Reforms that work? The implementation of current migration and integration laws
Annual Report 2025
The SVR Annual Report Summary 2025 can be downloaded here.
The press release can be downloaded here.
The ten core messages of the Anual Report can be downloaded here.
Migration and integration policy is subject to particularly high expectations from businesses and from society as a whole. This means that politicians are under pressure to act. Numerous changes have been instigated in recent years. New laws and regulations are intended to ensure easier access to skilled worker immigration and easier labour market integration. But how is this legislation being implemented in practice? Have the intended effects materialised?
In its Annual Report 2025, the Expert Council on Integration and Migration (SVR) examines some of the most recent reforms, while also undertaking a fundamental analysis of what is needed in practice for their successful implementation. The SVR’s recommendations for action based on this analysis may be helpful for future legislation.
For laws to work, they must be implemented effectively
The legislative reforms passed in rapid succession over the past few years have placed additional demands on an administration that is already heavily burdened. The implementation of laws and regulations often cannot keep up with the pace of legislation. What is needed here is the courage to simplify. Germany does not need more and more laws, but more effective implementation.
Too little has been invested in infrastructure, staffing and administrative efficiency over the years, and many authorities are now finding it difficult to cope. Digitalisation is making slow progress, workflows are over-regulated and often take too long, and there is a lack of adequately trained staff. The goal should therefore be to reduce bureaucracy, increase digitalisation, speed up procedures, optimise federally-organised structures and bundle responsibilities.
Speed is not everything – “Praxischecks” help to improve effectivity
Speed is not everything. In order for laws to be implemented effectively, good preparation is needed that includes planning for their future implementation. The SVR recommends a “Praxischeck” (literally: practice check): if the administrators tasked with implementing the law and the groups who will be most affected by it are involved in the legislative process at an early stage, it can be ensured that laws and regulations will have the intended effects and that there are no unintended consequences or unwanted side effects.
Ultimately, reforms in the area of migration and integration policy directly influence the future prospects of immigrants: their opportunities to work here, to participate politically and socially and to obtain permanent residence status. Trust in state institutions is also more likely if citizens see that such institutions are able to successfully manage migration and promote integration.
Facilitate skilled worker immigration, relieve the authorities
A new, central criterion for facilitating the immigration of skilled workers is the recognition of professional experience gained abroad. This poses challenges for the authorities. The SVR therefore recommends easing the burden on government agencies in this regard and increasing the responsibility of potential employers. This would allow businesses to independently assess the professional experience of foreign skilled workers, provided they have undergone a specific accreditation procedure or have previously demonstrated that they are reputable employers. This would make it easier for the state to scrutinise job offers. Government advice on recruiting foreign skilled workers should focus on small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) that do not have their own HR departments or enough money to employ external services. The situation is different for employees who want to come from abroad to work in Germany; in the opinion of the SVR, state-funded advisory services (of which there are already well-established examples) are necessary for this target group.
Job Turbo and labour market integration: enable refugees to enter the labour market more quickly
The “Job Turbo” programme, launched in October 2023, was designed to get (particularly Ukrainian) refugees into work more quickly. The programme has provided a more flexible approach, making it easier for refugees to enter employment even with limited language skills, and also offers opportunities for post-qualification. The SVR sees both of these outcomes as fundamentally positive. At the same time, the previous ‘language first’ approach has proved its worth in Germany, enabling people to find higher-quality employment in the long term. It should therefore not be completely abandoned.
In order to ensure sustainable labour market integration, refugees should take on jobs in the occupational field of their original qualification from the outset if possible. As a next step, the SVR therefore recommends developing programmes for refugees with a built-in, systematic progression from temporary, unqualified jobs to jobs at expert or specialist level via in-service post-qualification.
Naturalisation: digitalise procedures more, provide mentors and speed up procedures
The reform of the Citizenship Act, which was passed at the beginning of 2024 and came into force in the middle of that year, has helped to remove some barriers to naturalisation, partly through its reduction of the minimum period of residence and its general acceptance in principle of multiple citizenship. Although the demand for naturalisation has increased since the reform, staff shortages, slow digitalisation and the complex legal situation are causing a backlog in processing applications at the naturalisation authorities, and long waiting times for those wishing to naturalise. The SVR therefore considers that adjustments to the Act’s implementation are needed.
Centralising responsibilities at state level, for example, can help to alleviate the strain on authorities and streamline procedures. In addition to collective information services for those interested in naturalisation, community-based mentoring projects have proved a valuable asset; some federal states are implementing these already.
