For many non-EU nationals living in Germany, or planning to relocate, the EU Blue Card is a key goal.
Designed for skilled workers, the permit allows qualified professionals to take up employment while benefiting from a relatively secure and flexible legal status.
Blue Card holders can change employers more easily than under other residence permits and may also move to another EU country after meeting certain conditions.
In Germany, the scheme also provides accelerated paths to permanent residence, more straightforward family reunification and access to a range of social benefits that are comparable to those available to EU citizens.
It's no wonder the card is so highly sought-after. A spokesperson from the Foreign Office told The Local earlier this year that Germany issued 11,000 EU Blue Cards in 2024 out of a total of 198,000 visas for employment purposes.
German authorities have been easing the requirements to get a Blue Card in recent years as one means of attracting more skilled workers from abroad to address the country's shortage.
READ ALSO: How Germany is making it easier for skilled workers to get an EU Blue Card
Blue Card salary requirements in 2026
In order to qualify to apply for a Blue Card, you have to meet specific qualification and salary thresholds, which vary depending on profession and experience.
The salary thresholds rise each year in line with Germany's so-called 'contribution assessment ceiling'.
According to information published by Germany's Federal Foreign Office, people who meet the following requirements can apply in 2026. These figures are provisional but are not expected to change:
University graduates
Applicants must have:
- A university degree recognised in Germany or deemed equivalent
- A job offer or employment contract appropriate to your qualifications
- A minimum annual gross salary of €50,700 (around €4,225 per month) in 2026 (up from €48,300 in 2025)
For people working in areas where there is a shortage of workers like so-called MINT professions (in English this is known as STEM and includes natural sciences, IT, engineering and mathematics), and in healthcare, a lower salary threshold applies:
- €45,934.20 per year before tax (around €3,827.85 per month) in 2026 – up from €43,759.80 in 2025.
READ ALSO: Which German jobs have a lower salary threshold for an EU Blue Card?
Skilled workers with recognised higher-education qualifications
This route is aimed at applicants whose education is equivalent to a university degree, even if it was not awarded by a traditional university.
Requirements include:
- A higher-education qualification equivalent to a German degree
- A relevant employment contract
- The same salary thresholds as university graduates: €50,700, or €45,934.20 for MINT and health professions
IT specialists without a degree
Germany also allows IT professionals to apply without formal academic qualifications.
Applicants must show:
- At least three years of IT work experience gained within the past seven years
- A job offer in information and communications technology
- A minimum annual gross salary of €45,934.20 (around €3,827.85 monthly)
Note that in these cases, the applicant's employment must be approved by the Federal Employment Agency (BA).
READ ALSO: What you need to know to land a great job in Germany
How can you apply for an EU Blue Card?
If you meet the requirements, you can submit an application online via Germany’s Consular Services Portal.
Those who are already in Germany can instead apply for the EU Blue Card at their local foreigners’ authority (Ausländerbehörde, or LEA in Berlin).
What if you don't meet the Blue Card requirements?
Check out other possible visas such as the Opportunity Card, a residence permit that allows non-EU workers to come to Germany to seek employment, or another visa aimed at skilled workers.
READ ALSO: How many skilled workers have applied for Germany's opportunity card?
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