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Visa options for IT professionals

IT is one of the most important industries in Germany. Explore the opportunities available to you as an IT specialist in Germany.

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 experiences workers: you can work as an IT specialist in Germany even if you do not have a formal vocational qualification or university degree, 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.

The following guide provides an overview of residence titles potentially available to IT specialists:

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.

Please beware

A concrete job offer is the most important requirement and the first step towards your IT career in Germany, regardless of the type of residence title residence title you are applying for. You can therefore find out more about working as an IT specialist in Germany here.

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Special information offer for IT professionals

Do you need more information on working as an IT professional in Germany? On “Make IT in Germany!”, you will find everything you need to know about the German IT industry and how you can kick off your career step by step.

“Make IT in Germany!”

Do you have any questions?

Let us advise you on your opportunities to work and live in Germany. Our experts will support you with questions regarding job search, visa, recognition and learning German. 

You can find out more about the various contact options by clicking on one of the icons in the bar below.

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