Route: skilled worker and Blue Card

EU Blue Card, skilled-worker permits, salary limits 2026, fast-track procedure.

EU Blue Card (§ 18g AufenthG)

• Regular: €50,700 gross a year (€4,225 a month, 50% of the 2026 pension contribution ceiling). No approval of the Federal Employment Agency needed.
• Lower threshold: €45,934.20 (€3,827.85 a month) for shortage occupations (for example STEM, doctors, nurses, teachers), career starters with a degree from the last 3 years, and IT specialists without a degree who have at least 3 years of IT experience in the last 7 years. Approval of the Federal Employment Agency is required.
• Degree: a German degree, a foreign degree recognised in Germany, or a foreign degree comparable to a German one. You show this with an anabin printout (university rated H+, degree listed as equivalent) or, if that is not possible, a ZAB Statement of Comparability (see Recognition).
• Settlement permit (§ 18c) after 27 months with German at A1, or after 21 months with German at B1; pension contributions are also required.

Other skilled-worker permits

• § 18a (vocational training) and § 18b (degree): full recognition in Germany (or a recognised or comparable degree), a job offer and approval of the Federal Employment Agency.
• Experience route (§ 19c (2) AufenthG with § 6 BeschV), for non-regulated jobs: no German recognition needed if you have a qualification recognised in the country where you got it (at least 2 years of training, or a degree), at least 2 years of work experience in the last 5 years, and a salary of at least 45% of the contribution ceiling (€45,630 for 2026, § 6 BeschV; not needed if the employer is bound by a collective agreement). In IT jobs the qualification requirement is waived completely.
• Recognition partnership (§ 16d (3)): qualification recognised in India (2 years of training or a degree), German at A2, an employment contract plus a partnership agreement with the employer, recognition procedure starts after entry. Permit for 1 year, extendable to 3 years.
• Regulated professions (doctors, nurses, teachers and similar) always need a German licence. In Berlin: doctors at LAGeSo, other health professions at the Landesprüfungsamt für Gesundheitsberufe.
• Age 45 or over (first permit): the salary must be at least about €55,770 (55% of the ceiling, § 18 (2) no. 5 AufenthG) or you need proof of adequate pension provision.

Steps

1. Job offer or contract with an employer in Germany.
2. Check your degree in anabin or get the ZAB statement, recognition if needed.
3. Visa application on the Consular Services Portal, appointment at VFS. The mission states about 10 days for Blue Card visas and 6 to 8 weeks for other work visas (page dated May 2024). See Documents.
4. Residence permit at LEA Berlin: After arrival.

Fast-track procedure (§ 81a)

Only the employer applies, at LEA Berlin (Business Immigration Service), with your power of attorney. Fee €411. Stated duration: recognition about 8 weeks, Federal Employment Agency 1 week, visa appointment and decision within 6 weeks, at least 15 weeks overall. With fast-track approval you book the VFS category "Fast track procedure acc. to § 81a".