Germany Raises Blue Card Thresholds: higher salary requirements

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Germany has officially confirmed an increase in minimum salary thresholds for the EU Blue Card, effective from 1 January 2026. The announcement by the Federal Interior Ministry leaves employers with limited time to adjust employment offers before the new rules take effect. Both standard occupations and shortage roles, including STEM professions, are affected.

From 2026, the general Blue Card salary threshold will rise from €48,300 to €50,700 per year. For shortage occupations, such as IT, engineering and healthcare, the minimum will increase from €43,760 to €45,934.20.

Index-linked adjustment explained

The increase follows Germany’s statutory formula linking Blue Card salaries to the annual social security contribution ceiling. Standard roles are set at 50% of the ceiling, while shortage occupations are calculated at 45.3%. As wage levels and social security benchmarks rise, the Blue Card thresholds adjust automatically.

Authorities argue that this mechanism ensures consistency with domestic labour market conditions while maintaining Germany’s attractiveness for highly skilled foreign professionals.

Immediate impact on hiring plans

For employers, the change creates immediate compliance risks. Any employment contracts issued in late 2025 that fail to meet the new annual thresholds will be rejected by immigration authorities, potentially delaying onboarding well into 2026. Companies with international recruitment pipelines are already renegotiating offers or reassessing relocation budgets.

The risk is particularly acute in sectors facing acute labour shortages, where delays or lost candidates could have material operational consequences.

Alternative pathways and planning

Some employers are exploring alternative immigration routes, including Germany’s upcoming Opportunity Card job-seeker visa, scheduled to launch nationwide in March 2026. While this pathway may offer temporary flexibility, it does not replace the Blue Card for long-term skilled employment.

Immigration advisers stress the importance of reviewing gross annual salary figures, ensuring that guaranteed compensation meets the threshold, and updating approvals with the Federal Employment Agency before the end of 2025.

A longer-term signal on skilled migration

The higher salary floors underline Germany’s approach to skilled migration: encouraging the inflow of high-value talent while safeguarding local wage standards. Blue Card issuance has grown strongly in recent years, and the government is steering that momentum towards sectors with the most acute skills gaps.

As reported by International Investment experts, Germany’s 2026 Blue Card adjustment highlights a broader European shift toward higher entry costs for skilled migration. For employers, this translates into rising payroll commitments and more strategic workforce planning, while for candidates it reinforces the premium placed on experience, seniority and specialised skills.