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The EU Blue Card under Section 18g of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, Gesetz über den Aufenthalt, die Erwerbstätigkeit und die Integration von Ausländern im Bundesgebiet - AufenthG) is a special residence permit for third-country nationals who hold an academic degree or a comparable qualification.
The EU Blue Card is based on an EU directive. Other countries in the European Union also offer the option of applying for an EU Blue Card. However, this is a national residence permit for which different eligibility requirements must be met in each EU country, and which is granted solely for the purpose of employment in that particular EU country.
Qualification
To be eligible for an EU Blue Card, you must hold a German university degree or a foreign university degree that is comparable to a German university degree. For non-regulated professions, comparability can be established using a printout from the ANABIN database, which is maintained by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). If the degree and/or the university or its status cannot be found in anabin, one must apply to the ZAB for a statement of comparability.
If the applicant does not hold a university degree, proof of a qualification requiring at least three years of vocational training may be provided instead. In Germany, this must meet certain standards.
Job offer
Another requirement for the EU Blue Card is a concrete job offer from an employer in Germany for a period of at least six months. The position must match the candidate's qualifications. This means that a university degree is typically required for the position. If the profession is a regulated one, a license to practice must also be obtained. In addition, there must be at least an indirect connection between the intended occupation and the qualification; that is, the knowledge acquired through the qualification must be at least partially or indirectly necessary for the performance of the occupation.
If the position qualifies as skilled employment but does not correspond to the applicant’s qualifications, a residence permit may be applied for under Section 18b of the Residence Act for skilled workers with a university degree. We will take a closer look at this at a later date in our series.
The EU Blue Card requires a certain annual gross salary. Bonuses and special payments are included in the salary if they are not subject to any conditions (such as meeting certain sales targets). Depending on the required minimum salary, a distinction is made between the “regular” and “small” EU Blue Card.
"Regular" EU Blue Card
To qualify for the "regular" EU Blue Card, applicants must earn a minimum gross annual salary, which is €50,700 in 2026. This amount is adjusted annually. For the “regular” EU Blue Card, approval from the Federal Employment Agency is not required, which means that the employment conditions are not reviewed.
"Small" EU Blue Card
Individuals in shortage occupations and those just starting their careers can apply for the EU Blue Card even with a lower minimum gross annual salary, which is €45,934.20 in 2026. This salary is also adjusted annually. In this case, however, approval from the Federal Employment Agency of Germany is required. This means that the Federal Employment Agency of Germany assesses whether the terms of employment (salary, working hours, vacation entitlement) are comparable to those of domestic employees. This may result in the need to pay a salary that is higher than the minimum salary required for the EU Blue Card.
The following occupations are currently among those facing labor shortages in Germany:
- Managers in manufacturing, mining, construction, and logistics
- Managers in the provision of information and communication technology services
- Managers in the provision of specialized services, such as in childcare, healthcare, or education
- Academic professionals in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
- Academic professionals in architecture, urban planning, and transportation planning
- Medical doctors
- Dentists
Veterinarians - Pharmacists
- Academic and equivalent nursing and midwifery professionals
- Teachers and educators in school and after-school settings
The list of shortage occupations provides a complete overview.
New entrants to the workforce can apply for the “small” EU Blue Card regardless of their profession, provided they obtained a degree qualifying them for the EU Blue Card no more than three years prior to submitting their application.
Special provisions for IT professionals
There is a special provision for IT professionals and managers, who can apply for an EU Blue Card even without a formal vocational qualification. The position must be a qualified academic-level position in an IT profession, and the applicant must have gained at least three years of relevant professional experience at the academic level in the IT field within the past seven years. The gross salary must be at least €45,934.20 in 2026, and approval from the Federal Employment Agency of Germany (to verify the terms of employment) is required.
Possibilities
Family reunification is generally possible with the EU Blue Card.
The duration of the Blue Card is determined by the length of the employment contract. If the employment contract is for a fixed term, the residence permit is issued for the duration of the employment contract plus three months. An extension is generally possible, but it must be requested through the Immigration Authority. In the case of a permanent employment contract, a residence permit may be issued for up to four years.
Holders of an EU Blue Card may be eligible for a settlement permit after just 27 months if they can demonstrate German language proficiency at the A1 level (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). With a B1 level, an application for a settlement permit can be submitted after only 21 months.