EU Blue Card Germany: Requirements & Salary Thresholds
The EU Blue Card is the fastest legal route for many skilled non-EU workers to live and work in Germany — and to eventually settle permanently. Here's who qualifies, how the salary threshold works, and why you shouldn't trust an old number for it.
Who qualifies
- A recognized university degree — comparable to a German degree, or (specifically for IT roles) at least 3 years of relevant professional experience in the last 7 years without a formal degree
- A binding job offer or employment contract in Germany matching your qualification
- A gross annual salary meeting the current threshold — see below
The salary threshold — why we won't quote you a number
Germany sets two Blue Card salary thresholds each year: a general threshold and a lower threshold for shortage occupations (which typically includes IT specialists, engineers, doctors, and other in-demand professions). Both figures are revised annually, and the underlying rules have been changed materially by recent skilled-immigration reforms — including who counts as a "shortage occupation."
Any specific euro figure printed in an article — including this one, if we'd included one — is liable to be stale within months. Check the current threshold directly with the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) or the "Make it in Germany" government portal before making a decision based on it.
Why the Blue Card is worth pursuing
- Faster settlement permit — a reduced qualifying period compared to a standard German work visa, shortened further with German language proficiency
- Family reunification — generally simpler and faster than under other visa categories, without the family needing to prove German language skills in some cases
- EU mobility — after holding a Blue Card, moving to work in another EU Blue Card country can be more straightforward
Questions people actually ask
What is the EU Blue Card?
The EU Blue Card is a work-and-residence permit for non-EU nationals with a recognized university degree (or, in Germany, equivalent professional experience in IT) who have a binding job offer meeting a minimum salary threshold. It offers faster access to permanent residency and easier family reunification than a standard work visa.
What is the Blue Card salary threshold in Germany?
Germany sets two annual gross salary thresholds — a general one and a lower one for shortage occupations (including IT, engineering, and healthcare) — and both are revised each year. Always check the current figures directly rather than relying on a number from an older article, since they change annually and have changed materially in recent reforms.
How fast can I get permanent residency with a Blue Card?
Blue Card holders in Germany can typically apply for a settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) after a reduced period compared to standard work visas, and even sooner with adequate German language proficiency (B1) — check current timelines with the Ausländerbehörde or an immigration lawyer, as exact periods have shifted with recent skilled-worker immigration reforms.
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