https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed As part of the landmark trade agreement announced on January 27th, the EU and India adopted a ‘mobility framework’ that aims to make it easier for Indian students, researchers and young professionals to move to the EU. https://www.thelocal.de/20260207/what-the-mobility-deal-between-the-eu-and-india-will-mean-for-skilled-workers Sat, 07 Feb 2026 09:19:01 +0100 what-the-mobility-deal-between-the-eu-and-india-will-mean-for-skilled-workers The launch of the ‘EU Talent Pool’ has moved a step closer. It will be the first digital platform that will match vacancies in shortage occupations in EU countries with non-EU jobseekers. https://www.thelocal.de/20251122/explained-what-the-approval-of-the-eu-talent-pool-means-in-practice Sat, 22 Nov 2025 11:00:02 +0100 explained-what-the-approval-of-the-eu-talent-pool-means-in-practice Moving to Germany can be difficult, confusing and sometimes make you feel like you’re alone. But these places offer help for anyone struggling - and best of all, they're all free. https://www.thelocal.de/20230803/explained-where-to-get-free-immigration-advice-in-germany Thu, 03 Aug 2023 14:52:24 +0200 explained-where-to-get-free-immigration-advice-in-germany The EU Blue Card is a work and residence permit for highly skilled people from outside the EU. Why does Germany issue by far the most compared to other EU states? https://www.thelocal.de/20250516/why-does-germany-issue-by-far-the-most-eu-blue-cards-to-skilled-workers Fri, 16 May 2025 15:10:12 +0200 why-does-germany-issue-by-far-the-most-eu-blue-cards-to-skilled-workers More and more foreigners are leaving Sweden for Germany, with higher salaries, more flexible permits and a stronger currency mentioned as possible reasons. https://www.thelocal.de/20250130/record-number-of-foreigners-quit-sweden-to-move-to-germany Thu, 30 Jan 2025 07:56:09 +0100 record-number-of-foreigners-quit-sweden-to-move-to-germany Statistics show that more and more foreigners are leaving Sweden for Germany. Tayyab Shabab, a programmer who was squeezed out by bureaucratic Swedish migration rules, knows what that's like. https://www.thelocal.de/20250130/german-salaries-are-competitive-says-star-developer-who-left-stockholm-for-berlin Thu, 30 Jan 2025 07:55:10 +0100 german-salaries-are-competitive-says-star-developer-who-left-stockholm-for-berlin Several changes to migration rules have come into effect since the start of 2025, and further changes are being debated. Here are the ones likely to have the biggest impact on the lives of Germany's foreign residents. https://www.thelocal.de/20250108/the-immigration-changes-that-may-affect-foreigners-in-germany-in-2025 Wed, 08 Jan 2025 17:29:36 +0100 the-immigration-changes-that-may-affect-foreigners-in-germany-in-2025 In recent weeks, Germany has signed a new migration agreement with India and set out a 30-point plan for courting skilled Indian workers. What do the changes mean for Indian citizens looking to move to Germany? https://www.thelocal.de/20241030/revealed-germanys-new-plan-to-attract-tens-of-thousands-of-skilled-indian-workers Wed, 30 Oct 2024 13:49:46 +0100 revealed-germanys-new-plan-to-attract-tens-of-thousands-of-skilled-indian-workers Berlin's state immigration authority is in the process of moving its services online. Here's how to apply for or renew a residence permit now, while the immigration office works to set-up more official portals. https://www.thelocal.de/20241009/explained-how-to-apply-for-a-residency-permit-online-in-berlin Wed, 09 Oct 2024 18:54:14 +0200 explained-how-to-apply-for-a-residency-permit-online-in-berlin Foreign residents in almost any major German city can expect long wait times for appointments to secure residency permits at their local immigration offices. But in Nuremberg the process is exceptionally fraught. https://www.thelocal.de/20240710/just-useless-why-does-it-take-years-to-get-an-appointment-with-nurembergs-immigration-office Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:51:16 +0200 just-useless-why-does-it-take-years-to-get-an-appointment-with-nurembergs-immigration-office The creation of a common EU Talent Pool platform, in which non-EU nationals can register their profiles and find jobs across the 27 member states, has moved a step closer to reality. https://www.thelocal.de/20240614/tinder-for-jobs-eus-new-job-scheme-for-non-eu-workers-moves-step-closer Fri, 14 Jun 2024 12:15:37 +0200 tinder-for-jobs-eus-new-job-scheme-for-non-eu-workers-moves-step-closer Germany is in dire need of skilled workers. A new form of work permit launching soon will provide another route for qualified foreign nationals to come to Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20240523/how-germanys-opportunity-card-will-allow-easier-entry-for-foreign-workers-from-june Thu, 23 May 2024 17:36:45 +0200 how-germanys-opportunity-card-will-allow-easier-entry-for-foreign-workers-from-june The European Parliament has pushed through changes that will ease the rules around the EU's so-called 'single permit' for third country nationals. https://www.thelocal.de/20240318/eu-to-ease-rules-around-the-single-permit-for-non-eu-workers Mon, 18 Mar 2024 17:21:03 +0100 eu-to-ease-rules-around-the-single-permit-for-non-eu-workers As of November, Germany has eased the rules for skilled workers to acquire the Blue Card visa. https://www.thelocal.de/20231113/how-germany-is-making-it-easier-for-skilled-workers-to-get-an-eu-blue-card Mon, 13 Nov 2023 15:39:02 +0100 how-germany-is-making-it-easier-for-skilled-workers-to-get-an-eu-blue-card More than a month after emergency appointments were announced to deal with long queues and lengthy delays, a lack of action from Stuttgart's immigration authority continues to cause hardship and difficulties for many foreigners.  https://www.thelocal.de/20231123/no-job-no-money-how-german-immigration-office-delays-hurt-lives-of-foreign-workers Thu, 23 Nov 2023 10:48:39 +0100 no-job-no-money-how-german-immigration-office-delays-hurt-lives-of-foreign-workers The European Commission has proposed a shared 'EU talent pool' as part of a package of new measures to make it easier for skilled workers to come to the EU to work. https://www.thelocal.de/20231115/how-the-eu-plans-to-make-it-easier-for-non-eu-nationals-to-find-jobs Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:11:26 +0100 how-the-eu-plans-to-make-it-easier-for-non-eu-nationals-to-find-jobs Germany's new skilled worker law will give future generations of migrants the chance to bring their parents over to join them - but foreigners already here are frustrated that the new rules won't apply to them. https://www.thelocal.de/20231103/unfair-why-is-germany-only-easing-family-reunification-for-future-skilled-workers Fri, 03 Nov 2023 17:02:38 +0100 unfair-why-is-germany-only-easing-family-reunification-for-future-skilled-workers Many people live in Germany with an unclarified status. These groups could soon find easier routes into work under new plans unveiled by the government. https://www.thelocal.de/20231102/how-germany-wants-to-ease-employment-rules-for-tolerated-migrants Thu, 02 Nov 2023 12:36:02 +0100 how-germany-wants-to-ease-employment-rules-for-tolerated-migrants From the ‘Antragsformular’ to the ‘Familienzusammenführung’, grasping these 11 essential words will help you navigate the complexities of your German visa application with ease. https://www.thelocal.de/20231020/11-words-you-need-to-know-for-your-german-visa-appointment Fri, 20 Oct 2023 12:28:10 +0200 11-words-you-need-to-know-for-your-german-visa-appointment Several countries in Europe are reducing the salaries people from outside the EU need to be eligible for a work visa, although one – Sweden – is raising the threshold. Here's a comparison of current rules in the countries covered by The Local. https://www.thelocal.de/20231018/compared-what-salary-do-you-need-to-get-a-work-permit-in-europe Wed, 18 Oct 2023 15:03:18 +0200 compared-what-salary-do-you-need-to-get-a-work-permit-in-europe