The EU Blue Card has made working in the European Union easier for non-EU citizens.
The primary purpose of the EU Blue Card is to ensure ease of access for highly qualified professionals looking to work in Europe. Furthermore, it has aimed to bring workers from other parts of the world to Europe in areas where there are employment shortages. For example, in Germany, such areas include engineering, science, medicine and IT.
The EU Blue Card salary requirements in Germany change every year, and therefore applicants need to stay ahead of those developments. This article will outline these changes and what they mean. Should you require specific legal advice regarding matters relating to the EU Blue Card, please do not hesitate to contact us directly using our contact details.
If you have a particular issue or legal question concerning German Immigration Law, you can contact our law office anytime. Our lawyers for German Immigration Law can be reached by phone, email and also provide video conferencing options. For more legal information, please visit our German Immigration Information Center.
What are the Changes to the EU Blue Card Salary Requirements?
The minimum amount a person can earn and still be eligible for an EU Blue Card for 2026 is €50,700. These figures are the requirements for positions without work shortages.
Regarding jobs in areas with work shortages, the salary requirement for 2025 is that someone needs to earn €45,934.20 a year. Areas with work shortages include information and communications specialists, engineers, medical doctors, and mathematicians. This change in the EU Blue Card salary requirements has been in effect since January 1, 2026, and it means that employers must budget for this figure if they wish to hire professionals on EU Blue Cards or renew the EU Blue Cards of current holders. This also applies to pending EU Blue Card applications.
However, if the firm has individuals currently on EU Blue Cards, which do not require renewal, the company will not need to make any significant changes. The EU Blue Card is designed to attract highly qualified individuals, and firms should balance the cost of hiring such individuals with the benefits they may bring to the company.
Benefits of the EU Blue Card
The EU Blue Card offers numerous benefits for both employers and employees. The professionals themselves have a more accessible right of access to Germany to live and work there. Should they wish to pursue a permanent residence permit, the application timeframe is after 27 months of living in Germany, which can be reduced to 21 months if they demonstrate the required German language skills. In this case, the required level of German is B1.
While working in Germany, EU Blue Card holders benefit from the same employment rights as their German and EU counterparts. Furthermore, the EU Blue Card allows for family reunification as the worker’s spouse and children can join them in the EU. Regarding benefits for companies, the EU Blue Card allows them to access a significantly larger pool from which to select their employees. The EU Blue Card opens up the wider world, allowing companies to benefit from hiring the brightest and most creative minds from anywhere.
Another option available for companies to bring highly qualified professionals from outside Europe is the Intra-Corporate Transfer (ICT) Card. However, there are differences between the two options, as the ICT Card is designed for transfers within individual companies.
Legal Basis for the EU Blue Card in Germany
Like most EU countries, the EU Blue Card is valid and widely used in Germany. It is derived from the EU Directive 2009/50/EC and transposed into German law by Section 18g of the German Residence Act. The EU Blue Card is available in nearly all European countries. Denmark and Ireland are the exceptions to the rule, as current EU members do not use the EU Blue Card. It is worth noting that salary requirements differ across the continent, reflecting the individual needs of Member States. Therefore, do not expect the exact salary requirements for Germany to be the same as those in Luxembourg.
Immigration Law Firm for EU Blue Card Salary and Other Issues
Regarding immigration law and residence permits, including those related to the EU Blue Cards, such as salary and other requirements, please do not hesitate to contact Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte. As a full-service, multidisciplinary law firm, we offer comprehensive assistance and counsel across various legal fields. Complementing our knowledge of immigration law with corporate and employment law provides excellent service to us regarding issues related to the EU Blue Card. Our firm is based in the German cities of Aachen, Cologne, and Düsseldorf. However, we also have meeting room facilities in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Frankfurt.
