Working in Germany,
permit by permit.

Salary floor

EUR 50,700 a year (2026 figure)§ 18g(1) sentence 1 AufenthG sets the floor at 50 per cent of the annual contribution assessment ceiling of the general pension insurance; the Federal Foreign Office states that as €50,700 a year for 2026. A lower floor of €45,934.20 a year applies in 2026 under § 18g(1) sentence 2 and § 18g(2) to the shortage occupations listed there, which the Federal Employment Agency describes as including "Akademische Fachkräfte in Mathematik, Informatik, Naturwissenschaft und Technik (MINT)" and "Führungskräfte in der Erbringung von Dienstleistungen im Bereich Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie". The lower floor normally requires the approval of the Federal Employment Agency; the standard floor does not. Ask the authority whether your specific job falls in one of those groups before you rely on the lower figure.

Qualification

A German higher education qualification, or a foreign higher education qualification comparable to a German one.

Statement of Comparability where required for an EU Blue Card

2 weeks at the ZAB

Visa and permit decision

Not published as a single national figure — ask the mission or immigration authority handling your case

National visa, category D

€75

Issue of the EU Blue Card

€100

Extension

€96 for up to three months, €93 for longer

4 steps · 3 possible outcomes · 7 official sources

Qualification

Proof of a German or recognised foreign university degree, or a foreign university degree comparable to a German one.

Permit decision

Not published as a single national figure — ask the mission or immigration authority handling your case

Statement of Comparability inside the Fast-Track Procedure for Skilled Workers

2 months at the ZAB

National visa, category D

€75

Issue of the residence permit

€100

Extension

€96 for up to three months, €93 for longer

4 steps · 2 possible outcomes · 7 official sources

Qualification

Either you already qualify as a Fachkraft, or you hold a foreign university degree or a vocational qualification of at least two years' training that is state-recognised in the country where you obtained it, plus German at level A1 or English at level B2.

Visa decision at the mission

One mission publishes 2–3 weeks from complete documents, with security checks able to extend it. Turnaround is set per mission — check the one that will handle your case

Card for job search (Such-Chancenkarte)

Up to one year

National visa, category D

€75

Issue of the residence permit

€100 — the Opportunity Card is a residence permit under § 20a(1) AufenthG

Scored, not checked off. We explain the factors and link the official calculator — we never produce a score, because a score reads as a prediction.

4 steps · 3 possible outcomes · 9 official sources