With German companies still struggling to plug skills gaps, the Bundesrat today published the final text of a resolution adopted at its 6 March plenary that calls on the federal government to remove bureaucratic hurdles faced by non-EU trainees who want to stay and work after completing Ausbildung programmes. The resolution (Drucksache 35/26) points out that the required switch from a training residence permit (§16a AufenthG) to a skilled-worker permit (§18a) often takes weeks, leaving employers unable to issue contracts and pushing graduates to look for jobs abroad.
![Bundesrat urges fast-track residence permit for graduates of German vocational training]()
For companies and trainees navigating these shifting rules, VisaHQ’s Germany portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) offers up-to-date guidance on residence permits, document checklists and application timelines, streamlining the administrative workload for HR teams and international apprentices alike.
The Länder demand a statutory “automatic purpose change” that would confer full work authorisation immediately upon passing final exams, valid at least until a decision on the new permit is made. They want the reform in place before the 2026/27 training year starts in August, arguing that every cohort lost to red tape undermines the government’s Fachkräftestrategie. If Berlin acts, about 20 000 third-country nationals finishing apprenticeships each year could move seamlessly into regular employment, saving HR departments the cost of interim agency contracts or relocation to other EU states with more straightforward rules (for example, Portugal’s job-search visa). Stakeholder groups including the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and the German Trade Union Confederation support the proposal, saying it would align immigration law with labour-market realities. The Interior Ministry has acknowledged the Bundesrat’s request and is reportedly drafting a short bill that could be added to the Skilled Immigration Act amendment currently before parliament. Mobility managers should monitor the legislative calendar closely—once adopted, the change would simplify hiring timelines but also increase competition for newly qualified talent.
For companies and trainees navigating these shifting rules, VisaHQ’s Germany portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) offers up-to-date guidance on residence permits, document checklists and application timelines, streamlining the administrative workload for HR teams and international apprentices alike.
The Länder demand a statutory “automatic purpose change” that would confer full work authorisation immediately upon passing final exams, valid at least until a decision on the new permit is made. They want the reform in place before the 2026/27 training year starts in August, arguing that every cohort lost to red tape undermines the government’s Fachkräftestrategie. If Berlin acts, about 20 000 third-country nationals finishing apprenticeships each year could move seamlessly into regular employment, saving HR departments the cost of interim agency contracts or relocation to other EU states with more straightforward rules (for example, Portugal’s job-search visa). Stakeholder groups including the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and the German Trade Union Confederation support the proposal, saying it would align immigration law with labour-market realities. The Interior Ministry has acknowledged the Bundesrat’s request and is reportedly drafting a short bill that could be added to the Skilled Immigration Act amendment currently before parliament. Mobility managers should monitor the legislative calendar closely—once adopted, the change would simplify hiring timelines but also increase competition for newly qualified talent.
