The hospitality sector pushes for immigration easement for individuals with fewer professional qualifications
In the heart of Germany, the hospitality industry is grappling with a persistent staff shortage, leading to shortened opening hours in tourist areas and a strain on businesses. The Hospitality Association (Dehoga) is advocating for simplified immigration of low-skilled workers to alleviate this issue.
According to the Dehoga spokesperson, the hospitality industry relies on motivated and service-oriented workers from abroad. However, incentives for social benefits instead of employment prevent many from starting and staying in work. The spokesperson criticised that far too few refugees and newcomers already living in Germany are employed.
In an effort to facilitate legal immigration, Germany has been emphasising the simplification and digitalization of migration management. Since early 2025, national visas (which include work visas) can be applied for fully online via the "Auslandsportal," improving application quality and reducing rejection rates. The abolition of the remonstration procedure for visa refusals aims to make visa processing faster, potentially benefiting low-skilled workers by shortening wait times for work authorization decisions.
Experts recommend adequate staffing and digital infrastructure at authorities to handle applications more efficiently, and suggest the use of mentoring programs to support migrants in navigating the process. The Expert Council on Integration and Migration prefers to enhance the effectiveness of existing laws rather than passing constant new legislation, which may indirectly aid sectors like hospitality that rely on low-skilled migrants.
However, there are no specific new laws solely targeting simplified immigration for low-skilled workers in the hospitality sector as of mid-2025. The current rules, such as those for applicants from the Western Balkans, are not sufficient for this, according to the Dehoga spokesperson.
Deutsche Bahn views immigration as a solution to the staff shortage issue, finding every hire for operational jobs important. The personnel director of Deutsche Post, Thomas Ogilvie, advocates for targeted employment migration, including for basic jobs, to address the increasing labor and skilled worker shortage in Germany. If a foreign applicant has a proper employment contract based on professional experience or hospitality skills and can support themselves, they should be able to work in Germany, according to the Dehoga spokesperson.
In summary, Germany in 2025 is improving migration procedures mostly by digitization and bureaucratic streamlining rather than adopting specific new policies simplifying immigration specifically for low-skilled hospitality workers. The hospitality sector may benefit indirectly from these administrative enhancements. Despite the progress, the industry continues to advocate for dedicated pathways to attract and retain the workforce it needs to thrive.
- The hospitality industry in Germany, as stated by the Dehoga spokesperson, relies on motivated and service-oriented workers from abroad, but current incentives for social benefits instead of employment hinder many potential workers.
- In hopes of easing immigration for low-skilled workers, Germany has digitized parts of its migration management, with national visas (including work visas) now able to be applied for online since early 2025.
- Despite these improvements in migration management, the hospitality sector in Germany, as of mid-2025, lacks specific new laws simplifying immigration for low-skilled workers in the sector, according to the Dehoga spokesperson.
