Coalition agreement signed – what the new government plans with regard to skilled worker migration

On 5 May 2025, representatives of the parties CDU, CSU, and SPD signed their coalition agreement. In addition to a wide range of measures to curb illegal migration, the coalition agreement also provides for proposals to promote the migration of skilled workers. This article provides an initial overview of the measures planned to secure the supply of skilled workers from abroad.

An initial intention is to facilitate skilled immigration in order to secure the skilled labour pool. The parties plan to establish a digital agency for skilled labour immigration, referred to as the “Work and Stay Agency”. Back in June 2023, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group had already submitted a motion (Federal Parliament document no. 20/7400) with a similar aim, which had been rejected. With the establishment of a federal agency for immigration, the intention now is to speed up the process of granting work permits to qualified skilled workers. The “Work and Stay Agency” is to serve as a central point of contact for foreign skilled workers via a central IT platform. The intention is to handle all processes related to labour migration, in particular the recognition of professional and academic qualifications. Graduates from third countries who have completed training or studies in Germany should be able to stay and work in Germany. According to the coalition agreement, the accelerated recognition processes will be developed quickly by an “ad hoc working group of the federal and state governments”. In addition to that, the processes are to be facilitated by better employer participation. However, it is not clear how this is to be achieved.

The barriers to employment for refugees are also to be removed and efforts made to promote sustainable integration. In addition to language training alongside work, which is proposed to include expanding the range of vocational language courses and reducing work bans for refugees from unsafe countries of origin to a maximum of three months, the parties also want to promote continuing education and training alongside work on a permanent basis. The new coalition also intends to conclude further migration agreements. In addition to an orderly migration of skilled workers, these agreements are also intended to promote training in the country of origin.

Furthermore, the right of residence for tolerated foreign nationals will be partially extended. Persons who have not committed any crimes and are otherwise “well integrated” will be granted a temporary residence permit. The prerequisites for this regulation are, in particular, sufficient German language skills and an employment relationship requiring social insurance that has existed for twelve months.

The planned expansion of international skilled worker exchanges is also to be promoted within the EU. To this end, the new coalition wants to introduce instruments between the EU and its member states that promote fair and well-functioning labour markets and social systems.

Practical implications

As expected, the coalition agreement focusses on combating illegal immigration. Although there are some positive approaches to securing the skilled labour base, strengthening the rights of employers does not seem to be a priority.

It remains to be seen which measures contained in the coalition agreement will actually be implemented during the legislative period. There are no signs of fundamental changes in the area of skilled labour migration that could make Germany a more attractive immigration country for highly qualified workers.

For the time being, the situation remains the same: when recruiting and employing skilled workers from third countries in Germany, employers must be very patient in order to overcome bureaucratic hurdles and, in some cases, considerable processing times at German immigration authorities.