Check your Germany eligibility instantly
Germany Skilled Worker Visa (Fachkräftevisum) Eligibility
Check Your Visa Eligibility Score in 60 Seconds
Free • Germany
1. Qualification recognition status?
2. Signed job offer in qualified occupation?
3. Years of relevant work experience?
4. German level?
Germany Skilled Worker Visa Overview
Germany Skilled Worker Visa (Fachkräftevisum) 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 Skilled Worker Visa Requirements
Recognised Qualification
Foreign vocational training (≥2 yrs) or university degree fully or partially recognised under the Skilled Immigration Act 2.0 (since Nov 2023 / Mar 2024 / Jun 2024 phases).
Job Offer or Recognition Partnership
Binding employment contract in qualified occupation; or "Recognition Partnership" allowing entry before full recognition while completing it in Germany.
Salary
No fixed minimum (unless Blue Card route); must match collective agreement (Tarifvertrag) for the occupation; for over-45s entering first time: ≥€49,830/yr (2026) OR pension provision proof.
Experienced Professional Route
§19c(2) AufenthG — 2 yrs work experience + state-recognised qualification (any field, no recognition needed for IT and non-regulated jobs at €48,300+).
Language
German A2 generally; specific regulated professions (medical, nursing, teaching) require B2.
German Skilled Worker Visa Official Information
Germany Skilled Worker Visa Frequently Asked Questions
Common mistakes to avoid
Applying before starting recognition file with the competent chamber.
Contract salary below Tarif (chamber check fails).
Over-45 first-entrants missing salary floor or pension proof.
Healthcare/teaching applicants without B2 German + Approbation/Anerkennung.
Improve your chances
- 1
Use the Recognition Partnership to start work while finishing recognition.
- 2
Pick employer who already sponsors international skilled workers — faster ABH.
- 3
Reach B1 German to unlock 2-yr settlement track.
- 4
For IT: use §19c experienced-professional shortcut (skip formal recognition).
Skilled Worker Visa fees & thresholds (2026)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa fee | €75 |
| eAT residence card | €100 |
| Over-45 first-entry salary floor | €49,830/yr |
| Experienced professional route minimum (non-Blue Card) | €48,300/yr |
| Initial residence | Up to 4 yrs |
| Niederlassungserlaubnis (settlement) | 3 yrs (skilled worker) — or 2 yrs with B1 German |
| Recognition Partnership max duration | 3 yrs to complete recognition |
Step-by-step application process
- Self-assess eligibility. Use this calculator and review the official Germany Skilled Worker Visa (Fachkräftevisum) Eligibility 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.
Helpful resources
Continue your Germany research with these trusted next steps.
Popular guides
Tailored visa & PR guides by occupation and nationality.
Ready for your full assessment?
Get matched against 110+ visa programs across 24 countries with AI-powered personalized recommendations.