Key takeaway: Indian citizens are third-country nationals and generally apply for a visa at the German mission before travelling to work in Germany. The route depends on the qualification and the job offer. The Federal Employment Agency approves the job in many cases, but not for the regular EU Blue Card.

Who needs a visa

Persons who are not citizens of an EU or EFTA state are called third-country nationals. Indian citizens are in this group. Third-country nationals generally need a residence permit to live and work in Germany. As a rule, they must apply for a visa at the competent German embassy or consulate before entering the country to take up employment. The responsible mission is generally based on place of residence. A short list of nationalities can enter without a visa and apply for the residence permit at the immigration office. India is not on that list: it names Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. With a national visa (D visa) you can usually start working immediately after you enter.

Federal Employment Agency (ZAV): Labor market admission, general requirements

Skilled-worker permit (Sections 18a and 18b)

Section 18a is for specialists who have completed vocational training. Section 18b is for specialists with a university degree. Vocational training must be completed in Germany or fully recognised there, and the training must last at least two years in total. A foreign university degree must be comparable to a German one. If the degree or university cannot be found in the anabin database, you apply to the ZAB for a statement of comparability. A regulated profession needs a licence to practise in addition to recognition. Both permits also need a concrete job offer from a German employer for a qualified position. As a general rule, the Federal Employment Agency must approve the employment.

Federal Employment Agency (ZAV): Access to the labor market for specialists (Sections 18a and 18b)

If you are 45 or older

Anyone aged 45 or older who enters Germany for the first time to work must, as a general rule, earn a gross annual salary of at least €55,770 (as of 2026) under these two permits. If the salary is lower, you can prove an adequate retirement plan instead. The German mission abroad checks this under Sections 18a and 18b. The Federal Employment Agency states this rule for the Section 18a and 18b permits.

Federal Employment Agency (ZAV): Access to the labor market for specialists (Sections 18a and 18b)

EU Blue Card (Section 18g)

The EU Blue Card needs a German degree or a foreign degree comparable to a German one. It also needs a concrete job offer from a German employer for at least six months. For the regular card, the minimum gross annual salary is €50,700 in 2026, and approval from the Federal Employment Agency is not required. A lower amount of €45,934.20 in 2026 applies to shortage occupations and to new entrants whose degree was obtained no more than three years before the application; approval from the Federal Employment Agency is required in that case. IT professionals can also apply without a formal vocational qualification if they hold a qualified academic-level IT position and have at least three years of relevant experience at that level within the past seven years. They need a gross salary of at least €45,934.20 in 2026 and the agency’s approval. An IT job title alone does not meet these conditions.

Federal Employment Agency (ZAV): EU Blue Card (Section 18g)

Without a job offer: the Opportunity Card

The Opportunity Card (Section 20a) lets you enter Germany to look for work. It is first issued for up to one year. You must show sufficient funds for the stay; the monthly standard is €1,091 (as of 2026). Skilled workers can receive it without additional requirements. Other applicants must show a professional qualification, German at least A1 or English at least B2, and at least six points in the points system. The Job Search Opportunity Card does not need approval from the Federal Employment Agency. If you already have a concrete qualified job offer, the permits above are routes for taking up that job.

Federal Employment Agency (ZAV): Opportunity Card (Section 20a) Federal Employment Agency (ZAV): Access to the labor market for specialists (Sections 18a and 18b) Federal Employment Agency (ZAV): EU Blue Card (Section 18g)

The visa process and after arrival

For some jobs the Federal Employment Agency must approve the employment. The embassy requests this internally. The employer can ask the agency for a preliminary check before the visa application, which is meant to speed up the visa process. A visa for work is normally converted into a residence permit after arrival. Contact the immigration office well before the visa expires.

Federal Employment Agency (ZAV): Labor market admission, general requirements

Questions before acting

Does every employment route require €50,700?

No. €50,700 is the 2026 minimum gross annual salary for the regular EU Blue Card. The lower Blue Card amount is €45,934.20 in 2026. Applicants aged 45 or older under Section 18a or 18b face a separate check: €55,770 (as of 2026) or an adequate retirement plan.

Must I first get an Opportunity Card?

No. The Opportunity Card is a way to enter Germany to look for work. With a concrete qualified job offer you can apply for an EU Blue Card or a skilled-worker permit instead.

Does the Federal Employment Agency always have to approve the job?

Not always. As a general rule it must approve employment for the skilled-worker permits. It is not required for the regular EU Blue Card, but it is required for the lower-salary Blue Card.

Corrections in this revision

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About the author

António Mira is the founder of whereTOemigrate. For over a decade he has worked at the intersection of Portuguese real estate and overseas business, helping international clients navigate the cross-border decisions that come with relocating. He sits on the board of CCIAP (Portuguese-Arab Chamber of Commerce), the Portuguese-Saudi Business Council, and the Portugal-Hong Kong Business Association — always with one focus: enabling overseas business and human mobility into and out of Portugal.

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