At a glance: possible residence titles for IT professionals
This table shows you which residence permits are available for IT professionals and which requirements apply in each case.
Attractive routes have been created for IT specialists from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland (so-called “third countries”) to obtain a work visa in Germany. The type of visa you are eligible for depends on your qualifications and the job offer in Germany.
- EU Blue Card: if you have a formally recognised academic or tertiary-level qualification in IT and have a concrete job offer in Germany, you can obtain an EU Blue Card. In this case, it is important that your job in Germany pays a certain minimum salary.
Even if you do not have such a qualification, you can still obtain an EU Blue Card if you have gained knowledge and skills from at least three years’ work experience in a similar profession within the last seven years. The EU Blue Card is a very popular residence title that offers you many advantages. - Work visa for qualified professionals: a residence permit for qualified employment (under Section 18a or Section 18b of the Residence Act [AufenthG]) may apply to you if you have completed training or a degree in IT that is recognised in Germany or is equivalent, but you do not meet the requirements for an EU Blue Card.
- Visa for professionally experienced workers: you can work as an IT specialist in Germany even if you do not have a formal non-academic vocational qualification or academic qualification, as long as you can prove that you have work experience in the IT sector. For more information about this type of visa, refer to the “Visa for professionally experienced workers” section.
