The EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU) is a combined work and residence permit available to non-EU nationals who hold a recognised university degree and have secured a qualifying employment contract in Germany. For 2026, the general salary threshold is €50,700 gross per year; for shortage occupations including IT specialists, engineers, physicians, and scientists (and also for career starters and experienced IT professionals without a degree), the threshold is €45,934.20. The card is issued for the duration of the employment contract plus three months, up to a maximum of four years.
Following the reform of the Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz (Skilled Immigration Act) in November 2023, Blue Card holders gain accelerated access to permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis): after 27 months of contributions to the statutory pension scheme, or after 21 months with certified B1 German language skills. Spouses and registered partners receive immediate access to the labour market without a separate work permit, and the card is transferable within the EU under simplified procedures.
Employers sponsoring Blue Card applicants must verify that the offered salary meets the current threshold, that the applicant's foreign degree is recognised or at minimum assessed as equivalent, and that the role falls within the scope of the contract. Recognition of foreign qualifications is handled by the Bundesagentur für Arbeit's Central Foreign and Specialist Services unit (ZAV) or sector-specific bodies. The application is submitted to the German embassy or consulate in the applicant's country of residence or to the local Ausländerbehörde (immigration authority) if the applicant is already in Germany.