Route: skilled worker and EU Blue Card

Blue Card, skilled-worker permits, salary thresholds 2026 and the fast-track procedure.

This route needs a job offer from a German employer and a qualification Germany accepts.

EU Blue Card

• Regular threshold 2026: €50,700 gross a year.
• Lower threshold: €45,934.20 for shortage occupations (for example STEM, doctors, nurses, teachers) and career starters; the Federal Employment Agency must approve.
• Your degree must be German, recognised or comparable: an anabin printout or a ZAB Statement of Comparability, see Recognition.
• Settlement permit (§ 18c (2) AufenthG) after 27 months, or 21 months with German at B1, plus pension contributions.

Other permits

• § 18a (vocational qualification) and § 18b (degree): recognition in Germany, a job offer and, as a rule, approval of the Federal Employment Agency.
• Experience route (§ 19c (2) with § 6 BeschV) for non-regulated jobs: a qualification recognised in the Philippines, at least 2 years of experience, salary of at least €45,630 (not needed with a collective agreement).
• Age 45 or over for a first permit (not Blue Card, also with a collective agreement): salary of at least €55,770 in 2026, or proof of adequate pension provision (§ 18 (2) no. 5 AufenthG / § 1 (2) BeschV).
• Regulated professions (nurses, doctors, teachers): Nursing recognition and Recognition.

Steps

1. Check your degree in anabin; if needed apply to the ZAB: Recognition.
2. Find a job through the Federal Employment Agency job board and Make it in Germany.
3. Documents: Documents. Exit rules for workers: Leaving the Philippines.
4. Visa at the Embassy in Manila: Visa application. Then After arrival.

Fast-track procedure (§ 81a)

Only the employer can start it, at LEA Berlin, with your power of attorney. The Embassy in Manila names the accelerated skilled-worker procedure among visas applied for at the embassy.