Immigrate to Germany

The EU Blue Card is for people with a German university degree, or a foreign degree that is comparable to a German one, who have a job offer matching their qualification. The salary must meet a minimum threshold, with a lower threshold for shortage occupations, including many science, technology, engineering and mathematics roles, and for some recent graduates. IT specialists without a degree may also qualify if they have sufficient professional experience. This suits engineers, IT professionals, doctors and other graduates with an offer from a German employer. It depends on the comparability of your degree, the salary offered and a contract of a minimum length.

NOTESalary thresholds are set each year.

This permit is for people whose vocational or academic qualification has been recognised by the competent German authority as equivalent to a German qualification, and who have an offer of qualified employment. It suits professionals and tradespeople who do not meet the Blue Card salary level or whose training is vocational rather than academic. It typically depends on formal recognition of your qualification, a concrete job offer and, in most cases, approval by the Federal Employment Agency, which checks that pay and conditions are comparable to those of German workers. Regulated professions such as nursing and medicine also require a licence to practise from the relevant state authority.

This route lets experienced people work in a non-regulated profession without first having their qualification formally recognised in Germany. The qualification must be recognised by the state in which it was obtained. It suits professionals with solid experience in fields such as business, administration or IT whose degree or training is not listed as comparable in Germany. It depends on relevant professional experience of a minimum length, and either a salary above a set threshold or an employer bound by a collective agreement.

NOTEThe salary threshold is reviewed each year.

The Opportunity Card allows you to live in Germany for a limited period while you look for work, with permission to take part-time work and trial employment. People whose qualification is already fully recognised in Germany qualify directly. Others need a university degree or vocational qualification recognised in the country where it was obtained, basic German or good English, and enough points under a system that rewards factors such as language, experience, age and previous time in Germany. It depends on meeting these conditions and on proving you can support yourself, usually through a blocked bank account.

NOTEThe required funds are updated each year.