Germany introduced the Opportunity Card (OC), a new point-based immigration procedure, on Saturday. In German, the card is also referred to as "Chancekarte."

An official announcement on the German government website stated that applicants from non-EU nations would be able to enter Germany through the OC without the need for a family sponsorship or employment offer.

German Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, said on Saturday that the new visa scheme was part of the country’s aim to remedy acute shortage of skilled labour in the country.

According to Faeser, “We are ensuring that workers and skilled workers that our economy has urgently needed for years can come to our country.”