Germany Blue Card 2026: Salary Thresholds and Rules
Vathanakone Prakosay · Updated on
In short: The Germany blue card (EU Blue Card) depends on a minimum gross salary. For 2026 the Federal Ministry of the Interior set 50,700 euros per year, and 45,934.20 euros for the lower threshold. The rules are in section 18g of the Residence Act.
What is the blue card in Germany?
The blue card is a residence permit for qualified employment. Section 18g of the Residence Act (AufenthG) sets the salary rule. The law text used here is the version retrieved on 24 October 2026.
What salary do you need for the blue card in 2026?
The regular threshold is 50,700 euros gross per year. The lower threshold is 45,934.20 euros gross per year. Both numbers come from the announcement of the Federal Ministry of the Interior dated 2 December 2025, published on 18 December 2025 in the Federal Gazette.
| Threshold | Share of the contribution assessment ceiling | Amount for 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Regular salary threshold | 50 percent | 50,700 euros per year |
| Lower salary threshold | 45.3 percent | 45,934.20 euros per year |
The percentages are in section 18g of the Residence Act: at least 50 percent, and at least 45.3 percent, of the yearly contribution assessment ceiling. The ministry announces the amounts every year (section 18g, paragraph 7). Amounts change, so check the current announcement before you apply.
Who can get the lower salary threshold?
The lower threshold applies under section 18g, paragraph 1, sentence 2 and paragraph 2. Two points from the law matter here. First, the law has a rule for career starters: their degree must be no more than three years old when they apply. Second, the law refers to certain occupational groups listed under ISCO-08, the international job classification. It does not use the word "shortage occupation".
Further details of these cases, for example any role of the Federal Employment Agency, could not be confirmed. Read section 18g before you decide which threshold fits your job.
What are the eligibility requirements for an EU Blue Card?
The EU Blue Card is a residence permit for skilled employment. The law links it to a minimum annual salary, to a job in Germany and to the absence of refusal grounds. Section 18g of the Residence Act sets these points. Three of them were checked in the official text.
- Minimum salary: at least 50,700 euros gross per year in 2026, or 45,934.20 euros if the lower threshold applies.
- Career starters: a university degree that is not more than three years old at the time of the application.
- No refusal ground under section 19f, paragraphs 1 and 2.
Some pages on the internet also name a university degree as a general requirement, and an exception for IT experts without a degree. Neither point could be confirmed in the official text, so this page does not state them as facts. Ask the foreigners authority whether your qualification and your job fit.
How do you apply for an EU Blue Card?
If you are a non-EU citizen and you stay longer than three months, you usually need a national visa first. The Federal Foreign Office describes this on its page about national visas (as of 27.06.2025). You apply before you travel, at the German mission responsible for your place of residence. In many cases the foreigners authority in Germany must agree to the visa.
According to the Federal Foreign Office, citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States may apply for their residence permit after they enter Germany. The length of the application process depends on the case, and no official processing time was found.
Can my family join me with an EU Blue Card?
The rules for family reunification with a blue card holder could not be verified in an official source. This page therefore does not describe them. Ask the German mission in your country which documents and language proof your family needs.
Can you get permanent residence with a blue card?
No readable official text on permanent residence for blue card holders was found, so this page gives no conditions and no time frame. The foreigners authority can tell you whether and when a settlement permit is possible in your case.
What you need to bring
No readable official document list was found. Ask the responsible authority for the current list. The Federal Foreign Office describes national visas. The law names these points:
- A salary at or above the threshold for your case (see the table above).
- For career starters: a degree that is no more than three years old at the time of your application.
- No ground for refusal under section 19f, paragraphs 1 and 2. Section 18g names this condition.
Why can a blue card be refused?
Section 18g requires that none of the refusal grounds in section 19f, paragraphs 1 and 2 applies. Read section 19f for the full list. The grounds are not listed here because only the reference in section 18g was checked.
What is the difference to the opportunity card?
The blue card is tied to employment with a minimum salary. The opportunity card is for job search with a points system. See the guide on the Germany opportunity card for that route.
What should you check next?
- Compare your gross yearly salary with the 2026 amounts above.
- Check whether the lower threshold could apply to your degree date or job group.
- Plan your arrival: register your address within two weeks and organise health insurance.
The overview is on the page Moving to Germany.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary for the blue card in 2026?
The regular threshold is 50,700 euros gross per year. The lower threshold is 45,934.20 euros (Federal Ministry of the Interior, announcement of 2 December 2025).
Who sets the salary amounts?
The Federal Ministry of the Interior announces them each year in the Federal Gazette. The basis is section 18g, paragraph 7 of the Residence Act.
What counts as a career starter?
Section 18g refers to applicants whose degree is no more than three years old at the time of the application.
What are the salary percentages based on?
They are shares of the yearly contribution assessment ceiling: 50 percent for the regular and 45.3 percent for the lower threshold.
Can a blue card be refused?
Yes. The card requires that no refusal ground under section 19f, paragraphs 1 and 2 applies.
How do I apply for an EU Blue Card?
Non-EU citizens who stay longer than three months usually apply for a national visa at the German mission before travelling (Federal Foreign Office, 27.06.2025). In many cases the foreigners authority must agree.
Sources
- Section 18g Residence Act (AufenthG), 2026 (As of: retrieved 24.10.2026)
- Federal Ministry of the Interior, announcement of salary thresholds (Federal Gazette BAnz AT 18.12.2025 B3), 2025 (As of: Bekanntmachung vom 02.12.2025)
- Federal Foreign Office, national visas, 2025 (As of: 27.06.2025)
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the linked official pages before you act.
Author: Vathanakone Prakosay · Updated on October 24, 2026
