News from the partner network

The Central Office for Skilled Worker Immigration North Rhine-Westphalia is the central Foreigners Authority in this federal state, responsible for the implementation of the fast-track procedure. In an interview, Dr Axel Rosenthal, Head of Central Office, answers questions about how his authority goes about implementing this procedure.

The German Agency for International Healthcare Professionals (DeFa) is a state-owned company which supports the sustainable recruitment of nursing professionals from abroad. To do so, it works with institutions in the health care sector and personnel service agencies.

The Welcome Centers in Rhineland-Palatinate support interested companies and skilled workers from abroad every step, from recruitment to entry regulations and arrival in Germany. They see themselves as the first point of contact and guide in their network. "Make it in Germany" spoke with the Welcome Centers about their experiences in their work.

to attract prospective students from around the world and inspire them to study in Germany, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) organizes virtual education fairs. There, the DAAD answers live all questions about studying and living in Germany and more.

Throughout Germany, various institutions and authorities carry out recognition procedures of foreign professional qualifications. One of them is the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). In a short interview, Ms. Elisabeth Sonnenschein, deputy head of department, reports on the task of the ZAB.

"UBAconnect" is an offer for companies looking for skilled workers from the industrial-technical, commercial or skilled trades sectors. It is part of the project "Unternehmen Berufsanerkennung" which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and was launched at the end of 2020 together with the Chambers of Industry and Commerce.

The Hand in Hand for International Talents project puts the German Skilled Immigration Act into practice. It supports small and medium-sized companies in the recruitment of international skilled workers in IHK-recognised occupations and accompanies businesses and skilled workers throughout the entire process.

Since the Skilled Immigration Act came into force, employers have been able to initiate the visa process for their future workers under the fast-track procedure for skilled workers. We put together key aspects of the procedure in an interview with Mr. Menche, head of department for a Foreigners' Authority in Hesse and consultant on asylum and immigration law.

Welcome Centers have become important players in the recruitment of qualified professionals. Over the years, more and more such facilities are being set up. The editorial team of "Make it in Germany" has spoken with the director Mrs. Maria Isabel Cáceres Guerrero to learn more about the Welcome Center Region Hildesheim.

Training young people helps companies obtain the skilled labour they need. The consequences of demographic change are already having a visible impact on the training market. This means that the business community needs to find new ways to attract skilled labour. The German Land of Thuringia, for example, has launched a funding programme that has enabled local companies hire apprentices from Vietnam.

The EU Blue Card has become an attractive residence permit for immigrants from so-called third countries, according to a recent report by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). This residence permit has already enabled many highly qualified specialists from abroad to take up employment in Germany.

In order to help employers in Germany with difficult job placements, the International and Specialized Services (ZAV) is specifically looking for suitable specialists abroad. It is currently focusing in particular on engineers, IT specialists, physicians and nurses.

The Integration through Qualification (IQ) support programme offers such training programmes for many occupations in order to bridge major differences between a given occupation in Germany and abroad. The training programmes are financed by funds from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) and the European Social Fund (ESF). 

Die Region Heilbronn-Franken zeigt Flagge für eine gelebte Willkommenskultur. Das Welcome Center Heilbronn-Franken unterstützt das Ankommen internationaler Fachkräfte und setzt sich aktiv für eine gelebte Willkommenskultur ein. 

Am 18. August 2016 wurde das Willkommenszentrum Berlin des gesamten Berliner Senats beim Beauftragten für Integration und Migration eingerichtet. Es ist eine erste Anlaufstelle für Personen, die aus unterschiedlichen Gründen nach Berlin zuwandern: Sei es EU-Bürger, Studierende, Fachkräfte oder Asylsuchende.