Germany Visa for IT professionals
Advantageous ways have been paved for IT specialists outside the European Union/EFTA (so-called “third countries”) to obtain a work visa in Germany. The type of visa you receive depends on your qualifications and your job offer in Germany. The table down below gives you a first overview of the different options.
IT specialists from third countries in Germany:
Possible residence permits
If you would like to work as an IT specialist in Germany, you have various options for obtaining a visa. The chart explains the different types of residence permits and the respective requirements.
| Residence permit | Residence permit for qualified employment (Qualified professionals according to section 18a and 18b (1) AufenthG) | Blue Card EU (section 18b (2) AufenthG) | Residence permit for other employment (section 19c (2) AufenthG in conjunction with section 6 BeschV) |
| Requirements | A qualification recognized in Germany (university or vocational qualification) • A job offer in Germany commensurate with the qualification • Persons over the age of 45: gross annual salary of at least EUR 46,530 (year 2022) or appropriate old-age pension scheme | • A university qualification recognized or comparable in Germany • A job offer in Germany commensurate with the qualification • Gross annual salary of at least EUR 43,992 (year 2022) | • At least 3 years of professional experience in IT over the last 7 years • Proof of relevant theoretical knowledge in form of training courses and exams • Specific job offer in the IT sector with gross annual salary of at least EUR 50,760 (year 2022) • Level B1 German skills (a proof of German skills may not be required if the language spoken at work is not German) |
EU Blue Card: If you have an academic degree in IT as well as a specific job offer in Germany, you may receive an EU Blue Card. It is important to know that you must earn a minimum salary in your job for that visa type. Nonetheless, the EU Blue Card is an exceptionally popular residence permit with many advantages.
Work visa for qualified professionals: A residence permit for qualified employment (according to Section 18a and 18b (1) AufenthG) might be the right option for you, if you acquired your IT skills during an apprenticeship, for example. The same conditions apply, if you have a university degree in IT, yet the job position you have found does not meet the requirements for the EU Blue Card.
Working as an IT specialist/residence permit for other types of work: Even if you have neither any formal qualifications nor a university degree, you can still obtain a visa and work as an IT specialist in Germany. Therefore, certain prerequisites must be met.
