The minimum salary for an EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU) in Germany is set to rise from €50,700 to €53,100 gross a year on January 1, 2027. The lower threshold for shortage occupations and recent graduates is set to rise from €45,934.20 to €48,108.60.
The new figures follow from the 2027 social security values that the federal cabinet approved on October 7, 2026. The Bundesrat still has to approve them, and the Interior Ministry (BMI) then publishes the official Blue Card salaries by December 31.
- Standard Blue Card 2027: €53,100 a year (€4,425 a month), up from €50,700
- Shortage occupations and new graduates 2027: €48,108.60 a year (€4,009.05 a month), up from €45,934.20
- First skilled worker permit at age 45+: €58,410 a year, up from €55,770
- Start date: January 1, 2027
NOTE: These are expected values. They are calculated from the cabinet-approved pension contribution ceiling of €106,200 a year. Changes before final approval are unusual, but the official BMI announcement is still pending.
How Is the Blue Card Salary Calculated?
The Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz) does not name a fixed euro amount. Section 18g sets the Blue Card salary as a share of the annual contribution assessment ceiling (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze) of the statutory pension insurance:
- 50% of the ceiling for the standard Blue Card
- 45.3% of the ceiling for shortage occupations, recent graduates and IT specialists without a degree
The pension ceiling rises every year in line with wages. For 2027, the cabinet set it at €8,850 a month, or €106,200 a year, up from €101,400. Read more about the ceilings in our guide to the contribution assessment ceiling in Germany.
| Salary threshold (gross) | 2026 | 2027 (expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Blue Card (50%) | €50,700 a year €4,225 a month | €53,100 a year €4,425 a month |
| Shortage occupations, new graduates, IT specialists (45.3%) | €45,934.20 a year €3,827.85 a month | €48,108.60 a year €4,009.05 a month |
| First §18a/§18b skilled worker permit at age 45+ (55%) | €55,770 a year | €58,410 a year |
Who Qualifies for the Lower Blue Card Salary?
You can get a Blue Card with the lower salary of €48,108.60 if one of these applies to you. The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) has to approve your job in these cases.
- You work in a shortage occupation. These include IT specialists, engineers and scientists, doctors, nurses, vets, dentists and pharmacists, teachers, and certain managers.
- You earned your university degree no more than three years before you apply.
- You are an IT specialist without a degree, but with at least three years of relevant work experience in the last seven years.
WARNING: If you apply for or extend your Blue Card in 2027, plan with the 2027 salary. A job offer written for the 2026 threshold of €50,700 may be too low if the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) decides on your application after January 1, 2027.
What About the Age 45+ Rule?
If you are 45 or older and apply for your first residence permit as a skilled worker (Section 18a or 18b), you must earn at least 55% of the pension ceiling. In 2027 that is expected to be €58,410 a year. You do not need this salary if you can prove adequate retirement provision, for example through pension savings.
For an overview of all work and residence permits, see our guide to residence permits in Germany.
Does Your Salary Decide Your Health Insurance?
Yes. As an employee, you can only choose private health insurance if your gross salary is above the compulsory insurance limit (Versicherungspflichtgrenze). Below it, you are insured in public health insurance. The cabinet has set the limit at €84,150 a year for 2027, up from €77,400.
So a Blue Card salary of €53,100 is well below that limit. You pay the general contribution rate plus your insurer’s additional contribution (Zusatzbeitrag), which differs between insurers. See what public health insurance costs in 2027 and whether public or private health insurance fits you better.
If you need a public insurer, you can register with Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) online*. Our public health insurance cost calculator shows what you would pay.
Book a free call with a health insurance expert
- German health insurance is a complicated product. There are several factors that must be considered before deciding which health insurance is best for you. An expert can guide you and help you pick the best option for you.
- An Insurance broker is liable for their advice. This means if the policy they recommended doesn’t offer the coverage you requested, they are liable to pay the damages incurred in the future.
What Should You Do Now?
- Check whether your gross salary in your contract reaches €53,100, or €48,108.60 if you qualify for the lower threshold.
- If you change jobs or extend your permit in 2027, ask your employer to adjust your salary before you apply.
- A Blue Card can lead to permanent residence and later to citizenship. See our German citizenship guide.
- Consult an immigration lawyer if your salary is close to the threshold or your application was rejected.
See every change in Germany for 2027 ->
Sources
- Gesetze im Internet: § 18g AufenthG – Blaue Karte EU
- Gesetze im Internet: § 18 AufenthG – age 45+ salary rule and BMI announcement
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung: Beitragsbemessungsgrenzen 2027 sollen steigen (October 8, 2026)
- Bundesrat: Sozialversicherungsrechengrößen-Verordnung 2027 (Drucksache 576/26)
