With skilled-labour shortages at record highs, Germany is rolling out the second implementation package of its revised Skilled Immigration Act (Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz). An official update on the government portal “Make it in Germany” published on 19 October outlines what changes will bite from 1 November 2026. Key measures include expansion of the EU Blue Card to recent graduates and IT specialists without formal degrees, provided salaries reach at least €45 934.20 – just 45.3 percent of the 2026 pension-insurance assessment ceiling. For bottleneck occupations the same lower threshold applies to all applicants, and holders may now bring parents and – if the spouse is resident in Germany – parents-in-law via facilitated family reunion. Equally significant is the new “experience pathway”: professionals with at least two years of vocational experience in a non-regulated occupation can obtain a residence permit without a formal recognition procedure, so long as their foreign qualification is state-accredited in the issuing country. The Rule 18a/18b residence permits have been streamlined, and student employees may work up to 20 hours per week (up from 10), aligning with concessions in neighbouring countries. The act introduces the Opportunity Card points system for jobseekers, expected to open on 1 January 2027 but already influencing visa-section appointment demand. Applicants who score six points – for example through partial recognition plus German-language competence – can enter Germany to look for work or complete adaptation training. Corporations should review salary grids to ensure foreign hires meet the new thresholds, and update assignment letters to reflect expanded family-reunification possibilities. HR teams must also track the obligation for employer-supported recognition after entry, a compliance requirement that, if neglected, can trigger fines and jeopardise future sponsorship privileges.
Source: Make it in Germany
