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Germany EU Blue Card 2026
EU Blue Card (§ 18g AufenthG)
In short
University graduates with a qualified job offer paying at least EUR 50,700 gross a year in 2026, or EUR 45,934.20 in shortage occupations and for graduates of the last three years, can obtain the EU Blue Card. It leads to a settlement permit after 27 months, or 21 months with B1 German.
Apply on Consular Services Portal (Auslandsportal) checked 23 October 2026
Key facts
- Validity
- Up to four years, or the length of the contract plus three months.
- Fee
- €75Visa fee; the Blue Card itself costs EUR 100 in Germany (reduced for Turkish nationals with association rights).
- Funds required
- €50,700 per yearMinimum gross salary in 2026; EUR 45,934.20 for shortage occupations (BA approval needed) and for new entrants who graduated in the last three years. IT specialists without a degree can qualify with three years of experience at the lower threshold.
- Processing time
- Appointment waiting times depend on the mission; after submission the Federal Employment Agency approval adds a few weeks. The accelerated skilled-worker procedure shortens this.
- Work
- The qualified job; changes in the first 12 months must be reported to the foreigners authority.
- Family
- Spouses need no German and may work without restriction; children follow.
- Path to permanent residence
- Settlement permit after 27 months, or 21 months with B1 German.
- Where to apply
- German mission responsible for your place of residence, or online via the Consular Services Portal for categories handled there.
Eligibility
You need a German degree, a recognised foreign degree or one comparable to a German degree, and an employment contract or binding offer for a job that matches a highly qualified profile. IT specialists can qualify without a degree if they have at least three years of relevant professional experience in the last seven years.
Salary thresholds for 2026
The Federal Ministry of the Interior published the 2026 minimum salaries in December 2025: EUR 50,700 gross a year as the standard threshold and EUR 45,934.20 for shortage occupations (such as engineering, IT, medicine, teaching and many technical jobs) and for new entrants who obtained their degree in the last three years. At the lower threshold the Federal Employment Agency must approve the job.
How to apply
Apply for a national visa for the purpose of a Blue Card at the German mission responsible for your place of residence or through the Consular Services Portal. With the standard threshold there is usually no labour-market approval; the visa is then converted into the Blue Card by the foreigners authority after arrival. Employers can use the accelerated procedure (EUR 411) to cut waiting times.
- Check whether your degree or vocational qualification is recognised: university degrees via the anabin database or a ZAB statement of comparability, vocational qualifications through the competent recognition body.
- Book an appointment in the EU Blue Card category as the German mission responsible for your place of residence instructs; for categories processed online you are directed to the Consular Services Portal to file the application and upload documents.
- Attend the appointment with original documents, give fingerprints and pay the EUR 75 visa fee.
- The mission obtains the Federal Employment Agency's approval where needed and the foreigners authority's consent; you are told when the visa can be collected.
- After entry, register your address within two weeks and apply for the residence permit at the foreigners authority before the visa expires.
Settlement and mobility
According to the BAMF, Blue Card holders can get a settlement permit after 27 months of qualified employment with pension contributions and basic German, or after 21 months with B1 German. Holders of a Blue Card from another EU state can move to Germany after 12 months under the EU mobility rules.
Family members
Blue Card holders can bring their spouse without the A1 German requirement, and spouses may work without restriction. Children under 16 follow under simplified conditions.
Documents
Required documents
Identity
- Passport with at least two blank pages, signed, plus copy of the data page
- National visa application (Consular Services Portal) and Section 54 declaration
- Biometric photo, 35 × 45 mm
Work
- Employment contract or binding job offer stating the gross annual salary
- Declaration of employment relationship form
Study
- University diploma with anabin printout or ZAB statement of comparability
Insurance
- Health insurance until employer insurance begins
Other
- CV in table form covering your career
Supporting documents (where they apply)
Work
- IT specialists without a degree: proof of three years of experience in the last seven years
- Licence to practise for regulated professions
Frequently asked questions
What is the Blue Card salary in 2026?
EUR 50,700 gross a year; EUR 45,934.20 in shortage occupations and for graduates of the last three years.
Does my spouse need to speak German?
No. Spouses of Blue Card holders are exempt and can work immediately.
How fast can I get permanent residence?
After 21 months with B1 German, otherwise after 27 months.
Can I get a Blue Card without a degree?
Only as an IT specialist with three years of experience in the last seven years.
Official sources
- Federal Ministry of the Interior – notice of the EU Blue Card minimum salaries for 2026 (Bundesanzeiger, 18 Dec 2025)
- Make it in Germany (Federal Government) – minimum amounts to secure a livelihood by purpose, as of January 2026
- BAMF – EU Blue Card
- Residence Act (AufenthG) § 18g – EU Blue Card
- Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) § 45 – fees for residence permits, Blue Card and ICT Card
- German missions in Türkiye – national visas for Turkish citizens (iDATA, Consular Services Portal, fees)
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for Germany
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Culture, sports and events visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Self-employed and freelancer visa Validity: Up to three years.
Study and training
- Student visa Validity: The visa is usually issued for several months; the residence permit in Germany is normally granted for two years at a time, at least one year, and renewed while studies progress.
- Language course visa Validity: For the length of the course.
- Researcher visa Validity: At least one year, or the length of the research project if shorter.
- Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Up to six months for the EU internship permit
- Au pair visa Maximum stay: Six to twelve months
Work
- Work visa Processing time: Appointment waiting times depend on the mission; after submission the Federal Employment Agency approval adds a few weeks. The accelerated skilled-worker procedure shortens this.
- Skilled worker visa Validity: Up to four years, or the length of the employment contract plus three months if shorter.
- Job seeker visa Maximum stay: Up to one year; a follow-up Opportunity Card of up to two years is possible for a qualified job that does not yet meet another permit.
- Intra-company transfer visa Validity: Length of the transfer, at most three years (one year for trainees).
- Working holiday visa Maximum stay: Up to 12 months, once
Family
- Family reunification visa Validity: Visa for entry; the residence permit is then issued in line with the sponsor's permit.
- Spouse and partner visa Processing time: Same appointment system and waiting times as other family reunification visas at the mission responsible for you.
Residence
- Permanent residence Validity: Unlimited.
Faster processing
- Fast-track and priority visa services Processing time: Recognition authority: decision within two months; Federal Employment Agency: one week; mission: appointment within three weeks and decision usually within three weeks of a complete application.
Protection
- Asylum and international protection Processing time: Regular procedure: six months from the application; accelerated procedure: at most three months; border procedure: at most twelve weeks.