Common questions about relocating

Employer needs to provide a signed employment contract (minimum 6 months), a job description matching the candidate’s qualifications, and proof of the offered salary meeting the threshold. For regulated professions (e.g., medicine), a practice license may also be required. The candidate handles personal documents like their degree and passport.  

Yes, after 12 months of employment  they can change employers without prior approval. Before that, they need permission from the foreigners’ authority. HRs should notify the authority of the change and provide the new contract details to ensure compliance.

The fee is approximately €100–140 (varies by state), paid by the employee to the foreigners’ authority. Employers may incur indirect costs (e.g., legal support or relocation assistance), but there’s no direct employer fee unless they choose to cover the application cost.

  For Change of employer process, family members (spouse and dependent children) can stay in Germany and retain their rights—such as access to work, healthcare, and education—as long as the Blue Card holder remains employed in a qualifying position. A job change does not affect their status, provided the Blue Card holder maintains eligibility.

  For Change of employer process, there is no mandatory waiting period. EU Blue Card holders can change jobs at any time. However, if the change occurs within the first 12 months, they must follow the notification and verification process.

For Change of employer process, when notifying the immigration authorities within the first 12 months, the following documents are typically required:  

• ✅ A copy of the new employment contract.
• ✅ Evidence that the new job meets the salary and qualification requirements (e.g., job description or employer confirmation).
• ✅ Any additional forms requested by the local authorities.

The Mint Blue Card provides several benefits, including:

• A lower salary threshold, making it more accessible for applicants in shortage occupations.
• Simplifies hiring for hard-to-fill positions, letting you tap into global talent pools more cost-effectively.

The Mint Blue Card is a variant of the EU Blue Card specifically for professions in high demand, known as shortage occupations. It often features a lower salary threshold compared to the standard Blue Card, making it easier for applicants in critical sectors to qualify.

A 'young professional' is generally defined as someone who has completed their higher education within a few years (typically three years) prior to applying.

Additional fees may include service charges from external providers like BLS International (€75 for adults, €37.50 for minors) and optional passport return mailing fees (up to €35 in the U.S., higher in some regions like Bermuda at €60).

Family members applying for a family reunion visa pay the same €75 fee (or €37.50 for minors), but spouses and minor children of German/EU citizens may be exempt if they meet specific conditions (e.g., traveling with the EU citizen).

Yes, exemptions apply to categories like spouses or minor children of German/EU citizens, scholarship recipients from public funds, and members of diplomatic missions or international organizations (including their spouses and children under 25). In individual cases, to safeguard cultural, foreign policy, development policy or other significant public interests or for humanitarian reasons. Eligibility is determined at the time of application.

The Opportunity Card is a residence permit for non-EU skilled workers to stay in Germany for up to one year to search for a job, allowing part-time work (up to 20 hours/week) or trial jobs (up to 2 weeks per employer).

Skilled workers with a recognized university degree or at least two years of vocational training, plus A1 German or B2 English skills, and financial proof of €12,324 annually (or €1,027/month) can apply.

Check eligibility online, gather documents, submit your application at a German embassy/consulate or online via the Consular Services Portal, book an appointment, pay the €75 fee, and await processing.

Germany offers three main residence permits:

• Temporary Residence Permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis): For work, study, or family reunification.

• EU Blue Card: For highly skilled professionals meeting salary thresholds.

• Permanent Residence Permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis): After working in Germany for several years.

A residence visa allows foreign nationals to enter Germany and stay for employment purposes. The work permit is part of the residence visa or permit, granting legal authorization to work. These terms are often used interchangeably in Germany.

Employees can apply for permanent residency (Niederlassungserlaubnis) after:

• 33 months (or 21 months with B1-level German) on an EU Blue Card.

• 5 years on a standard work permit.

Germany offers several work visas, including the EU Blue Card, the General Employment Visa, the Job Seeker Visa, and the Freelancer Visa. The choice depends on the applicant’s qualifications, salary, and job type

Key documents include a valid passport, job contract, professional qualifications, CV, proof of health insurance, and visa application form. Some applicants may also need a blocked bank account.

Yes, after 33 months on an EU Blue Card (or 21 months with B1-level German skills), employees can apply for permanent residency. Standard work visa holders can apply after 5 years.

The ICT Card Germany is a temporary residence permit for non-EU managers, specialists, or trainees transferred within the same company or group to a German branch. Managers direct operations or departments, specialists possess rare expertise critical to the company, and trainees are graduates in supervised training programs. You must have worked for the company outside the EU for at least six months before the transfer, and the assignment must exceed 90 days.

You need:  

✅At least six months of prior employment with the company outside the EU.  

✅A role as a manager, specialist, or trainee in Germany, with relevant qualifications (e.g., expertise for specialists, a degree for trainees).

 ✅A transfer duration over 90 days, up to three years (or one year for trainees).  

✅A salary matching German standards for similar roles.  

✅A valid employment contract and, if needed, an assignment letter proving the transfer’s purpose.

Yes, German ICT card holdercan work in other EU countries (except Ireland and Denmark) for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a separate permit. For stays longer than 90 days in another EU country, they need a Mobile ICT Card from that country. Notify the relevant authorities as required—details are at BAMF’s mobility rules.

Holders can bring their spouse and minor children to Germany. Family members may also receive work permits, allowing them to join the workforce. Holders who received their first Blue Card EU after the 1st of March, 2024, their parents or parents in law are also eligible for family reunion.

While the standard EU Blue Card applies to a wide range of highly skilled professionals, the IT Specialist version focuses solely on IT roles. It is the only Blue Card EU type without a requirement of university degree education level. It may feature:  

✅A lower salary threshold (compared to other professions under the standard Blue Card).

✅Potentially streamlined application processes to meet the urgent demand for IT skills.

No strict language skills are required. While German proficiency can help with integration and certain roles, it’s not mandatory for the Blue Card itself—especially if the job relies on English or other languages. This flexibility is a boon for recruiting international IT talent

No. As a spouse of an EU national, an A1 certificate is not required.

Yes. As a spouse of a German national, it is mandatory to present an A1 certificate while applying for family reunion.

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If the person holding a residence permit / visa as per § 16b AufenthG has already been married to his*her spouse at the moment of issuing the permit / visa and if this person’s intended duration of stay exceeds one year, the spouse as well as the children are eligible for family reunion.

If the marriage was solemnized after the issuance of visa, it will be at the discretion of the clearance officer only, whether family reunion will be approved or not. In order to apply for family reunion, please read the respective checklist thoroughly.

For renewal, an employee typically need a valid passport, a recent biometric photo,  current EU Blue Card, proof of a continued employment contract or job offer meeting the salary threshold, evidence of health insurance, and proof of residence in Germany (e.g., registration certificate). Additional documents, like a declaration from  employer, may be required depending on your local immigration office.

Yes, an applicant should meet the minimum salary threshold for their profession. As of 2025, this is €48,300 gross per year for most professions, or €43,759.80 for shortage occupations (e.g., IT, engineering, medicine). Your employment must remain "highly qualified" and match your qualifications.

After holding the EU Blue Card for 12 months, employee can change jobs without needing prior approval from the immigration office, as long as the new job meets the Blue Card criteria (e.g., salary and qualification match). However, the immigration office must be notified of the change. If an employee switches jobs during the renewal process,  updated employment details should be provided to avoid delays.

The list is refreshed annually by the Federal Employment Agency, reflecting labor market trends.In 2025, over 70 occupations are classified as bottleneck professions. Healthcare, IT, engineering, and education are hit hardest by shortages. Germany is eager to welcome skilled immigrants to fill these gaps.

HR teams need to consider:    

• Visa Compliance: Ensure the job offer meets visa criteria (e.g., salary, contract terms).
• Qualification Recognition: Help candidates get foreign credentials recognized, especially for regulated fields like healthcare.
• Language: German skills may not be mandatory for some visas but can aid workplace success.
• Support: Assist with family reunification or relocation logistics.

Several visa types cater to these high-demand roles:    

• EU Blue Card: Perfect for skilled workers in bottleneck professions. Benefits include a lower salary threshold (e.g., €43,759.80 in 2025) and simpler family reunification rules.
• Opportunity Card: A points-based system for job seekers. Bottleneck professions earn you extra points, boosting your approval odds.
• Work Visa for Qualified Professionals: For those with recognized qualifications in shortage roles.