Check salary threshold
Regular and bottleneck jobs have different requirements.
The EU Blue Card is the most attractive residence permit instrument for highly qualified specialists with university degrees in Germany. It does not apply to every academic – the minimum salary is the often underestimated bottleneck. Anyone who doesn't fulfill it has to take the regular skilled worker route.
The Blue Card seems simple, but the degree, job reference and salary threshold must match the specific position.
Regular and bottleneck jobs have different requirements.
A high contract is not enough if the degree or job connection are not relevant.
Compare your qualifications, salary and job profile together.
As on the homepage: first clarify the direction, then decide on the details.
Requirements
The EU Blue Card according to Section 18g Residence Act requires three things: a recognized university degree, a concrete job offer and a minimum salary. All three must be fulfilled at the same time – If one is missing, the Blue Card is not possible.
Three mandatory requirements – all three at the same time
A university degree that is recognized in Germany or as equivalent applies. This means: Bachelor, Master, Diploma or Doctorate from one state-recognized university. The conclusion must be completed by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) or via anabin can be checked.
No blue card without a recognized university degree. Anyone who only has a professional qualification must have the regular skilled worker visa (§ 18a). use – even if he is highly qualified.
A concrete, written job offer or a signed one Employment contract. The position must match the qualification level of the degree correspond - an engineer cannot work as a cleaner with a blue card enter. The Federal Employment Agency usually checks whether the offer corresponds to the qualification.
This is the most common reason for rejection. The minimum salary is annual adapted and applies to the employment contract. There are two different ones Thresholds: a general one and a reduced one for shortage occupations.
43.759 €
Gross per year · for shortage occupations Applies to professions with a proven shortage of skilled workers: IT, engineering, medicine, natural sciences (MINT), nursing, mathematics. The Federal Employment Agency determines the list and updates it regularly.
≈ €3,647 gross per month · Check whether your own job is on the bottleneck list
48.300 €
Gross per year · for all other university professions Applies to all professions that are not on the shortage list. Business economists, lawyers, economists, humanities scholars, social scientists, designers and others typically fall into this category.
≈ €4,025 gross per month · Bonuses and bonuses do not count towards the minimum salary
Application & documents
The EU Blue Card is applied for at the German embassy in your home country – with a complete package of documents. Incomplete applications will be rejected, not supplemented.
Complete list of documents for the embassy appointment
| document | When requested |
|---|---|
| Letter of motivation | Some messages, especially if there is no direct connection to the job offer |
| Application documents/curriculum vitae | If the position appears to be in a department other than the degree |
| Approval of the Federal Employment Agency | Obtained internally, but requested in advance at some embassies |
| Proof of German language skills | Not mandatory for the visa, but relevant for later settlement permits |
| Employment references/references | For positions with very high salaries or if qualifications and the position are far apart |
Way to the branch
The EU Blue Card is the quickest legal route to permanent Settlement permit in Germany – significantly faster than over the regular skilled worker route. With B1 German skills it is possible after 21 months.
Entry with the visa (max. 3 months) that can be obtained from the German embassy was issued. Within the first 14 days: Register at the residents’ registration office. Then immediately book an appointment with the immigration authorities – Wait times can be 4-12 weeks.
The actual EU Blue Card is not issued at the embassy, but from the immigration authorities at your place of residence. make an appointment, Bring documents with you (employment contract, registration certificate, passport photo, passport). The card is valid for 4 years or the contract term + 3 months.
§ 18g Residence ActFor the quick route to a settlement permit: B1 German skills (Goethe, telc, ÖSD or TestDaF). Take a course alongside work. A lower level of language skills is also sufficient for the standard route – but then lasts 33 months instead of 21.
After 21 months (with B1 German) or 33 months (without): Application for a settlement permit at the immigration authority. Requirements: employment secured throughout, pension insurance contributions paid in, sufficient knowledge of German, secure livelihood, sufficient living space. The settlement permit is unlimited and not tied to a specific employer.
§ 18c Residence Act · UnlimitedAfter 5 years of legal residence in Germany (including at least 3 years with Blue Card status) you can apply for naturalization. Since the citizenship reform in 2024, multiple nationality is in Germany is basically possible. Condition: sufficient knowledge of German, economic independence, no criminal record.
Embassy · Waiting times
In countries with long waiting times, months pass between the job offer and the embassy appointment. Book the appointment as early as possible - the documents can be prepared at the same time.
12-20 weeks
Embassies Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai – extremely high demand. Book as early as possible without waiting for documents.
Tip: Check several locations - sometimes another embassy in India is available much quicker.
10-18 weeks
Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria – very high demand for IT and engineering jobs, strong backlogs.
Tip: Book an appointment as soon as the job offer is available - not just after the contract has been signed.
6-14 weeks
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Indonesia - varies regionally, in some cases significantly shorter waiting times are possible.
Tip: Check your online appointment booking daily - cancellations are often made at short notice.
4-10 weeks
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Seoul – often faster for IT specialists than other countries. Prepare documents carefully.
Tip: Check all documents for completeness - additional requests lengthen the process considerably.
3-8 weeks
Serbia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Albania, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia - tend to have shorter waiting times than in Asia or North Africa.
Tip: Book early anyway – waiting times can vary significantly depending on the season.
2-6 weeks
Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru – overall shorter waiting times; strongly depends on the season.
Tip: Inquire at the German consulate general in the respective city - sometimes better available than the main embassy.
Common mistakes
Variable salary is counted as base salary
Bonuses, bonuses, shift allowances or holiday and Christmas bonuses do not count towards the minimum salary for the Blue Card. Only the fixed, contractually guaranteed basic salary is taken into account. Anyone who only gets €48,300 through bonuses will not receive a blue card - but will have to apply for the regular skilled worker visa.
University degree from an unrecognized country of origin
Not all foreign university degrees are automatically recognized in Germany. Degrees from countries that are not on the anabin list or that require an individual assessment significantly delay the process. Check Anabin early – before your job search, not after.
The Blue Card does not automatically come with the visa
The entry visa is only a transitional visa - the actual EU Blue Card is only issued by the responsible immigration authority at your place of residence in Germany. Anyone who does not book an appointment after entering the country risks crossing the border without a valid residence permit. Book an appointment immediately after entry.
Changing jobs without permission in the first 2 years
In the first two years of the Blue Card, a change of employer must be approved by the immigration authorities. Anyone who simply quits and starts a new job risks losing their residence permit. From the third year onwards, a change is possible without approval.
Pension insurance contributions not paid in full
To obtain a settlement permit after 21 or 33 months, proof of pension insurance contributions for at least 33 months must be provided. Periods without payment (illness, termination, sabbatical) extend the waiting time. Check the contribution status regularly with the German pension insurance.
Next steps
You know the requirements for the EU Blue Card.
Let us clarify whether you are fulfilling them - and which step comes next.
Free · No obligation · 30-45 minutes
Highly qualified people with a job offer who want to check whether the Blue Card is really a good fit.
Check salary, degree comparability and job reference before applying.
Check Blue CardAs of: May 2026. Lalmano checks content editorially and is based on official information, including from Foreign Office, BAMF and Make it in Germany. The content does not replace individual legal advice.