Thresholds are recalculated every January (pegged to the pension ceiling) — the figures above are for 2026.
Do You Qualify: the 2026 Thresholds
Blue Card 2026: a degree + job offer from €50,700 a year; for shortage occupations (IT, engineers, doctors) and young professionals from €45,934.20.
✓ Verified: 15/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
AUTHORITY
Ausländerbehörde (ABH)
Municipal authorityThe Ausländerbehörde for your registered address is the one responsible. Enter your postcode and we will show yours.
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› Details and tips
👨🏻💻
Max recommends:
My offer was 2000 € below the threshold — I showed the employer the table, he raised the base and cut the bonus. Same cost to him, everything to the card.
👩🏼💼
Lea recommends:
Check your degree in anabin before signing: H+ status decides. University missing — plan 2–3 months for the ZAB statement.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
My offer is 45 000 € — just under the threshold. Over? ▾
Check whether it is a shortage occupation (lower threshold) and whether fixed bonuses count — the contractual annual gross matters. Sometimes one talk with the employer settles it.
My degree does not match the job — any chance? ▾
For most jobs what counts is a recognised degree, not its match with the role. Exceptions: regulated professions and the IT track via experience without any degree.
My degree is from outside the EU — does it count? ▾
Yes, if the university and degree are recognised (anabin status H+). If your university is missing, get the ZAB Statement of Comparability before applying.
Salary just below the threshold — no chance? ▾
For the Blue Card the threshold is hard. Plan B: the regular skilled-worker permit (§ 18a/b) without a salary threshold — with PR after 3 years instead of 21–27 months.