Germany Launches Digital Platform for National Visa Applications

Candidates for German national visas – including here work, study and family reunification visas, will have a simpler application process thanks to the Consular Services Portal.

This platform receives applications for national visas, reducing the waiting time at consular offices and the required travel commune that surrounds the application process, Schengen.News reports.

A total of 167 visa offices have been linked to the Consular Services Portal, and the digitalised visa process is expected to be expanded at an international level, allowing candidates to submit their digital applications. 

Consular Services Portal “Revolutionary” Step for Germany to Address Labour Shortages 
The Foreign Minister has deemed the Services Portal as revolutionary, especially in the ongoing battle against labour shortages, which deeply concerns the German economy. The Foreign Affairs Office (BAA) has been working on this tool for over two years and has implemented a pilot project on three visa application spots. 

Germany is currently dealing with some 400,000 unfilled vacancies for skilled workers, and these occupations are expected to be filled by foreign skilled workers across the world, some of them being Indian nationals. Recently, the German government signed an agreement with India, increasing the German work visas for skilled Indians to 90,000 from the 20,000 cap that was set before this measure. 

The German Interior Ministry has also taken more measures to meet the market demand, increasing the number of work visas by 22,422.

Germany Enhances Efforts to Become Attractive for Migrant Workers 
In addition to the streamlined visa application process, the German government has improved conditions overall for migrant workers. One of these changes is the Skilled Immigration Act, which allows skilled workers to come to Germany under very few conditions. 

Thanks to the Opportunity Card or the Chancenkarte, migrant workers can move to Germany for employment purposes with basic German language skills, a university degree or around two years of professional experience.

Source: https://schengen.news/germany-launches-digital-platform-for-national-visa-applications/