Germany Blue Card

Residence permit for people with a university degree (or equivalent three-year tertiary qualification) and a qualified job of at least six months paying at least 50% of the pension-insurance contribution ceiling. A lower salary threshold applies to listed shortage occupations (ISCO groups 132, 133, 134, 21, 221, 222, 225, 226, 23, 25) and to degrees obtained within three years, with Federal Employment Agency approval. Section 18g(2) separately admits IT and communications managers and ICT professionals (ISCO 133 and 25) without a degree on three years of experience gained in the last seven years. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7}

What you must show and pay

• Income of at least EUR 50,700 a year (≈ $56,600) · General Blue Card minimum for 2026 (50% of the annual pension-insurance contribution ceiling), section 18g(1) sentence 1. ^{2 1}
• Income of at least EUR 45,934.2 a year (≈ $51,300) · Reduced 2026 minimum (45.3% of the ceiling) for ISCO groups 132, 133, 134, 21, 221, 222, 225, 226, 23 and 25, or for a degree obtained not more than three years before applying; requires Federal Employment Agency approval. ^{2 1}
• Income of at least EUR 45,934.2 a year (≈ $51,300) · Same 2026 reduced minimum (45.3% of the ceiling) for the no-degree route under section 18g(2): ISCO 133 or 25 with at least three years of relevant experience gained in the last seven years and skills comparable to a degree; requires Federal Employment Agency approval. ^{2 1}
• A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110) · Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity. ⁸
• A fee of EUR 75 (≈ $84) · Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries. ⁹

Requirements

• The applicant is a third-country national. ^{1 2 3}
• A university degree, or an equivalent tertiary programme of at least three years, recognised in Germany. ^{1 3}
• A concrete qualified job offer of at least six months in a role appropriate to the qualification. ^{1 3}
• The no-degree route under section 18g(2) covers IT and communications managers and ICT professionals (ISCO 133 and 25). ^{1 2 3}
• The no-degree route needs at least three years of relevant experience gained in the last seven years, with skills comparable to a degree. ^{2 1}
• Minimum gross salary for 2026: EUR50,700 (≈ $56,600) per year (50% of the pension-insurance contribution ceiling). ^{2 1}
• Reduced minimum: EUR45,934.20 (≈ $51,300) per year (45.3% of the ceiling). ^{2 1}
• The reduced minimum applies to ISCO groups 132, 133, 134, 21, 221, 222, 225, 226, 23 and 25, or to a degree obtained not more than three years before applying. ^{2 1}
• The reduced minimum also applies to the no-degree route under section 18g(2). ^{2 1}
• A professional licence, where the occupation is regulated, must have been granted or promised. ³
• Federal Employment Agency approval is not needed for the general salary threshold. ¹
• Federal Employment Agency approval is needed for the reduced threshold and the section 18g(2) route. ¹
• Job changes need no permit from the foreigners authority. ¹
• During the first twelve months the authority can suspend a change for 30 days and refuse it if the Blue Card conditions are not met. ¹

Stay

• Issued for four years, or for the length of the employment contract plus six months if that is shorter (never more than four years).
• First stay: up to 48 months, decided case by case.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Work

Employment in a role appropriate to the qualification; a job change needs no permission from the immigration office, but in the first twelve months the office can suspend the change for 30 days and refuse it if the Blue Card conditions are not met.

Family

The spouse can join without a waiting period and without German-language proof; minor unmarried children can join under section 32. Your spouse or partner may work in Germany without a separate permit.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

1. AufenthG section 18g Blue Card EU · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-10
2. Notice on section 18g AufenthG: minimum salaries for the Blue Card EU 2026 (BAnz AT 18.12.2025 B3) · Federal Ministry of the Interior · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2025-12-18
3. AufenthG section 18: principles of skilled-worker immigration, job offer, approval and four-year term · Federal Ministry of Justice (Gesetze im Internet) · checked 2026-10-10
4. AufenthG § 4a Zugang zur Erwerbstätigkeit · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
5. AufenthG § 30 Ehegattennachzug · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
6. Family reunification with third-country nationals (Nachzug zu Drittstaatsangehörigen) · Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) · checked 2026-10-12
7. AufenthG § 29 Familiennachzug zu Ausländern · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
8. Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 45: fees for the residence permit, Blue Card EU and ICT card · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
9. Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 46: fees for the visa · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
10. AufenthG section 18c: settlement permit for skilled workers and Blue Card holders · Federal Ministry of Justice (Gesetze im Internet) · checked 2026-10-10
11. Nationality Act (StAG) section 10: naturalisation after lawful residence · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
12. Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) section 41: privileged nationals who may obtain the residence title after entry · Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de · checked 2026-10-12
13. AufenthG section 51: expiry of residence titles · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11