The EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU, § 18g AufenthG) is a residence permit for people with a university degree and a qualified job offer above a salary threshold. Compared with the general skilled-worker permit it has a faster route to permanent residence and fewer conditions for your family.
Who qualifies
- A German university degree, or a foreign degree that is recognised or comparable. Check it in anabin or get a ZAB statement of comparability.
- A job offer or contract for qualified work, for at least six months.
- A gross salary of at least €50,700 a year.
- Or at least €45,934.20 if you work in a shortage occupation (such as engineering, IT, natural sciences, medicine and nursing) or you graduated within the last three years.
- IT specialists without a degree can qualify with at least three years of relevant experience from the last seven years, at the lower threshold.
Applying
- 1
Confirm your degree
If anabin lists your degree and your university as H+, print the entries. If not, apply to the ZAB for a statement of comparability. In a Blue Card case the ZAB usually processes it within about 10 working days.
- 2
Sign the contract
The contract has to state the salary and the start date. Your employer fills in a job description form (Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis) for the authorities.
- 3
Apply for the visa
Apply through the Consular Services Portal and attend the embassy appointment. Citizens of the visa-free countries can apply for the Blue Card at the immigration office after arrival.
- 4
Collect the card in Germany
Register your address, then collect the Blue Card from the immigration office. See Your residence permit appointment.
Your family
Your spouse doesn't need to prove any German before joining you, and may work in Germany without a separate permit. Children under 18 can join you too. See Bringing your family.
Permanent residence
With a Blue Card you can apply for a settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) after 27 months of qualified work and pension contributions with basic German (A1), or after 21 months with B1 German. See Permanent residence.
Check before you apply
Look up your degree
The database the authorities use to decide whether a foreign degree is comparable.
Go to anabinBlue Card requirements
The federal portal's page on the Blue Card, including the current shortage-occupation list.
Go to Make it in GermanyCommon questions
Does the threshold change every year?
Yes. It's recalculated each January from the pension contribution ceiling. We update the figures on this page when the new ones are published.
What if my salary is just below the threshold?
You may still qualify for the general skilled worker permit, which has no salary floor if you're under 45.
Can I change employer?
Yes, as long as the new job still meets the Blue Card conditions. In the first 12 months, tell the immigration office before you switch.
Sources
Rules and amounts change. Check the official source before you rely on a figure.