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On March 1, 2024, further new changes to the amendment of the Skilled Immigration Act (FEG) come into force.

WIESBADEN – In the whole of Germany, a total of 7,458 professional qualifications acquired in a foreign country were in 2012 recognised as being fully or partially equivalent to the relevant qualifications acquired in Germany.

Compared to 2008, the number of EU foreigners in Germany has doubled. Most immigrants came from Southern and Eastern Europe. The immigrants represent a great potential for the German economy. The BQ-Portal offers comprehensive information on foreign vocational qualifications and thus creates greater acceptance for foreign credentials.

The IQ Competence Centre for Counselling and Job Training of Migrants in cooperation with the IQ Competence Centre for Securing Skill Base supports the implementation of § 17a of the German Residence Act with a new guideline in English. This guide, which was originally published in German, aims to provide all relevant stakeholders with a practical, easy-to-understand summary of the main steps, players and requirements involved in the procedures around Section 17a of the German Residence Act.

On 30 November, the German Government agreed its key points on the immigration of skilled workers from third countries. It thus paves the way for the most modern immigration law Germany has ever had. The key points provide for facilitating immigration firstly for skilled workers with recognised foreign vocational qualifications, secondly for skilled workers with proven professional experience, and thirdly by introducing an opportunity card for job-seeking.

What is the BQ-Portal about and why is it so important for the professional recognition? Who is responsible for assessing foreign credentials in Germany? In what way does the BQ-Portal assist competent bodies and companies in assessing foreign professional qualifications? How can competent bodies and companies use the BQ-Portal? What information can they find in the BQ-Portal? The new BQ-Portal explainity video answers all these questions.

On 11 January 2013, policy makers and representatives from chambers of commerce, companies, public authorities and migrants’ associations came together for a conference entitled “Skilled workers – Transparency – Respect: tapping the domestic pool of skills” at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) in Berlin. The participants discussed new approaches to assessing and recognising foreign qualifications and exchanged their experiences.