Work tool
Are you eligible for a Blue Card?
Your salary, degree, job offer, and field determine whether you qualify on the standard or shortage-occupation track. 2026 thresholds.
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Step 1 of 7, What's your highest degree?
What's your highest degree?
Pick the option that matches your German credential recognition.
See your full Germany plan
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Frequently asked questions
What's the EU Blue Card salary threshold for Germany in 2026?
Effective 1 January 2026, the general track requires a gross annual salary of at least 50,700 EUR. The shortage-occupation track, the young-professional track (less than 3 years since degree), and the IT-without-degree track all use a lower threshold of 45,934.20 EUR per year. The figures rose about 5 percent from 2025; they are tied to 50 percent of the pension contribution ceiling and adjust annually via the Sozialversicherungs-Rechengroessenverordnung.
What counts as a shortage occupation (Mangelberufe)?
The official 2026 list (linked from Make-it-in-Germany) covers academic STEM professionals, ICT service managers, medical doctors, veterinarians, dentists, pharmacists, academic and comparable nursing and midwifery professionals, school and out-of-school teachers, and architecture / spatial-planning / transport-planning academics. Shortage occupations qualify with the lower 45,934.20 EUR threshold AND require Bundesagentur fuer Arbeit (BA) approval. Add 4 to 6 weeks to your timeline.
I'm an IT specialist without a formal university degree. Can I still get a Blue Card?
Yes. The Skilled Immigration Act 2024 reform created an IT-no-degree path: at least 3 years of university-level IT experience within the past 7 years substitutes for a formal degree, with the lower 45,934.20 EUR salary threshold. BA approval is required. You'll need to document the experience with employer references showing university-level responsibilities (architecture, design, technical leadership, not just operations).
Do I need a job offer before applying?
Yes. Blue Card requires a concrete employment contract for at least 6 months in Germany before you can apply for the visa. The contract must specify the qualifying salary. If you don't have an offer yet, the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) gives you a 12-month job-search permit on a points system; once you find a qualifying job, you switch to a Blue Card.
How does this compare to a regular work visa?
The Blue Card under Section 18g AufenthG is faster and gives you a path to permanent residency in 27 months (or 21 months with B1 German). The standard skilled-worker visa under Section 18b is for cases where the salary threshold isn't met but a recognised qualification + a job offer in the qualified field exist. Choose the Blue Card whenever both options are available; it's strictly better for relocation timelines and PR speed.
What documents will I need for the visa appointment?
At minimum: passport with at least 6 months validity; signed employment contract specifying the qualifying salary; degree certificate plus translation; Anabin printout proving recognition (or for IT-no-degree: 3+ year experience letters); health insurance coverage for the start date; biometric photos; visa application fee (75 to 100 EUR depending on the consulate); proof of accommodation in Germany. Shortage-track and young-professional applicants also need the BA approval document, which the prospective employer triggers in advance.