2026 thresholds at a glance
| Category | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Standard occupations | €50,700 | ≈ €4,225 |
| Shortage occupations · graduates (≤3 yrs) · IT specialists without degree | €45,934.20 | ≈ €3,828 |
The figures equal 50% (standard) and 45.3% (reduced) of Germany's annual pension contribution assessment ceiling, recalculated each year — which is why the thresholds rise annually (2025: €48,300 / €43,760 → 2026: €50,700 / €45,934.20).
Why the Blue Card beats other permits
- Fastest permanent residence: settlement permit after 27 months — or just 21 months with German B1. No other German work permit is faster.
- Family advantages: your spouse gets immediate, unrestricted work rights and needs no German test before arrival.
- EU mobility: after 12 months you can move to another EU country's Blue Card scheme under simplified rules; short business stays across the EU are covered.
- Security: issued up to 4 years; losing your job gives you a window to find a new qualifying position rather than leaving immediately.
Blue Card vs Chancenkarte vs skilled worker visa
Three doors into Germany — pick by your situation:
EU Blue Card (§18g)
Job offer + salary above threshold. Fastest to permanent residence. This page.
Chancenkarte (§20a)
No job offer yet — 12 months to search from inside Germany, points-based. Check your points →
Skilled worker visa (§18a/b)
Job offer below Blue Card threshold — no fixed EU minimum, but slower path to settlement.
Frequently asked questions
Q. My offer is from 2025 and was above the old threshold. Am I safe?
A. Not necessarily — authorities apply the threshold valid on the day they decide, not when you signed. If your application is decided in 2026, the 2026 figures apply. Renegotiate before applying if you're below €50,700 (or €45,934.20).
Q. Do bonuses count toward the salary?
A. Contractually guaranteed, unconditional payments (like fixed 13th-month or holiday pay) can count. Discretionary bonuses, stock options, and benefits in kind generally don't.
Q. Which jobs count as shortage occupations?
A. Broad groups including IT and communications technology, engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and school teaching. Your occupation code (ISCO) decides — your employer or the BA can confirm.
Q. I'm an IT professional without a degree. Really eligible?
A. Yes — §18g allows it with at least 3 years of academic-level IT experience gained within the last 7 years, plus a salary at the reduced threshold. You'll need solid evidence: contracts, references, project documentation.
Q. What if my salary is just below the line?
A. Three options: negotiate the gap (even €1 below means refusal), check whether your role is actually a shortage occupation (lower threshold), or use the regular skilled worker visa which has no fixed EU minimum but a slower settlement track.
Sources: §18g Aufenthaltsgesetz, Federal Ministry of the Interior threshold announcement (effective 1 Jan 2026), Make it in Germany, BAMF. This checker provides an estimate only and is not legal advice. Verify with the German embassy responsible for you or a qualified adviser.