Regalis, as of
In brief
As a rule, the EU Blue Card requires a university degree, a suitable job and a salary from a threshold announced every year. A lower threshold applies to shortage occupations and to recent graduates, and then the Federal Employment Agency must approve. For skilled workers with vocational training, a different residence title is usually the right route.
What the EU Blue Card is
The EU Blue Card is a residence title under the German Residence Act. It is for skilled workers with academic training who take up a job in Germany that matches their qualification.
Like any visa for work, it is applied for at the German mission abroad. The mission abroad and, after entry, the foreigners authority decide on the application.
Requirements
The Residence Act sets out the main requirements. The responsible authorities check whether they are met in the individual case.
- a German, a recognised or a foreign university degree comparable to a German one
- a concrete job offer in Germany that matches the qualification and provides for the minimum period of employment set by law
- a salary at least at the threshold announced each year by the Federal Ministry of the Interior
- in regulated occupations, the authorisation to practise the profession
Lower threshold for shortage occupations and recent graduates
A lower salary threshold applies to certain occupations with particular demand. These include, for example, natural sciences and engineering, medicine and academic nursing, teaching and information technology. The same applies to skilled workers who obtained their university degree only recently. In these cases the Federal Employment Agency must approve.
Under certain conditions, IT specialists can also obtain the EU Blue Card without a university degree if they prove professional experience at a corresponding level.
Where to find the current salary threshold
The thresholds are linked to a statutory reference figure and therefore change every year. We deliberately do not state any amounts here.
The Federal Ministry of the Interior announces the minimum salaries for each calendar year. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and the German missions abroad give the current figures on their websites.
The route for skilled workers with vocational training
Anyone with vocational training but no university degree is usually not eligible for the EU Blue Card. There are separate residence titles for these skilled workers. For them, the equivalence of the qualification usually has to be established.
For most occupations in which Regalis places candidates, for example in the crafts, construction, logistics or kitchens, this is the usual route. Separate rules apply to relatives, which the mission abroad and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees explain.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a university degree for the EU Blue Card?
As a rule, yes: a German, a recognised or a comparable foreign degree. Under certain conditions there is a route through professional experience for IT specialists.
How high must the salary be for the EU Blue Card?
The threshold changes every year. The Federal Ministry of the Interior announces the current figure. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees gives it on its website.
Is the EU Blue Card the right route for tradespeople?
Usually not. There are separate residence titles for skilled workers with vocational training. The mission abroad says which one fits; we help you with the documents.
- For Candidates Candidates create a profile with Regalis, upload their documents and are presented to employers in Germany. Employment directly with the company.