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Germany EU Blue Card Eligibility Calculator 2026
Check Your Visa Eligibility Score in 60 Seconds
Free • Germany
1. Recognised degree (Anabin H+) or 3+ yrs IT experience?
2. Gross annual salary offered?
3. Shortage occupation (STEM, medicine, teaching, manufacturing)?
4. Job contract ≥12 months signed?
Germany EU Blue Card: An Overview
Germany EU Blue Card Eligibility Calculator 2026 is one of the most searched immigration pathways for people moving to Germany
This page gives you a fast, no-signup way to check where you stand before you spend money on application fees or agents. Our calculator mirrors the official rule set and then translates the answers into a clear, percentage-based eligibility score. You will see exactly which requirements you already meet, which ones need work, and what the realistic next step looks like.
If you want a deeper, AI-personalised plan covering documents, timeline, costs and alternative pathways, run the full assessment — it compares your profile against every visa we track for your destination and ranks the routes most likely to succeed for someone with your background.
Germany EU Blue Card Requirements Explained
Recognised University Degree
German degree or foreign equivalent recognised in Anabin database (H+ status).
Binding Job Offer in Germany
Contract ≥6 months meeting salary thresholds.
Salary Threshold 2026
General: €48,300/yr. Shortage occupations + new entrants (≤3 yrs since graduation): €43,759/yr.
IT Professionals Without Degree
Permitted with 3+ yrs comparable experience in last 7 yrs at salary threshold.
Health Insurance
Statutory (gesetzlich) or private from approval date.
Official German EU Blue Card Information
Germany EU Blue Card: Frequently Asked Questions
Common mistakes to avoid
Degree not in Anabin H+ database — application paused for ZAB recognition (3+ months).
Contract salary below threshold even by €100 — auto-rejection.
IT route without showing 3 yrs in last 7 yrs of relevant experience.
Missing health insurance evidence at appointment.
Improve your chances
- 1
Use Anabin Statement of Comparability before applying.
- 2
Target shortage list (Engpassberufe) to use lower €43,759 threshold.
- 3
Reach B1 German within 21 months for fast-track settlement.
- 4
Spouse joins without German A1 (Blue Card concession).
EU Blue Card Germany — 2026 thresholds
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| General salary threshold | €48,300/yr |
| Shortage / new entrant | €43,759/yr |
| Visa fee | €75 |
| eAT residence card | €100 |
| Initial validity | Up to 4 yrs (or contract + 3 months) |
| Settlement (Niederlassungserlaubnis) | 27 months (A1 German) / 21 months (B1 German) |
| EU long-term residence | After 33 months Blue Card holding |
Step-by-step application process
- Self-assess eligibility. Use this calculator and review the official Germany EU Blue Card Eligibility Calculator 2026 criteria before paying any fees. Confirm you meet every hard gate (age, language, health, character, qualifying offer or investment) — failing one gate cannot be offset by scoring well elsewhere.
- Gather and translate documents. Collect passport, civil documents, qualifications, language test, police clearances from every country lived in 12+ months since age 17, and proof of funds. Obtain certified translations and apostilles/attestations where the destination authority requires them.
- Submit the formal application. Lodge online through the official government portal listed on this page. Pay the correct government fee, complete biometrics at the designated centre, and upload supporting evidence in the exact format the authority specifies.
- Respond to requests for evidence. Caseworkers commonly request additional payslips, employer letters, or medicals. Respond inside the deadline given — most refusals come from missed deadlines, not weak profiles.
- Travel and activate status. On approval, collect your visa vignette or eVisa, enter the country before it expires, register your address where required, and collect any biometric residence permit/card. Keep digital and paper copies of every document.
Sources & references
Every figure on this page is sourced from official government or regulator publications. Cross-check before applying — rules change.
This calculator is editorial guidance, not legal advice. Immigration thresholds, points, salary floors and occupation lists change frequently — always verify your route against the official government source linked on this page before applying. For complex cases, consult a licensed immigration adviser regulated in the destination country.
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