EU Blue Card

Drafted from the official pages listed under Sources, last read on 25 October 2026. Rules, fees and thresholds change: check the official page before you act. This is not legal advice and does not guarantee any outcome.

Overview

The Blue Card is issued for the length of the employment contract plus six months, with a maximum validity of four years, per Make it in Germany. Extension in Germany is possible if conditions are met.

Who it is for

People with a German academic qualification or a comparable foreign one, and a specific job offer from a company in Germany.

Without a traditional degree, a tertiary-level qualification of at least three years (ISCED 2011 level 6 or EQF level 6) can count. Master craftsman training is given as an example.

IT professionals without a degree can qualify with a specific IT job offer of at least six months and at least three of the past seven years of IT work at university level.

Salary thresholds (as of 2026)

The page states, as of 2026: EUR 50,700 gross per year for the standard Blue Card.

EUR 45,934.20 gross per year applies to shortage occupations (with Federal Employment Agency approval), entry-level jobs for new graduates (under three years since the last degree, also with Federal Employment Agency approval) and IT professionals without a degree.

The page says the thresholds are published annually by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community.

Job requirements

• A specific job offer from a company in Germany.
• Employment of at least six months.
• The job must match the qualification.
• If a licence to practise is required for a regulated profession, it must be in place or in prospect when applying.

Shortage occupations listed

The page lists these groups and links to a detailed PDF: manufacturing, mining, construction and distribution managers; ICT service managers; professional services managers (childcare, health, education); academic STEM professionals; academic professionals in architecture, spatial and transport planning; medical doctors, veterinarians, dentists, pharmacists; academic and comparable nursing and midwifery professionals; school and out-of-school teachers and educators.

What to check on the official page

Applications are made online through the Consular Services Portal of the Federal Foreign Office. The page gives no fee, processing time or full document list. Check the Consular Services Portal or the responsible mission.

What changes often

Salary thresholds are published annually, so the 2026 figures will change. Re-check the official page and the shortage-occupation list before relying on them.