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. Which permit fits depends on what you have.

EU Blue Card (§ 18g AufenthG)

• Regular threshold 2026: €50,700 gross a year.
• Lower threshold: €45,934.20 for shortage occupations (for example STEM, doctors, nurses, teachers) and for career starters. Here the Federal Employment Agency must approve.
• IT specialists without a degree but with at least 3 years of comparable experience within the last 7 years can also get a Blue Card at the lower threshold (Federal Employment Agency, newsletter 03/2026).
• Your degree must be German, recognised, or comparable: an anabin printout or a ZAB Statement of Comparability, see Recognition.
• Settlement permit after 27 months with German A1, or 21 months with B1 (§ 18c (2)).

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 Ukraine (at least 2 years of training, or a degree), at least 2 years of experience in the last 5 years, salary 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 (doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers): recognition first, see Recognition.

Fast-track procedure (§ 81a)

For people still abroad. Only the employer can start it, at LEA Berlin, with your power of attorney. Fee €411 plus the €75 visa fee. See Coming from abroad.

Already in Berlin with § 24? Read Switching to a work permit.