5 steps for successful labour migration

Working as an IT specialist in Brandenburg

EU Blue Card

The EU Blue Card (Section 18g of the Residence Act) is a visa for taking up employment and is intended for third-country nationals with academic qualifications, educational qualifications of at least three years' duration or IT specialists and managers without formal qualifications (Section 18g (2) of the Residence Act).

To obtain an EU Blue Card, you must be employed in a job corresponding to your qualifications and earn a certain salary.

Advantages of the residence permit over the visa for skilled workers

Shorter deadlines for obtaining a settlement permit
Simplified family reunification without the need for language skills and proof of sufficient accommodation for the family.
It is also possible for parents and parents-in-law to join the family.

The general requirements (§ 5 Para. 1 AufenthG) for entry to Brandenburg are: Passport, proof of financial means, no existing reason for deportation. In order to successfully obtain a visa for labour migration to Brandenburg, you should already have an employer who is seeking a reliable employment relationship with you. Before applying for an entry visa, clarify which qualifications are recognised and which language skills are required for the intended job.

Step 1

Check requirements

EU Blue Card requirements for IT specialists with formal qualifications

German university degree or comparable foreign university degree or
German educational qualification or comparability of the foreign educational qualification with at least 3 years of training and
Concrete job offer in Germany
Employment in Germany commensurate with the qualification
Employment contract with at least 6 months of employment
Minimum salary per year:
Standard occupations: €45,300 gross (year 2024) and no approval from the Federal Employment Agency required

Bottleneck occupations (list of bottleneck occupations): €41,041.80 gross (year 2024) and approval from the Federal Employment Agency

with a degree not older than 3 years (career starters): € 41,041.80 gross (year 2024) and approval from the Federal Employment Agency

Requirements EU Blue Card for IT specialists without formal qualifications

Concrete job offer as an IT specialist
Employment in Germany appropriate to the qualification
Employment contract with at least 6 months of employment
At least 3 years of professional experience in the IT sector in the past 7 years
At least gross annual salary of € 41,041.80 gross (year 2024)
Approval from the Federal Employment Agency

Step 2 (in the home country)

Appointment request at the German Embassy

Applying for an appointment at the German Embassy

Prepare the necessary documents: including employment contract, passport, proof of recognised university or professional qualification, visa application form
Websites of German missions abroad
Application forms for national visas (auswaertiges-amt.de)

Note: Find out about the fast-track procedure for skilled workers - with the help of your employer, you may be able to speed up the entry process.

Step 3

Apply for a visa

Applying for an appointment at the German Embassy
Prepare the necessary documents: including employment contract, passport, proof of recognised university or professional qualification, visa application form
Websites of German missions abroad
Application forms for national visas (auswaertiges-amt.de)

Note: Find out about the fast-track procedure for skilled workers - with the help of your employer, you may be able to speed up the entry process.

Step 4 - in Germany

Entry to/arrival in Germany

Issuance of an entry visa for qualified employment.

A valid health insurance policy must be presented for the entry visa to be issued.
After entering the country, a new health insurance policy must be taken out in Germany.
Book your trip to Germany.

Step 5

Apply for a residence permit at your place of residence

Register your residential address in Germany with the residents' registration office (within two weeks of arrival)
- Residents' registration offices in Brandenburg
Book an appointment at the responsible immigration office
- Find your local immigration office: BAMF-NAvI - Authorities
Ask the foreigners authority for a list of the required documents and prepare them
Apply for a residence permit for qualified employment (§§ 18a, 18b AufenthG).
Fees can be up to €100 (§ 45 ff AufenthV)

Note: Residence permit must be applied for before the entry visa expires.

Links and brochures

EU Blue Card: Explanatory video on the EU Blue Card by Make-it-in-Germany: Ask Me Anything - EU Blue Card

Get off to a flying start as an IT specialist in Germany: Explanatory video from Make-it-in-Germany: IT specialist starts her career in Germany

Websites of the German missions abroad: List of websites of German representations abroad, sorted alphabetically by country name. Websites of the German missions abroad

Recognition counselling abroad: ProRecognition: In some countries there are local recognition counselling centres: ProRecognition advice centres

Explanatory video: The accelerated skilled labour procedure: The shorter route to Brandenburg (must be applied for by the future employer): YouTube-Video

Arriving in Brandenburg: Welcome to Brandenburg advice centres: PDF document with regional contacts in the Brandenburg districts