How to apply for a German Blue Card

By Nicolas Bouliane Verified by 3 experts

The EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte) is a residence permit for skilled workers.

With a Blue Card, you can…

This guide explains how to apply for a Blue Card in Berlin or in your home country.

Who needs a Blue Card?

If you are not a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you need a residence permit to live in Germany. The Blue Card is a type of residence permit.

If you are a permanent resident, you don’t need a Blue Card. You can already work anywhere.

Who needs a residence permit?

Blue Card requirements

To get a Blue Card, you need…18

  • A guaranteed job offer in Germany
    You must find a job before you apply for the Blue Card.15 The job must have…
    • A German employer
      You must work for a German employer, or an employer with an office in Germany.26 It can be a remote job. You must be an employee, not a freelancer.
    • A high salary
      Your salary must be over 48,300€ per year (before taxes, without bonuses).3 If your job is in the list of shortage occupations, your salary must be over 43,759.80€ per year.20 If you graduated less than 3 years ago, your salary must be over 43,759.80€ per year.28 Your salary must cover the cost of living for you and your family.
    • A long term contract
      Your job contract must be for at least 6 months.23
  • Qualifications for this job
    You must know how to do your job. For example, to get a programming job, you must know how to program.
  • Permission to do this job
    You must have all the permits and special qualifications needed for the job.12 For example, doctors, engineers and lawyers need special qualifications. – Find the requirements for your job
  • A university degree
    Your university degree must be recognised in Germany. Use Anabin to see if your school and degree are recognised. – How to use Anabin

You do not need a university degree if…27

  • You are an IT specialist
  • and you have at least 3 years of experience
  • and your salary is over 43,759.80€ per year

You do not need to speak German to get a Blue Card.25

If you can’t get a Blue Card, there are other residence permits that let you work in Germany.

Blue Card alternatives

How to apply in Berlin

You can apply for a Blue Card after you move to Germany:

  1. Come to Germany
  2. Apply for a Blue Card at your local Ausländerbehörde. If you don’t live in Berlin, find your local Ausländerbehörde and apply there.
  3. Get your Blue Card
  4. Start working

You can apply in Germany if…

If you can’t apply in Germany, you must apply in your home country.

Usually, you can’t work before you get your Blue Card.30 It can take a long time. You might wait a few months with no income. It’s cheaper and safer if you apply in your home country, then come to Germany when you have permission to work.

If you need help, an immigration lawyer or a relocation consultant can take care of everything. It costs 500€ to 2,000€.35 Your employer might pay for it, or hire someone to help you.

1. Come to Germany

Come to Germany and look for a job.

  • If you have a National Visa or residence permit
    If your current visa or residence permit expires after you applied for the Blue Card, you don’t need to leave Germany. It stays valid until you get your Blue Card.
  • If you are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom or the United States
    You can come to Germany without a visa. You can stay 90 days in Germany without a residence permit. You can look for a job, and apply for the Blue Card in Germany.9 You can’t work before you get your Blue Card.
  • If you have a Blue Card from another EU country
    You can come to Germany without a visa.33 If you have your Blue Card since at least 12 months, you can already start working in Germany.29 When you arrive in Germany, you have 1 month to convert your Blue Card to a German one at the Ausländerbehörde.34
  • If you have an opportunity card
    You can come to Germany and look for a job. You can work 20 hours per week. To work full time, you must switch to a Blue Card or a work visa.
  • If you have a job seeker visa
    You can come to Germany and look for a job. To start working, you must get a Blue Card or a work visa.11
  • If you have a Schengen visa
    Schengen visas are for tourism, not immigration. You can’t apply for a Blue Card with a Schengen visa. Your application will be rejected. You must apply in your home country.24

If these options don’t apply to you, you must apply for the Blue Card in your home country.19

2. Find a job

You must find a job before you apply for the Blue Card.15 Your job offer must meet the Blue Card requirements.

How to find a job

3. Prepare your application

Before you apply for the Blue Card…

If you bring your family to Germany, you can apply for their family reunion visa at the same time. You must prepare their documents too.

While you wait for your Ausländerbehörde appointment, you should also…

4. Apply for the Blue Card online

You must apply for the Blue Card online.4 You do not need an Ausländerbehörde appointment. It takes 15 minutes.

Apply for the Blue Card

It costs 100€. It’s cheaper for Turkish citizens. You can pay with Visa, Mastercard or PayPal. You can’t pay with cash or Girocard.8 The fee is tax-deductible, so keep the receipt.

After you pay and send your application, you can download a PDF. This is your proof of application. Save it for later.

5. Wait

The Ausländerbehörde will process your application. There is no way to track your application. You must wait for their response. It takes a few months.

While you wait, your current National Visa or residence permit might expire. It’s extended until the Ausländerbehörde processes your application.

If your visa or residence permit expires

If you have an opportunity card, you can work 20 hours per week while you wait for your Blue Card.

What happens while you wait

6. Go to your appointment

A few weeks later, the Ausländerbehörde will email you an appointment date. If you get an appointment, you are almost guaranteed to get your Blue Card.

Follow the instructions in the email. You might need to send extra documents, or bring them to your appointment.

What happens during your appointment

If your Blue Card is approved, you will get a second appointment to pick up your plastic residence card. While you wait, you can start working. You will get a document that confirms this.7

7. Get your Blue Card

Go to your second Ausländerbehörde appointment and pick up your Blue Card. Your new Blue Card is valid for up to 4 years.17 If you have a limited work contract, your Blue Card is valid for a shorter time. For example, if you have a 2 year work contract, your Blue Card is valid for 2 years + 3 months.3

How to pick up your Blue Card

8. Start working in Germany

Starting a new job in Germany

What to do next

How to apply in your country

You can also apply for a Blue Card in your country, then move to Germany. This is cheaper and safer, because when you arrive in Germany, you can already start working. You don’t need to wait in Germany without an income.

You must find a job before you apply.15 Your job offer must meet the Blue Card requirements. If you don’t have a job offer, you can get an opportunity card, come to Germany, find a job, then apply for a Blue Card in Germany.

To get a Blue Card faster, use the fast-track procedure (Beschleunigtes Verfahren). It costs 411€.

How to apply in your country

Required documents

These are the required documents in Berlin.2 If you apply elsewhere, they require different documents. Check the website of the Ausländerbehörde, embassy or consulate where you apply. – Find your embassy or consulate

  • Passport
    When you apply online, include a colour scan of your passport. When you go to your appointment, bring your original passport. You get it back during the appointment; they do not keep it.
  • Passport photo (35 × 45 mm)
    The photo should be less than 6 months old.31 You do not need to cut the photos yourself; they have a tool for this. – Where to get passport photos
  • Job contract or job offer
    Bring the original, not a copy.
  • Job description form (Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis)
    Your employer should fill this form and sign it. Download the form here or on Berlin.de.
  • Proof of health insurance
    You need valid health insurance. Travel insurance is not accepted. Ask a health insurance broker to help you choose health insurance.
    • Health insurance card
    • or proof of public health insurance
      Get a Mitgliedsbescheinigung nach 175 SGB V from your health insurer or your health insurance broker.
    • or proof of private health insurance
      Bring your insurance contract, a Mitgliedsbescheinigung, and bank statements that show health insurance payments. Get these documents from your health insurer or your health insurance broker.6
  • Proof of housing
    You need a place to live where you can register your address. If you apply in Berlin, your home address must be in Berlin.
    • Lease
      It must show the size of your apartment. Your apartment must be big enough (9 m² per adult, 6 m² per child).39 You must make enough money to pay your rent.37 It can be a temporary lease, a WG or a sublet.
    • and tenancy confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung)
      Some temporary apartments and sublets don’t give you this document. You might not get a Blue Card without it.1
    • and registration certificate (Anmeldebestätigung)
      You must register your address to get this document. If you don’t have it, your lease and tenancy confirmation are sometimes enough. At least bring proof that you have a Bürgeramt appointment.5
  • University degree
    If you are an IT specialist with at least 3 years of experience, you don’t need a degree.27
  • Statement of comparability (Zeugnisbewertung)
    If your university degree is not recognised in Germany, you must get a statement of comparability (Zeugnisbewertung) from the ZAB. If you are an IT specialist with at least 3 years of experience, you don’t need this. – More information
  • Occupation practice permit (Berufsausübungserlaubnis)
    If you need specific qualifications to do your job, bring all the required diplomas and permits. For example, doctors, engineers and tax advisors need specific qualifications. Use the recognition finder to know if you need specific qualifications.
  • Translations
    If your documents are not in German, bring translations. For certificates and official documents, bring certified translations. They sometimes accept untranslated documents, but don’t take the risk. Get translations from Red Tape Translation or Lingoking.

Use PDF files or photos. Don’t use word documents or other file formats.32

After you get your Blue Card

What to do after you get your residence permit

Give feedback

Tell me how long it took to get your Blue Card. Your feedback helps thousands of people plan their application.

See other people’s feedback

Renew your Blue Card

Your Blue Card is valid for up to 4 years. In Berlin, you must renew it around 8 weeks before it expires, not sooner.16 To renew your Blue Card, you must use the same form that you used to apply for your Blue Card, or use the contact form.

You can also apply for permanent residence after 27 months. If you speak B1 German, you can get it after 21 months.10

If you change or lose your job

When you change jobs, always tell the Ausländerbehörde. You might need their permission to work for a different employer.

If you lose your job, your Blue Card stays valid. Tell the Ausländerbehörde as soon as you can. In Berlin, they give you 6 months to find another job. While you are unemployed, you can get unemployment benefits.

What happens to your Blue Card

Travel with a Blue Card

Your Blue Card lets you visit other Schengen area countries without a visa. You can travel outside of Germany for up to 12 months.22 If you travel longer, your Blue Card expires.

Travel with a residence permit

Self-employment with a Blue Card

Your Blue Card might allow part-time self-employment. Check your Zusatzblatt to see if it’s allowed.

Check your work contract too. You might need to tell your employer about your self-employment. Your employer might forbid self-employment if it competes with their business. For example, don’t start a marketing agency while you work for another marketing agency. They can’t forbid all self-employment without a reason.21

To become self-employed full time, apply for a freelance visa, permanent residence or citizenship.

Apply for permanent residence

If you have a Blue Card, you qualify for permanent residence after 27 months. If you speak B1 German, you qualify after 21 months.38 Permanent residence is better than a Blue Card, because it’s not tied to your job.

How to apply for permanent residence

Need help?

An immigration lawyer or a relocation consultant can answer your questions. Some organisations can also help you for free.

Where to ask immigration questions

Sources and footnotes

  1. Elliot Herman (October 2023), multiple relocation consultants (October 2023) ⤴

  2. Berlin.de, Business Immigration Service ⤴

  3. §18 Abs. 4 AufenthG, Berlin.de, Fiona Macdonald (August 2023) ⤴

  4. Berlin.de ⤴

  5. Kathleen Parker at Red Tape Translation (December 2023), Berlin.de ⤴

  6. Berlin.de, Business Immigration Service ⤴

  7. VAB A81.5a.2 (December 2024) ⤴

  8. Berlin.de ⤴

  9. §41 AufenthV, Berlin.de ⤴

  10. §18c Abs. 2 AufenthG, Berlin.de, 18c.2.3. VAB ⤴

  11. §20 AufenthG, Berlin.de, Make it in Germany ⤴

  12. §18 AufenthG ⤴

  13. anwalt.de, Berlin.de ⤴

  14. §29 AufenthG ⤴

  15. §18g AufenthG ⤴

  16. Berlin.de ⤴

  17. §18 Abs. 4 AufenthG ⤴

  18. Berlin.de ⤴

  19. Multiple relocation consultants (October 2023) ⤴

  20. VAB, section 18b.2.2, §18g AufenthG ⤴

  21. fachanwalt.de (November 2024) ⤴

  22. §51 Abs. 10 AufenthG ⤴

  23. §18g AufenthG ⤴

  24. Auswärtiges Amt, §3 AufenthG, reddit.com/r/germany, facebook.com, einwanderer.net ⤴

  25. make-it-in-germany.com ⤴

  26. Berlin.de ⤴

  27. make-it-in-germany.com ⤴

  28. §18g AufenthG, make-it-in-germany.com ⤴

  29. §18i Abs. 1 AufenthG, make-it-in-germany.com ⤴

  30. Berlin.de ⤴

  31. It depends on the case worker. Multiple relocation consultants (November 2023) ⤴

  32. Berlin.de ⤴

  33. Berlin.de ⤴

  34. BAMF ⤴

  35. Multiple relocation consultants (November 2023) ⤴

  36. Kathleen Parker, relocation consultant (March 2024) ⤴

  37. Fiona Macdonald (March 2024) ⤴

  38. Berlin.de (June 2024), §18c Abs. 2 AufenthG ⤴

  39. VAB A2.4 (July 2024) ⤴