According to a recent analysis by the German Centre for Integration and Migration Research, the first year of the Skilled Worker Visa, also known as the Chancenkarte, has seen a significant response. Between June 1, 2024 and May 9, 2025, over 12,000 applications were processed and more than 10,000 visas were granted.
The Skilled Worker Visa was introduced to allow individuals to enter Germany without a prior job offer, in the hopes of finding employment in the country. The visa is awarded to those with a degree or a points-based system that takes into account professional experience, language skills and age. Germany faces a significant shortage of skilled workers, with an estimated 300,000 needed annually from non-EU countries.
While the initial goal of processing 30,000 applications per year was not met, the analysis’s co-author, Marcus Engler, views the results as a positive start. “Considering the Chancenkarte is still relatively new, the numbers are a success and a good news for the country of immigration, Germany” he said in an interview with the Tagesspiegel.
However, Engler also noted that the system is not yet fully developed, as the authorities do not track the outcome of visa holders after they arrive in the country. “We don’t know if the people actually find a job, if the transition to a longer-term residence permit is successful, or if they ultimately leave the country” he said.
Furthermore, the authorities do not have a comprehensive understanding of the visa holders, including their qualifications, gender and country of origin. “We don’t know how many people are entering through the points system and who is getting the Chancenkarte as a skilled worker from the start. All of this is not being systematically evaluated” Engler said, stressing the importance of such data in order to effectively steer the system.
The analysis did, however, reveal the top countries of origin for the visa holders, with India leading the way with over 4,600 cases, followed by China, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey.