Key takeaway: For 2026 the Foreign Office table lists €50,700 (standard EU Blue Card) and €45,934.20 (shortage occupations and similar cases); settlement can follow after 21 to 27 months on a Blue Card or three years on a skilled-worker permit, on the statutory conditions.

Blue Card salary minimum for 2026

The Federal Foreign Office table for 2026 lists a minimum gross salary of €50,700 a year for the standard EU Blue Card (§ 18g(1) sentence 1 AufenthG) and €45,934.20 for shortage occupations and the other cases named in § 18g. The figure is announced each calendar year in the Bundesanzeiger (§ 18g), so check it again for the year you apply. This article does not establish whether accountancy counts as a shortage occupation.

Auswärtiges Amt: minimum salary for labour migration 2026 Gesetze im Internet: § 18g AufenthG (EU Blue Card)

Visa and residence-permit fees

The Federal Foreign Office lists EUR 75 as the fee for a national visa for longer stays. The fee for issuing a residence permit or an EU Blue Card in Germany is a separate charge set in § 45 of the Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) at 100 euros. Fees can change; confirm the amount with the authority that handles your application.

Federal Foreign Office: visa fees Gesetze im Internet: § 45 AufenthV (fees)

Settlement permit timelines

An EU Blue Card holder can receive a settlement permit after at least 27 months of qualifying employment with the required contributions, shortened to 21 months with sufficient German (§ 18c(2) AufenthG). On the skilled-worker route § 18c(1) requires three years holding a permit under §§ 18a, 18b, 18d or 18g, together with other conditions such as 36 months of pension contributions. Each list of conditions is longer than this summary.

Gesetze im Internet: § 18c AufenthG (settlement permit)

What this article does not establish

It gives no salary ranges, processing times, German-level expectations or statements about professional titles, because none could be supported by an official source. Ask the competent embassy or Ausländerbehörde for current processing times and check qualification recognition with the recognition authority before applying.

Questions before acting

Is €50,700 the salary for every Blue Card?

No. The Foreign Office table lists €50,700 for the standard case and €45,934.20 for shortage occupations and other cases named in § 18g.

Is the €100 fee a visa fee?

No. The Foreign Office lists EUR 75 for a national visa; the 100-euro fee in § 45 AufenthV is for issuing a residence permit or EU Blue Card in Germany.

Corrections in this revision

The previous version included statements without sufficient direct support. This revision removes or corrects:

  • Blue Card threshold of about €46,530
  • Permanent residence 'in 21-33 months' and '4 years' for the skilled-worker route
  • €100 described as a visa application fee
  • Unsourced salary ranges, 4-8 week processing time and B2 German expectations
  • Unrelated reference links and World Bank/OECD data sources

Review scope: legal and financial statements in this revised article. Recheck on a provider, professional, immigration or tax-rule change; reuse of dated figures requires a new check.

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About the author

António Mira is the founder of whereTOemigrate. For over a decade he has worked at the intersection of Portuguese real estate and overseas business, helping international clients navigate the cross-border decisions that come with relocating. He sits on the board of CCIAP (Portuguese-Arab Chamber of Commerce), the Portuguese-Saudi Business Council, and the Portugal-Hong Kong Business Association — always with one focus: enabling overseas business and human mobility into and out of Portugal.

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