Getty Angela Merkel opened Germany's borders to 1.1million migrants last year

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The Social Democratic Party (SDP), one half of the country’s coalition government, is calling for new immigration laws “similar to the Canadian model”. Criteria will include qualifications, language skills and proof of a job and age. Leader Thomas Oppermann presented the key points of the plan before putting forward a draft bill on immigration law this week. He is confident the new law will be passed by both his party and Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) before the Bundestag elections next year.

We do not want immigration in the social system SDP

Mr Oppermann said the German parliament should decide how many are allowed to come to Germany every year. He added: “This way 25,000 immigrants would come to Germany in the first year. “The number is then to be redefined every year, according to the needs of the German job market.”

Getty Thomas Oppermann, leader of the SDP, has put forward the points-based immigration system

Under the plan, those who have a job offer from a company in Germany will receive a three-year visa. Mr Oppermann, said: “Those who have a job offer from Germany receive a visa for three years. "If everything goes well, it will be extended for an indefinite period of time afterwards. “Those who do not have a job but are highly qualified will get a visa for one year. “If they don't find a job during the time, they have to leave again.”

According to the draft, the system would only allow immigrants to bring their families with them if their earning prospects would allow them to support their family. Immigrants would not be allowed to claim benefits or any perks in the first five years, “unless they have made sufficient contributions”, a spokesman for the SPD said. He added: "Those who earn enough to support the family are also allowed to bring their spouses and children with them. But only then. “We do not want immigration in the social system.”

Getty Mrs Merkel's open-door migrant policy has led to a rise in far-right politics

Getty Mrs Merkel visited an immigration processing centre today, where staff are struggling with numbers

Annual quotas according to the job market’s needs would also be imposed. Politicians said anybody wanting to emigrate to Germany would know what the requirements are with plenty of warning in order for them to maximise their points position. The SDP said asylum rights should remain unaffected.

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The plans come as a shock to many global leaders as Mrs Merkel led an open-door policy last year which meant 1.1million migrants entered the country. Germany and its citizens struggled to cope with the influx which has led to a rise in far-right political support. During the G20 summit in September, Theresa May quashed any hopes Britain could have a points-based immigration system. Her decision was unpopular among Brexit supporters, as the idea was central to the Vote Leave campaign’s argument to leave the European Union (EU)