economy
February 19, 2026
SERBS, WHAT WILL YOU DO NOW? Germany refused 18,000 workers from the Western Balkans
The Skilled Workers Immigration Act in Germany came into force on March 1, 2020, and since then, additional facilitations have been introduced, as well as employment quotas.
TL;DR
- Germany's Skilled Workers Immigration Act, enacted March 1, 2020, has introduced facilitations and quotas for foreign workers.
- The number of employed foreign workers with residence permits increased from just over 200,000 in 2020 to 420,000 by June 2025.
- The EU Blue Card has become more accessible with reduced income requirements, leading to a 114% increase in cardholders since 2020.
- Digital consultations for potential immigrants have risen sharply, with 360,000 consultations offered by the Federal Employment Agency by the end of 2025.
- A significant portion of foreign workers (over a quarter) come from Western Balkan countries, subject to a special ordinance since 2016.
- The annual quota for work permits from the Western Balkans was doubled to 50,000 in mid-2024, but demand continues to outstrip supply, leading to approximately 18,000 rejected applications in December 2025 due to quota overruns.
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