Germany · Employment
EU Blue Card
Open
Last verified July 2026
Open. Thresholds rose on 1 January 2026.
Permanent residence in 21 months is exceptional by European standards. And the spouse is exempt from the German language requirement that burdens other family reunification routes. For a senior executive taking a German role, the Blue Card is strictly better than any other permit they might be offered.
The facts
- Minimum
- €50.7k
- Total landed cost
- Around EUR 100 in permit fees. The real requirement is a qualifying salary, not capital.
- Route type
- By employment
- Timeline
- 1–4 months (Faster where the employer uses the accelerated skilled worker procedure.)
- Physical presence
- Genuine employment and residence in Germany.
- Family
- Spouse, with no German language requirement. That is a real advantage over other German routesMinor children
- Permanent residency
- 21 months with B1 German, or 27 months with A1. This is the fastest permanent residence route in Germany.
- Citizenship
- 5 years.
- Language test
- B1 German for naturalisation.
- Dual citizenship
- Permitted
- Requirements
- A recognised university degree. IT specialists can qualify instead with 3 years of relevant experience at academic level, gained within the last 7 years.A binding German job offer or contract that matches your qualificationA gross salary of at least EUR 50,700 (2026). The threshold drops to EUR 45,934.20 for shortage occupations, recent graduates and qualifying IT specialists.
What can go wrong
- Thresholds rise every year. For 2026: EUR 50,700 gross standard, EUR 45,934.20 for shortage occupations, recent graduates (qualification within the past 3 years) and qualifying IT specialists without a degree.
- The card is tied to the employment. Losing the job puts both the permit and the permanent residence clock at risk.
- Foreign degrees must be recognised as equivalent. That process can take months, so start it before the job offer arrives, not after.
- It is an employment route. It does not help a family whose income comes from investment returns rather than salary.