EU Blue Card Germany — Requirements & Application 2026
The EU Blue Card is Germany's most important residence permit for highly qualified professionals from non-EU countries. This guide explains the 2026 requirements, salary thresholds and application steps — and how Relexo handles the relocation once the permit is approved.
What is the EU Blue Card?
The EU Blue Card is a residence title under Section 18g of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) for non-EU professionals with an academic or comparable qualification. Germany issues more Blue Cards than any other EU member state, making it the central route into the German labor market.
Important to know: the Blue Card is not an EU-wide permit. It is a national German permit with facilitated mobility rights within the EU. It offers accelerated paths to permanent residence, simpler family reunification rules, and access to social benefits comparable to those of EU citizens.
Requirements 2026
Four conditions decide a Blue Card application. We check all four before anything is filed.
A recognized university degree
A German higher-education degree, a foreign degree recognized in Germany, or a comparable qualification. Regulated professions additionally require the German license to practice.
A concrete job offer or employment contract
The contract must run for at least six months, and the role must correspond to the applicant's qualification — the employment must actually match the degree.
The applicable salary threshold
In 2026: €50,700 gross per year as standard. A reduced threshold of €45,934.20 applies to shortage occupations, recent graduates and qualifying IT specialists.
No degree? The IT specialist route
IT specialists without a university degree can qualify with at least three years of comparable professional experience and the reduced salary threshold.
€50,700
gross per year — applies to all professions without a special rule.
€45,934.20
reduced threshold per year. New entrants means graduation within the last three years.
Salary thresholds are adjusted every January 1 in line with the pension contribution assessment ceiling. We confirm the current figures for your case before filing.
The path to the Blue Card
From the first check to a settled family: four steps we handle for employers and professionals.
1. Eligibility check
We verify degree recognition, salary level and job match — before any application is filed, so nobody waits months for a rejection.
2. Documents & recognition
Degree recognition, translations, employment contract and employer declaration are prepared and assembled into one complete file.
3. Application
Filing at the German consulate abroad or directly with the local foreigners authority — including appointment booking and follow-up.
4. Arrival & registration
Once approved, we handle the relocation itself: temporary housing, Anmeldung, bank account, utilities and family settling-in.
After approval: permanent residence and family
- With B1 German: settlement permit (permanent residence) after 21 months of Blue Card employment.
- With A1 German: settlement permit after 27 months.
- Spouses generally join without a pre-entry language test and may work without restrictions from day one.
- After 12–18 months, a move to another EU country is possible under certain conditions.
Frequently asked about the Blue Card
We check your individual situation before filing — in a conversation, not through a form.
Book a consultation See all relocation services- What salary do I need for the EU Blue Card in 2026?
- €50,700 gross per year as standard, or €45,934.20 for shortage occupations, recent graduates and qualifying IT specialists. The thresholds are adjusted every year in line with the pension contribution assessment ceiling, so check the current figures before applying.
- Do I need to speak German to get a Blue Card?
- German language skills are not required for the Blue Card itself. They do matter later: with B1 German you can apply for permanent residence after 21 months of Blue Card employment, with A1 after 27 months.
- Is the Blue Card valid across the whole EU?
- No — a common misconception. The German EU Blue Card is a national German residence and work permit with facilitated mobility rights within the EU, but it is not a universal EU-wide permit.
- Can my family join me on a Blue Card?
- Yes. Spouses are generally exempt from the pre-entry German language requirement and receive unrestricted access to the German labor market. We handle the reunification applications as a separate module.
Apply for the Blue Card — with Relexo
Call us or send an email. We check your eligibility, prepare the application, and then organize housing, registration and daily life in Germany.