EU Blue Card for Germany: requirements and salary
Most tech workers who move to Germany from outside the EU do so on the EU Blue Card: a residence permit for people with a university degree (or, for IT specialists, proven experience) and a job offer that pays above a yearly salary threshold.
Checked against the official sources below on 2026-10-22. Rules and thresholds change, so confirm on the official page before you apply.
- Minimum salary (2026): €50,700 gross a year
- Shortage occupations and recent graduates: €45,934.20 gross a year
- Contract: Job offer or contract of at least 6 months
- Visa fee: €75
Visa-sponsored jobs in Germany
174 visa-sponsored tech jobs in Germany on The Stack right now, from 29 companies, the latest posted on 2026-10-21. See all visa sponsorship jobs in Germany
Companies sponsoring
- Clera 55
- Plata Card 19
- N26 17
- Scalable GmbH 17
- Zalando 8
- Jobgether 7
- n8n 7
- Wayve 7
Cities
Who qualifies
- A university degree that is recognised in Germany or comparable to a German degree. Regulated professions also need a licence to practise.
- A concrete job offer or employment contract in Germany for at least six months.
- A gross salary of at least €50,700 a year (2026). The lower threshold of €45,934.20 applies to shortage occupations, which include IT and engineering roles, and to people who graduated in the last three years.
- IT specialists without a degree can qualify with at least three years of work experience at an academic level, a job offer as an IT specialist and a salary of at least €45,934.20.
How it works
- Check the requirements, then apply for the entry visa online on the Federal Foreign Office Consular Services Portal, or at the German mission in your country if online applications are not available there.
- Usually the Federal Employment Agency approves the job during the visa process. That approval is not needed when the salary is at least €50,700.
- After you arrive, register your address and apply for the EU Blue Card at the local foreigners authority before your entry visa expires. Fees there can add up to €100.
- Ask your employer about the fast-track procedure for skilled workers, which can shorten the process.
Before you apply
- You need valid health insurance for the entry visa, and German health insurance once you start work.
- Waiting times for embassy appointments vary a lot by country. Check with the embassy that handles your application.