professionals has increased to 90,000, up from 20,000.
• This move aligns with Germany’s efforts to address its labour shortages and aging workforce.
• It also marks the first bilateral agreement under the G20 Skills-based Migration Pathways framework.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties:

• PM Narendra Modi highlighted the opportunity for German businesses to invest in India, calling the country “the right place and the right time” for investment.
• At the 18th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Businesses in New Delhi, both leaders emphasized a shared vision of being a “force for global good.”

Focus on New Sectors:

• The agreement supports skilled migration into non-traditional sectors like:
  • Teaching
  • Nursing
  • Manufacturing
• The policy aims to enable circular migration, where skills and benefits flow both ways.

Germany’s Labour Market Needs:

• Germany is experiencing a shrinking working-age population.
• As of 2023, 570,000 jobs remained unfilled.
• In the first half of 2024, the country issued 80,000 work visas, with half allocated to skilled workers.

Indian Students Leading International Education:

• Indians are now the largest group of international students in Germany.
• A record 49,483 Indian students were registered in the 2023–24 winter semester, creating a strong academic-to-employment pipeline.

Free Trade Agreement in Sight:

Chancellor Scholz also reiterated Germany’s commitment to fast-tracking the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, stating that a conclusion could be reached “in months rather than years” if both parties accelerate negotiations.

Conclusion

Germany’s decision to dramatically expand skilled visa opportunities for Indian professionals is a forward-thinking move with global implications. It reflects not just a solution to domestic labour shortages but also a mutually beneficial partnership built on trust, talent, and strategic vision. For Indian professionals and students, it opens the door to a broader spectrum of international careers — in emerging sectors where demand is growing rapidly.

As India continues to develop its skilled workforce and Germany seeks to rejuvenate its labour market, this collaboration is a blueprint for other nations navigating the challenges of global labour mobility in the 21st century.

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About Anywr

Anywr is a French international group specializing in the global Talent mobility and international recruitment. The company supports businesses in the search and integration of international talent, offering a complete range of services from sourcing to settlement. Anywr has a network of over 300 consultants in 16 countries. A member of the FrenchTech 120, the group is now composed of nearly 900 employees worldwide, with 400 in France, serving the largest French and international groups. Anywr is an innovative and responsible company, committed to its communities, which puts its expertise and solutions at the service of social integration projects and diversity. ANYWR has adopted the status of a Mission-led Company (Loi Pacte) since June 2021.

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