Germany’s EU Blue Card salary threshold is the deciding factor for eligibility under this category, and it is a figure that changes every year. Germany’s EU Blue Card salary threshold consists of two parallel levels. This article explains how it is calculated and update notes.
What is Germany’s EU Blue Card salary threshold
Germany’s EU Blue Card salary threshold is the minimum annual gross salary a job offer must reach for the candidate to qualify under this category. There are two levels: the standard threshold for regular jobs, and the reduced threshold for jobs in shortage occupations or for recent graduates.
The threshold requirement is set out in Section 18g of the German Residence Act. An employment contract that does not meet the applicable threshold will be refused an EU Blue Card by the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners’ Registration Office), even if it falls short by only a few hundred EUR per year.
How the threshold is calculated
The threshold is calculated as a percentage of Germany’s general pension insurance contribution assessment ceiling (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze allgemeine Rentenversicherung). The standard threshold is about 50% of the ceiling, and the reduced threshold is about 45% of the ceiling. Because the Beitragsbemessungsgrenze is adjusted annually, the EU Blue Card thresholds are automatically updated accordingly.
This means there is no permanently fixed figure; each new financial year has a new threshold. Those preparing an application must use the threshold for the year of submission, not figures from a previous year.
Important Notes
The salary counted toward the threshold must be a fixed salary guaranteed in the contract. A 13th month’s salary is counted if it is fixed in the contract; discretionary bonuses are not counted. IT specialists may qualify for an EU Blue Card without a university degree if they can prove at least 3 years of relevant experience.
Interested parties should check the current threshold at Make it in Germany before negotiating a contract. The contract should state a salary that exceeds the threshold by a small margin as a safeguard against calculation errors or mid-year changes.
You should refer to EU Blue Card Duc and Make it in Germany to check current conditions.
Summary
Germany’s EU Blue Card salary threshold is the minimum gross salary required for eligibility under this category, comprising the standard threshold (about 50% of the Beitragsbemessungsgrenze) and the reduced threshold (about 45%, for shortage occupations or recent graduates). It is updated annually. You should check the current threshold at Make it in Germany before signing a contract.
