Points-Based Immigration System Trial Program Forthcoming

Germany

A three-year trial project for foreign nationals with vocational training and other qualifications – called PUMA (Punktebasiertes Modellprojekts für ausländische Fachkräfte, points-based model project for foreign skilled migrants) – will be introduced in the state of Baden-Württemberg in the fall of 2016. It will be the first immigration category that uses elements of a points-based system to determine immigration eligibility in Germany.

Points-Based System Criteria

The points-based system will be based the following factors:

• German language knowledge (100 points for B2 language skill level, 25 points for A2 language skills);
• English or French language skills (25 points);
• Previous stays in Germany (50 points) or other EU countries (25 points); and
• Relatives in Germany (50 points).

Foreign nationals under the PUMA permit will require a job offer and can only change employers by submitting a new application for the first two years under the permit.

Background

The current skilled immigration system in Germany offers the following options:

• The EU Blue Card for highly-skilled foreign nationals with university degrees; and
• A work permit for those with a vocational degree where there is a shortage of German workers as defined by a government list.

The new points-based option will allow foreign nationals who are trained in professions not delineated by the government to obtain a work permit if they can accumulate at least 100 points through additional qualifications.

Most foreign nationals will have to file visa applications with a German consular post, unless they are entry visa-exempt, such as nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States. 

What This Means for Foreign Nationals

Eligible foreign nationals with vocational training seeking to work in the state of Baden-Württemberg should benefit from the additional work permit option offered by the trial project and should contact their immigration professional to discuss application options.

Fragomen will provide updates on the project’s progress.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].

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