The salary thresholds for the German EU Blue Card change every year.
In 2026, the standard minimum gross annual salary is €50,700. A reduced threshold of €45,934.20 applies to shortage occupations, certain recent graduates and eligible IT specialists.
Applicants and employers should therefore make sure that they are not relying on outdated 2024 or 2025 figures.
Written By:
Hanna Holmberg
Legal Expert
Expertly reviewed by:
Daniel Dirmeier
Attorney at Law / Lawyer
Who needs to earn €50,700?
The standard threshold applies in 2026 where the employment does not fall within one of the reduced-threshold categories.
Salary alone is not sufficient. Applicants also require a concrete qualifying job offer in Germany, generally for at least six months, and must satisfy the remaining requirements of Section 18g AufenthG.
Who can use the lower €45,934.20 threshold?
The lower threshold applies to recognised shortage occupations.
These include, among others, academic STEM professions, medical doctors, pharmacists, certain nursing and midwifery professionals, teachers and educators, as well as specified management occupations in areas such as production, construction, logistics and IT.
Federal Employment Agency approval is generally required in these reduced-threshold cases.
EU Blue Card Salary Thresholds 2026
- Standard threshold: €50,700 gross per year
- Shortage occupations: €45,934.20
- Degree obtained within the previous three years: €45,934.20
- Certain IT specialists without a university degree: €45,934.20
- The job offer must generally cover at least six months of employment
- The salary thresholds are adjusted annually
Recent graduates can also benefit
The lower threshold is not restricted to shortage occupations.
If the applicant obtained their most recent university or comparable qualification no more than three years before the Blue Card application, the €45,934.20 threshold can apply even to employment outside the shortage-occupation list.
This is particularly important for international graduates entering the German labour market on an entry-level salary.
Can I obtain an EU Blue Card without a university degree?
In certain IT cases, yes.
Eligible IT specialists and managers can qualify without a formal university degree if they can demonstrate at least three years of relevant professional experience within the previous seven years. The experience must be at a level comparable to higher education and relevant to the position in Germany.
The reduced €45,934.20 salary threshold applies to this category in 2026.
What if my salary is just below the threshold?
The Blue Card may not be the only route.
A professional with an academic qualification may, for example, qualify for a residence permit under Section 18b AufenthG, which does not impose the same general salary threshold as the EU Blue Card.
It can therefore be useful to review the immigration options before rejecting a job offer or renegotiating a contract solely because the Blue Card threshold is not met.
Why do the salary thresholds change every year?
The thresholds are linked to Germany’s annual pension-insurance contribution assessment ceiling.
The standard threshold corresponds to 50 percent of the relevant annual ceiling, while the lower threshold is 45.3 percent. New euro amounts are therefore determined for each calendar year.
Conclusion
Not every EU Blue Card applicant needs to earn €50,700 in 2026.
The lower €45,934.20 threshold can apply to shortage occupations, certain recent graduates and eligible IT professionals without a university degree.
The salary figure should nevertheless never be considered in isolation. Qualification, job description, graduation date, professional experience and Federal Employment Agency approval may all affect eligibility.
Not Sure If You Qualify? Let's Find Out.
Whether it’s a first application, a job change or the step to a settlement permit: in a free initial consultation, a lawyer personally reviews your EU Blue Card situation and shows you the next steps.
