Evaluation of the Skilled Immigration Act: Number of immigrated skilled workers drops significantly.

Germany is in an international competition for talent – and is losing. This is demonstrated not only by the latest figures from the Interior Ministry , but also by the federal government's response to a parliamentary inquiry from the Green Party regarding the evaluation of the Skilled Immigration Act . The data reveals a sobering trend: The new federal government under Friedrich Merz is falling far short of its own migration policy goals. In particular, the regulated immigration of skilled workers is stagnating or declining. This is hardly surprising, as the government's migration policy communication appears designed to deter potential skilled workers rather than attract them .

From the perspective of a lawyer specializing in labor and skilled worker immigration, one thing is clear: the legal reforms are having little effect because they don't seem to be genuinely desired by the politicians . Anyone who, on the one hand, describes immigration as necessary, but on the other hand, cuts hundreds of jobs at the Foreign Office , shouldn't be surprised by low visa numbers.

Decline in the number of Blue Card applications

The EU Blue Card, as defined in Section 18g of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) , is the central instrument for highly qualified professionals from third countries and therefore an important indicator of academic immigration. The figures are all the more alarming for this reason. While around 1,300 national visas for the Blue Card were issued monthly at the beginning of 2024, this number has more than halved since August 2025. In November 2025, the figure was only 517 visas – a drastic drop. Over a two-year period, the average settles at around 1,000 visas per month. However, the most recent figures fall significantly below this average.

Germany is sending a devastating signal: precisely at a time when there are complaints about a shortage of skilled workers, the federal government is failing to maintain a stable influx of immigrants for businesses. Against this backdrop, the fact that the Merz government simultaneously emphasizes publicly its desire to attract "people from all over the world" seems almost cynical.

Ineffective reforms: Recognition partnership and experience pillar

The 2023 reform of the Skilled Immigration Act created genuinely new pathways for the first time. The so-called recognition partnership (§ 16d para. 3 of the Residence Act) and the experience pillar (§ 19c para. 2 of the Residence Act in conjunction with § 6 of the Employment Ordinance) were intended to significantly facilitate entry into the German labor market . These pathways were meant to open up new opportunities, especially for individuals whose formal recognition abroad is difficult or lengthy. However, the reality is quite different.

Since March 2024, just over 1,100 visas have been issued under the recognition partnership program . This is a vanishingly small number for an instrument intended to provide structural relief. The experience-based pillar is similarly disappointing: 838 visas in almost two years – an average of around 40 visas per month. This leaves us in the statistical fog, far removed from any significant relevance to labor market policy .

The opportunity map: Attention yes, impact no

The Opportunity Card was the flagship project of the previous coalition government – a modern points system designed to facilitate access to the German job market . Its introduction did indeed generate considerable media attention worldwide. However, the figures show that the anticipated impact has yet to materialize. Between June 2024 and November 2025, 17,489 visas were issued. While this sounds respectable, it falls far short of expectations. The coalition had projected around 30,000 Opportunity Cards per year. This figure will not even be approached under the new federal government .

The lack of promotion of the instrument and the Merz government's fundamental migration policy exacerbate the situation. While the Interior Ministry's response states that the digital process functions well and relieves the burden on foreign missions, even perfect digitalization is of little use if the political message is: " Immigration only in exceptional cases ." Even in court , the Foreign Office sometimes argues that the issue is not currently a priority within the government.

Conclusion: Skilled worker immigration remains a political illusion

The new German government under Friedrich Merz is clearly failing to meet its migration policy goals – and that comes as no surprise. The figures show unequivocally: As long as the political approach focuses on protectionism rather than making Germany more attractive, it will continue to fall behind in the global competition for skilled workers . While countries like Canada and Australia are actively recruiting skilled workers, Germany is currently conveying the opposite message. The result is a climate that makes it clear to highly qualified individuals that their presence in Germany is not a given .