Germany has launched a new online platform designed to simplify the visa application process for individuals seeking to work, study, or join family members in the country.

The digital portal, hailed by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock as “a real administrative revolution,” became operational on January 1, 2025.

Accessible globally, the portal allows applicants to select from 28 categories of national visas and is available to all 167 German visa offices worldwide.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to modernise the immigration process and address Germany’s pressing shortage of skilled workers.

“Every year, Germany is short of at least 400,000 skilled workers,” Baerbock noted.

“At times like these, we cannot afford to downright put the best off coming here to roll up their sleeves because of long paper application forms and even longer waiting periods.”

The Foreign Minister emphasised the importance of a digital-first approach, stating that Germany, as an immigration nation, requires “a national visa process that is state-of-the-art — modern, digital, and secure.”

This reform aims to mitigate the challenges migrants often face with German bureaucracy, providing a streamlined and efficient alternative to traditional paper-based systems.

By simplifying visa access, Germany hopes to attract skilled workers and ensure a more inclusive and responsive immigration system in line with modern demands.