Route: skilled worker and Blue Card

Blue Card thresholds 2026, § 18a/18b, IT without a degree, settlement, employer fast-track.

Use this route if you have a qualification and a qualified job in Germany. You apply for a national visa at the German mission in Nigeria: Visa and embassy.

EU Blue Card (§ 18g AufenthG)

• Regular: €50,700 gross a year (50 percent of the 2026 pension contribution ceiling). No approval of the Federal Employment Agency (BA) needed.
• Lower threshold: €45,934.20 (45.3 percent) with BA approval for shortage occupations (ISCO groups in § 18g (1) S. 2 Nr. 1) and for graduates within 3 years of their degree.
• IT without a degree (§ 18g (2)): ISCO groups 133 and 25, at least 3 years of experience in the last 7 years at degree level, same lower threshold, BA approval.
• Degree: German, recognised foreign or comparable to a German one, checked via anabin (Recognition).

Source: § 18g AufenthG; thresholds from the BA and Make it in Germany.

Other skilled-worker permits

• § 18a (vocational qualification) and § 18b (academic degree): recognised qualification, qualified job offer, BA approval where required (§ 18a, § 18b).
• Recognition partnership (§ 16d (3)): needs German at A2, which the law calls "hinreichende" language skills (§ 2 (10) AufenthG); B1 is "ausreichende" (§ 2 (11)).
• Employer fast-track (§ 81a): the employer asks the immigration office for prior approval before you apply for the visa. Whether and how the Lagos consulate treats these cases was not confirmed; ask the consulate.
• First permit at age 45 or over: salary threshold or pension provision. Basis: § 18 (2) Nr. 5 AufenthG / § 1 (2) BeschV; not for the Blue Card. Check before relying on an amount.
• Regulated professions (doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers) need a German licence first.

Settlement permit (§ 18c)

Skilled workers also need German at B1 ("ausreichend", § 18c (1) Nr. 4 with § 2 (11)).

• Skilled workers: 3 years with 36 months of pension contributions; 2 years / 24 months after German vocational training or study.
• Blue Card holders: 27 months with A1 or 21 months with B1 (§ 2 (11)).
• Other conditions in § 9 (2) apply. Source: § 18c.

Steps

1. Job contract and recognition (Recognition).
2. Documents ready (Documents).
3. Online application and appointment at the consulate.
4. After arrival: immigration office.

Spouse and children: Family. Fake offers: Scams.