At a glance: EU Blue Card
From the preparations to the application forms: This guide shows you step by step how to obtain the EU Blue Card.
EU Blue Card
Do you have an academic qualification and you have found a job in Germany? Learn about what requirements you have to meet for an EU Blue Card.
What is the EU Blue Card?
The EU Blue Card (Section 18g of the Residence Act [AufenthG] ) is a special residence title for foreign academics and people with comparable qualifications who want to take up qualified employment in Germany. To find out if you need a visa to enter Germany, see the “Do I need a visa?” section.
Overview of the requirements for the EU Blue Card
- You have a German academic qualification or a foreign academic qualification that is comparable to a German academic qualification. If you do not have a traditional academic degree, you must demonstrate that you have a tertiary-level qualification that took at least three years to complete in order to obtain an EU Blue Card. In Germany, this qualification must correspond to at least level 6 of the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 2011) or level 6 of the European Qualifications Framework. Examples of such training qualifications include “Master craftsman training / Master craftswoman training” as well as non-academic vocational qualifications in educator professions. Information on the equivalence and recognition of foreign academic qualifications can be found in the “Recognition” section
- You already have a specific job offer from a company in Germany. The job offer must meet the following conditions:
- The period of employment must be at least six months.
- The job must match your qualification (academic degree). If a licence to practise (regulated professions) is required, this must be in place or in prospect at the time of the visa application.
- Your job in Germany must enable you to earn a gross annual salary of at least €50,700 (as of 2026).
- If you are employed in a shortage occupation, you can also obtain an EU Blue Card with a lower gross annual salary of at least €45,934.20 (as of 2026) if the Federal Employment Agency (BA) has approved your employment. The salary thresholds are published annually by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community. The following professions are considered to be shortage occupations in Germany:
- Manufacturing, mining, construction and distribution managers
- Information and communications technology service managers
- Professional services managers, such as childcare services, health services and education managers
- Academic STEM professionals
- Academic professionals in architecture, spatial planning and transport planning
- Medical doctors
- Veterinarians
- Dentists
- Pharmacists
- Academic and comparable nursing and midwifery professionals
- School and out-of-school teachers and educators
The detailed list of shortage occupations for the EU Blue Card can be found here.
EU Blue Card for young professionals
The following applies to new entrants to the labour market: If you obtained your last degree or equivalent qualification less than three years ago, you can also obtain an EU Blue Card if your job offer includes a gross annual salary of at least €45,934.20 (as of 2026). This applies to entry-level jobs in all professions. The approval of the Federal Employment Agency is also required for the visa procedure.
How do I get the EU Blue Card?
Are you from a country outside the European Economic Area and would like to live and work in Germany? Then you'll need a work visa. One type of work visa is the EU Blue Card. In this video you'll learn everything you need to know about it.
But what exactly is the EU Blue Card? The EU Blue Card is the most popular residence title for skilled workers from abroad who have a university degree and would like to work in Germany. It has major advantages: for example, facilitated family reunification and better prospects of quickly settling in Germany.
Who can get the EU Blue Card? In order to receive the EU Blue Card, you must meet the following requirements. You are in possession of either a German university degree or a foreign university degree. Besides that, you need proof of the foreign university degree being comparable to a German university degree. Detailed information on the comparability of university degrees can be found on our website make-it-in-germany.com in the “Working in Germany“ section under “Academic qualifications“.
Do you already have a concrete job offer in Germany? Make sure that the vacant position actually corresponds to your academic qualifications. Your future salary is important as well. There are two types of the EU Blue Card which differ in the amount of the required gross annual salary.
The first type is the EU Blue Card with a higher minimum salary. This amount is being updated every year. This has the following advantage: in order to apply for this type of the EU Blue Card, having the Federal Employment Agency’s approval is not mandatory.
The second type with a lower minimum salary is intended for first-time job entrants, namely university graduates who have graduated no longer than three years ago, and professions which suffer from labor shortages. These professions are, for example, engineers, physicians, executives in certain sectors, teachers, but also scientists and IT experts.
An exceptional case are IT specialists without formal qualifications, meeting without a vocational qualification or a university degree. You can receive the second type of the EU Blue Card with a lower minimum salary threshold if you have at least three years of work experience at a university graduate level and can establish proof of a concrete job offer in the IT sector at a university graduate level. However, for the second type you do need the Federal Employment Agency’s approval. The approval is usually granted if the working conditions of a domestic and foreign employee are comparable and if the employment is appropriate for the type of qualification you bring. The approval for employment will be acquired during the visa procedure. So your participation is not needed.
Are you meeting the requirements for the EU Blue Card? Great. These are the next steps. Firstly, you submit a visa application for the EU Blue Card to the German mission in your country of residence. During the application process you will learn everything that is important for your intended entry to Germany and what you need to consider. As soon as your visa application procedure has been completed successfully, you will receive your entry visa.
Would you and your new employer like to accelerate the visa procedure? Then you can jointly apply for the so-called “fast-track procedure for skilled workers“. Find more information about it on our website for employers in the “Entering and working in Germany“ section under “The fast-track procedure for skilled workers“.
After entering Germany you look for accommodation and register your new home address at the Residents' Registration Office. You can already start looking for accommodation in your home country to facilitate your first few days in Germany. After that, you apply for the respective residence title at the competent Foreigners Authority. You must apply for the residence title before your entry visa expires. The residence title is usually valid for the duration of your work contract and an additional three months. However, the validity period cannot exceed four years. It's also important that a minimum working period of six months is stated in your work contract.
You can find more information on the EU Blue Card on our website for skilled workers in the “Visa and residence” section under “EU Blue Card“. Are you not meeting the requirements for the EU Blue Card? No need to fret. Other options are available to you, for example the work visa for qualified professionals. Find more information on this visa on our website in the “Work visa for qualified professionals“ section.
We hope that you're now well informed and ready for your journey to Germany with the EU Blue Card. What are you waiting for? We wish you every success.
In this video: How do I get the EU Blue Card?
Even if you do not meet the above-mentioned requirements for an EU Blue Card, there may be other options open to you. You can apply for a work visa for professionals with an academic qualification under Section 18b of the Residence Act (AufenthG) .
How to live and work with the EU Blue Card
The EU Blue Card is issued for the duration of your employment contract, plus an additional three months, and is valid for a maximum of four years. It is possible to extend the validity of this residence title in Germany if certain conditions are met.
After 27 months, EU Blue Card holders can obtain a settlement permit if they can prove that they have German language skills at level A1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). If language level B1 can be demonstrated, the settlement permit can be issued after only 21 months.
Do you want to live in Germany with your family? As an EU Blue Card holder, this is possible. To find out what you need to consider and what the requirements are, please see the “Family reunification” section.
What to consider when changing jobs with the EU Blue Card
Are you an EU Blue Card holder looking to change your employer in Germany? This is no problem. You will be able to start your new job with a valid EU Blue Card. However, if you change jobs within the first year of employment, you must notify your local foreigners authority of your new job. The foreigners authority will check whether you still meet the conditions for the EU Blue Card in your new job. If this is not the case, you may be granted another type of residence permit, such as a work and residence permit for qualified professionals.
EU Blue Card without a degree: opportunities for IT specialists
Do you want to work in Germany as an IT professional or manager without a formal qualification? Under certain conditions, you may be able to obtain an EU Blue Card.
- You must be able to demonstrate that you have a specific job offer as an IT professional in Germany. The period of employment must be at least six months.
- Your job in Germany must enable you to earn a gross annual salary of at least €45,934.20 (as of 2026).
- You must have worked in IT for at least three of the past seven years. Your professional experience must have been at university level and a prerequisite for employment in Germany.
Do you meet the above-mentioned requirements? Then you are entitled to an EU Blue Card under Section 18g of the Residence Act [AufenthG] . Find out about the entry and visa process.
If you are an IT professional without a formal qualification, in addition to the EU Blue Card, you may be able to enter Germany under the special regulations for individuals with practical knowledge.
Apply for the EU Blue Card online
Do you meet the necessary requirements? Then you can apply for the EU Blue Card online here: Consular Services Portal of the Federal Foreign Office .
Video: Experience with the EU Blue Card
Information on the web
- German Federal Employment Agency (BA) Welcome to Germany! Important information about starting a job in Germany
- Federal Foreign Office (FFO) To find out which visa you need t come to Germany, use the Visa-Navigator
Do you have any questions?
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