• Immigration in Germany has increased significantly over the past half-century.german flag image by sumos from Fotolia.com
  
  According the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, the number of annual immigrants to Germany has increased from 500,000 in 1950 to 7.3 million in 1996. About 9 percent of people currently living in Germany are immigrants. German immigration law is largely based upon the Immigration Act of 2005, which sought to address the increased immigration numbers Europe is currently facing.
  
  

Visa-free Entry

• Citizens of Switzerland and nations belonging to the European Union and European Economic Area are allowed visa-free entry into Germany. In addition, foreigners who are allowed visa free entry into Europe's Schengen Zone do not need visas to enter Germany for up to a three month stay. This includes U.S. citizens.
  
  

Residence Permit

• A residence permit grants the holder legal permission to live and work in Germany for a limited period of time. These permits are granted for education, employment and humanitarian purposes, or for reasons of family. Specific restrictions may apply. For instance, the holder of a residence permit might only be permitted to work or settle within a specific region of Germany, or work only in a specific vocation.
  
  

Settlement Permit

• A German settlement permit serves as a less restricted version of the residency permit, permitting holders to settle within any region of Germany and allowing them to take up employment or engage in self-employment.
  
  

Labor Migration

• Germany has strict regulations in place on immigrant labor, with bans in effect for the recruitment of unskilled and low-skilled laborers. However, Germany encourages highly-skilled foreign workers to enter the workforce. For senior positions in academia, research and business management, immigrants do not need approval from the Federal Employment Agency and they do not need to demonstrate that the position cannot be filled by a German citizen. Immigrants can also claim self-employment if they demonstrate that their projects or skills will have a significant and positive economic impact.
  
  

Ethnic German Repatriation

• Germany has special policies in place to grant residency rights and citizenship to ethnic Germans located abroad. These policies specify Germans living in Eastern Europe, and particularly Russia, where ethnic Germans faced discrimination following World War II. These policies also allow for the immigration of non-German spouses and children. As of 2005, such family members must demonstrate basic knowledge of the German language.