What the Blue Card is
The EU Blue Card is a national residence title for qualifying highly skilled employment. Each participating country applies its own conditions. The salary and settlement examples on this page concern Germany.
Germany’s salary thresholds in 2026
| Case | Threshold | Conditions to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | €50,700 gross/year | Qualifying qualification and corresponding job offer. |
| Reduced threshold | €45,934.20 gross/year | Listed shortage occupation, or qualifying degree obtained no more than three years before application; Federal Employment Agency approval. |
| IT experience without formal qualification | €45,934.20 gross/year | At least three years of relevant IT experience at academic level in the past seven years; qualifying offer and agency approval. |
These amounts are annual gross salaries for Germany in 2026. Agency review of employment conditions can require a salary above the stated minimum.
Qualification and job offer
Germany requires a qualifying degree or comparable tertiary qualification and a job that corresponds to the qualification. The offer must cover at least six months. A regulated profession also requires the relevant licence to practise. The IT-experience exception has its own conditions; a general freelance or remote-work arrangement is not the same application.
German settlement: 27 months with A1, 21 with B1
A German EU Blue Card holder can qualify for the national settlement permit after 27 months of qualifying employment with A1 German, or 21 months with B1. Pension contributions or comparable provision for the required period and the other statutory conditions still apply, including secure livelihood, authorised employment, public-order requirements, basic knowledge of Germany’s legal and social system, and adequate housing. This national settlement permit is distinct from permanent EU residence status; the German timeline is not a universal EU rule.
What to prepare next
Confirm the job offer, gross annual salary, qualification/recognition and any professional licence. If using the reduced threshold, identify the exact qualifying condition and required agency approval. Check the competent mission or foreigners authority for your application procedure, fee and appointment availability.
Frequently asked questions
What salary does Germany require in 2026?
At least €50,700 gross per year in the standard case. The €45,934.20 reduced threshold applies to listed shortage occupations or qualifying recent graduates with Federal Employment Agency approval; a separate IT-experience exception also has conditions. These are German 2026 amounts.
Who can use the reduced salary threshold?
Listed shortage occupations and applicants whose qualifying degree was obtained no more than three years before applying can use €45,934.20 gross per year in 2026 with Federal Employment Agency approval. IT specialists without a formal qualification need at least three years of relevant academic-level IT experience in the past seven years, a qualifying offer and agency approval.
Does a Blue Card automatically give permanent residence?
No. Germany’s national settlement permit can be available after 27 qualifying months with A1 German, or 21 with B1, subject to pension contributions or comparable benefits and the other statutory conditions. This is a German national settlement rule, distinct from permanent EU residence status.
Can I change employer in Germany?
Section 18g(4) does not require prior authority permission for a job change. In the first 12 employment months, the authority can suspend the change for 30 days and refuse it if Blue Card conditions are not met. Confirm notification obligations with the local authority.
Can family members join a Blue Card holder?
Family reunification is possible in Germany subject to the applicable family procedure. Check the relevant national rules and documents rather than assuming identical spouse work or language conditions throughout the EU.
Official sources and review scope
Primary-source check: 4 October 2026 · AI-assisted editorial review for this page. This is not an independent professional opinion.
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