The German Esports Federation (eSport-Bund Deutschland, ESBD), together with the German Games Industry Association, have announced the first esports tournaments and leagues, participants of which will benefit from a simplified visa application process in order to get permanent residence in Germany.
However, in order to take advantage of such a process, esports players must meet some requirements imposed by the federal government in the Ordinance of the Employment of Foreigners:
- They must be 16 years old or above,
- Their agreed salary must be at least 50 per cent of the contribution assessment of Germany’s statutory pension scheme (in 2021: at least €3,550 per month or €3,350 per month or €40,200 per year in Eastern Germany and €42,600 per year in Western Germany),
- The ESBD must have confirmed that they will participate in esports professionally and that their participation has national or international relevance.
“The newly facilitated visa issuing procedures for professional esports players will benefit the country’s long-term development in this arena. Game and the ESBD have campaigned collaboratively for this political success. Now promoters and esports players must take advantage of the new opportunity,” Managing Director of game, Felix Falk, pointed out.
According to the ESBD president Daniel Luther, the visa represents an important step towards easing restrictions for professional esports.
“The previous burdensome process will now be a thing of the past. We’re thrilled that organized esports is advocating jointly for an improved policy framework,” Luther pointed out.
Among competitions that have qualified under the German Ordinance on the Employment of Foreigners (Beschäftigungsverordnung) are international leagues like the League of Legends European Championship arranged by Riot Games and 99Damage Liga from Freaks 4U Gaming and tournaments like the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne from ESL Gaming, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Some…