Germany is currently grappling with a record-high worker shortage, prompting an increasing number of companies to seek employees from abroad. However, these international workers often encounter lengthy application processing times and visa restrictions, which appear counterproductive in the broader context. The German Start-Up Association echoes this concern, urging the government to simplify these processes and eliminate bureaucratic hurdles. According to the German Start-Up Monitor 2024, a survey of 1,859 start-ups in Germany, only 17 percent of companies are satisfied with the current restrictions surrounding hiring from abroad. “When it comes to issuing visas, the German system must be better digitized, faster, and less complicated,” states association representative Magdalena Oehl. In recent years, Germany—particularly Berlin—has experienced a start-up boom, with nearly half of all employees at Berlin start-ups being non-EU citizens as of 2018. This further underscores the Association’s call for a more streamlined and welcoming approach to immigration for skilled workers.