Foreign skilled workers apparently have little interest in Opportunity Cards

According to a media report, fewer foreign skilled workers than expected are applying for the federal government’s new opportunities card. As the “Bild” newspaper reported on Thursday, citing figures from the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), since its introduction in June until the end of September Almost 2,360 foreigners applied for the card.

This corresponds to around 590 applications per month. The federal government actually assumed 2,500 applications per month and a total of 10,000 applications during the period, it was said.

Anyone who receives the new opportunity card can enter Germany without having to show a permanent employment contract and can stay for one year to look for work.

Applicants for the Opportunity Card must have basic requirements such as basic knowledge of German or very good knowledge of English and at least two years of vocational training or a university degree recognized in their country of origin. In order to look for work in Germany, your livelihood must also be secured.

According to the report, 15 percent of applications rejected. Accordingly, the German authorities issued 2,052 opportunity cards. According to the BMI, most applicants came from India, China, Turkey, Russia and Tunisia.

According to the “Bild” newspaper, the figures come from an answer to the lawyer Sebastian Klaus, who had requested publication under the Freedom of Information Act.