EU Blue Card salary threshold for 2026

Who this guide is for

• Applicants comparing a job offer against the current Blue Card salary requirement.
• Employers drafting a contract that needs to clear the correct threshold.
• People deciding between the general and reduced threshold for their occupation or graduation date.
• Anyone who found an older figure online and wants the current one.

What you need

• Your gross annual salary as stated in the contract, before tax and deductions.
• Knowledge of whether your occupation is officially listed as a shortage occupation.
• Your graduation date, if you are relying on the young-professional reduced threshold.
• Confirmation of whether your role is a qualifying IT specialist position under the skilled immigration rules.

Step-by-step process

1. 01

   Work out which threshold applies to you

   Most applicants are measured against the general minimum. A lower, reduced threshold applies to defined shortage occupations, to young professionals applying within three years of graduation, and to qualifying IT specialists. Which category you fall into changes which figure your contract has to reach.

2. 02

   Check the current year's figures

   Salary thresholds for the Blue Card are set for each calendar year and published by Make it in Germany. Never rely on a number you saw last year or on a site that does not show a publication date.

3. 03

   Compare your gross salary to the figure

   The relevant number is the gross annual salary stated in your employment contract, not take-home pay and not including one-off bonuses unless they are officially considered part of the guaranteed gross salary.

4. 04

   Confirm before you sign or negotiate

   Because the threshold changes each year, confirm the current figure again shortly before signing, especially if your offer was made near the end of the previous year.

Documents checklist

• Signed employment contract stating the gross annual salary
• Job description confirming the role and, where relevant, its shortage-occupation classification
• Degree certificate and comparability evidence, or documented IT professional experience
• Proof of graduation date, if relying on the young-professional reduced threshold
• Current printout or reference of the official salary figure used for the application
• Valid passport

Common mistakes

• Using a salary figure copied from an old forum post or outdated blog.
• Assuming any IT role automatically qualifies for the reduced threshold without checking the criteria.
• Comparing net salary to the threshold instead of gross.
• Missing the three-year graduation window for the young-professional reduced rate.
• Not re-checking the figure when a job offer straddles two calendar years.
• Assuming the shortage-occupation list never changes.

What happens next

• Confirm the current year's figure directly on the official source before finalising your contract.
• Keep the source and date you checked alongside your application documents.
• If your salary is close to the threshold, ask the employer to state the gross figure explicitly in writing.
• Move on to the EU Blue Card guide for the full application sequence.

How Burokrat helps

Frequently asked questions

What is the general EU Blue Card salary threshold for 2026?

For 2026 the general minimum gross salary is €50,700 per year, as published by Make it in Germany. This figure is set annually, so confirm the current amount before relying on it.

What is the reduced Blue Card salary threshold?

For 2026 the reduced threshold is €45,934.20 gross per year. It applies to shortage occupations, young professionals within three years of graduation, and qualifying IT specialists, as defined by the authorities.

Does the salary threshold change every year?

Yes. The figures are republished annually, so a number from a previous year should not be used to plan a new application.

Can bonuses count toward the salary threshold?

This depends on how the bonus is structured in the contract and on the responsible authority's assessment. Check with the authority or an adviser rather than assuming a bonus counts.

Is the reduced threshold the same for all shortage occupations?

The reduced figure is the same number, but whether your specific occupation is officially classified as a shortage occupation is a separate question decided against the current official list.

Where can I compare the Blue Card to another work visa if my salary does not reach the threshold?

See the Blue Card versus work visa comparison, since the skilled-worker work visa has no general salary threshold.

Official sources

• Make it in Germany — EU Blue Card (official portal)
• § 18g AufenthG — EU Blue Card salary requirement

Related guides

Browse every guide in the bureaucracy guide hub, or go back to the Burokrat homepage.