Germany Increases Annual Visa Quota for Indian Skilled Workers to 90,000
New Delhi, 25th October 2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Friday that Germany has significantly increased the annual visa quota for skilled Indian professionals from 20,000 to 90,000. The announcement was made during a three-day visit by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, where both leaders discussed strengthening trade relations between the two economic powerhouses.
Speaking at the 18th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business 2024, Scholz highlighted the growing presence of Indians in Germany, stating, “Indians now make up the largest group of foreign students in our universities, and last year alone, we welcomed an additional 23,000 Indian workers into our workforce. Their talent is a valuable contribution to our economy.” He also outlined plans to simplify the visa process through digitalisation, quicker processing, and more user-friendly systems.
However, Scholz emphasized Germany’s intention to reduce the number of migrants who do not qualify as skilled workers. “We are taking steps to curb irregular migration and ensure the return of those who have no legal right to stay in Germany. While we welcome skilled workers, we retain the authority to decide who enters,” he said.
In addition to visa and migration reforms, Germany is actively working toward finalizing a free trade agreement between India and the European Union, a process that resumed in June 2022 after an eight-year hiatus.
Scholz also underscored the importance of enhancing cooperation in defence and technology between the two nations. “We aim to deepen our defence collaboration and bring our militaries into closer coordination,” he remarked.
Modi and Scholz are scheduled to co-chair the seventh Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) at Hyderabad House later today, where further bilateral agreements are expected to be discussed.
