As 2026 is gradually coming to an end, the German government revealed the 2026 wage thresholds that foreigners must meet to qualify for an EU Blue Card.
Interested applicants in shortage occupations have a different income baseline for the EU Blue Card than those in ordinary employment.
Eligible candidates must also have a German academic qualification or a recognized foreign degree and acquire an employment offer for at least six months.
Germany has established a minimum gross annual income of €50,700 (roughly ₦86.6 million) for foreign workers to qualify for an EU Blue Card in 2026, as per government recommendations.
The EU Blue Card is a residence card established exclusively for non-German academics and professionals with comparable qualifications seeking skilled employment in Germany.
Germany shows how much foreign workers must earn to be eligible for the EU Blue Card in 2026.
According to the government, the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community reviews and publishes salary criteria annually.
Who qualifies for the EU Blue Card
To be qualified, an applicant
- must have a German academic qualification or a foreign degree recognized as comparable to one.
- Those without a formal university degree can still apply, as long as they completed a tertiary-level certificate that took at least three years to complete.
- In Germany, such a qualification must meet at least level 6 of the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 2011) or European Qualifications Framework.
- In addition to qualifications, applicants must have a concrete job offer from a German firm.
That offer must include a position that matches the applicant’s field of study, endure at least six months, and meet the wage criteria.
Where the role comes within a regulated profession, the applicant must either have the requisite license to practice or demonstrate that one is on the way at the time of the visa application. Lower the qualification requirement for shortage occupation.
Workers in skill-scarce areas in Germany can apply for an EU Blue Card with a reduced wage floor of €45,934.20 (roughly ₦78.5 million) if approved by the Federal Employment Agency. This lower criterion recognizes the country’s need for skilled labor in some fields.
According to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), each question has four possible responses, but only one is correct.