Route: skilled worker and EU Blue Card

Blue Card, skilled-worker permits, the experience route, 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 career starters (degree at most 3 years old) and for IT specialists without a degree who have at least 3 years of experience in the last 7 (Federal Employment Agency, newsletter 03/2026). The Embassy Hanoi page lists €45,630 for career starters and IT; that is the threshold of the experience route below. Confirm with the mission.
• Your degree must be German, recognised, or comparable: anabin printouts for both the degree and the university, or a ZAB Statement of Comparability, see Recognition (Embassy Hanoi).
• Settlement permit (§ 18c (2)) after 27 months with basic German (A1), or after 21 months with German at B1.

Other permits

• § 18a (vocational qualification) and § 18b (degree): recognition in Germany, a job offer and, as a rule, approval of the Federal Employment Agency (vocational skilled workers).
• Experience route (§ 19c (2) with § 6 BeschV) for non-regulated jobs: a qualification recognised in Vietnam (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) (Embassy page).
• Intra-company transfer (ICT card) for staff of companies with a German branch (Embassy page).
• Regulated professions (doctors, nurses, teachers): see Recognition and Nursing.
• Age 45 or over for a first permit (not Blue Card): salary of at least €55,770 in 2026, or proof of adequate pension provision.

Steps

1. Check your degree in anabin; if needed, apply to the ZAB: Recognition.
2. Find a job through official portals: the Federal Employment Agency job board and Make it in Germany.
3. Translations and papers: Documents. Visa: Visa application.
4. Residence permit at LEA Berlin: After arrival.

Fast-track procedure (§ 81a)

Only the employer can start it, at LEA Berlin (Business Immigration Service), with your power of attorney. Fee €411 plus the €75 visa fee. Target times in guidance are not deadlines set in the statute.