German Government Introduce Legislation To Make Esports Visas Easier
NUERBURG, GERMANY – JUNE 22: General view inside the arena during the Nations Cup Final during the Gran Turismo 2019 World Tour event at Nuerburgring on June 22, 2019 in Nuerburg, Germany. (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images for Gran Turismo)
The German Esports Federation (ESBD) is supporting a draft legislation that could make it easier for esports pros to move to the country. In a press release, the ESBD said the potential law would apply the same rules traditional sports uses for immigration to esports.
“The draft of the new regulation is good for the players, teams and the German esports location. International tournaments and leagues hosted in Germany would have a significant advantage”, says ESBD President Hans Jagnow. Visas have been a significant issue in the esports world for years. Its lead to players not being able to participate in major tournaments. In the United States, travel bans instituted by the Trump administration in 2017 were a factor in moving Dota 2’s “The International” tournament out of Seattle. It was the first time the event was held outside of the US since its inception in 2013.
If accepted the law would go into effect in 2020. Jagnow also says that the law is in preparation for any pending Brexit issues UK esports athletes would have immigrating to Germany.
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