Excessive bureaucracy and a lack of support – these are among the most common reasons why immigrants leave Germany. This is the finding of a study published by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB). Most leave for family reasons.
The study was based on two surveys of immigrants carried out between December 2024 and April 2025, and between November 2025 and February 2026. According to the findings, almost one in two of those who emigrated from Germany had already expressed plans to leave in the first survey, whilst a further 18 per cent had merely considered leaving. In total, almost 3 per cent of those surveyed (an estimated 260,000 people) actually left Germany, according to the institute.
Bureaucracy as a reason for emigration
32 per cent of those who emigrated cited cumbersome bureaucratic processes as the reason for leaving Germany. In particular, emigrants frequently criticised insufficient responses to queries, the length of procedures and associated fees, as well as unclear procedures in bureaucratic processes, the IAB stated in its press release.
Half of the emigrants would have liked more support from the Federal Employment Agency or the Jobcentre, from local advice centres or from their employer.
Poorer prospects on the labour market
Those who had left the country rated the labour market prospects for foreign nationals as poor, the report added. To counteract the shortage of skilled workers, prospects for remaining in the country must be specifically strengthened, said Yuliya Kosyakova of the IAB. To this end, it is important to identify at an early stage who is considering leaving – given the decline in immigration.
Further information and sources:
https://iab.de/presseinfo/ein-drittel-der-abgewanderten-nennt-buerokratie-als-abwanderungsgrund/
https://doku.iab.de/kurzber/2026/kb2026-10.pdf
https://tuenews.de/nach-deutschland-kommen-weniger-gefluechtete/
https://tuenews.de/ohne-zuwanderung-zu-wenig-arbeitskrafte-in-deutschland/
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