Which German visa might apply to you? (2026)
A map of the eight main residence-permit paths for non-EU nationals moving to Germany — with the 2026 thresholds and a 7-minute self-check.
€50,700 and you're in
Germany runs eight non-EU residence-permit paths in 2026. One of them fits you. The 7-minute visa wizard matches your situation to the closest path and downloads a checklist.
main residence paths for non-EU nationals in 2026
8
Student, Graduate job-seeker, Blue Card, Skilled worker, Ausbildung, Chancenkarte, Family reunion, Freelance. Each has a threshold — most newcomers qualify for 2 or 3.
The eight paths at a glance
| Provider | Who it fits | 2026 key number |
|---|---|---|
EU Blue Card (§18g) Best Fastest EU-portable path for skilled workers. | Degree + qualifying job offer | €50,700 / €45,934.20 salary floor |
Student (§16b) | Admitted to a German university | Blocked account ~€11,904/yr |
Graduate job-seeker (§20) | Just graduated from a German university | 18 months to find a qualified job |
Skilled worker (§18a/b) | Qualification + concrete job offer | Age 45+: ~€50,700/yr floor |
Ausbildung (§16a) | Vocational training contract | B1 German + pay €1,280+/mo |
Chancenkarte (§20a) | Job-seekers via points system | 6 points + €1,091/mo funds proof |
Family reunion (§30/§32) | Spouse or minor of a resident | Spouse A1 German (exceptions apply) |
Freelance (§21) | Self-employed liberal profession | Portfolio + €10,000+ savings typical |
Fastest EU-portable path for skilled workers.
- Who it fits
- Degree + qualifying job offer
- 2026 key number
- €50,700 / €45,934.20 salary floor
- Who it fits
- Admitted to a German university
- 2026 key number
- Blocked account ~€11,904/yr
- Who it fits
- Just graduated from a German university
- 2026 key number
- 18 months to find a qualified job
- Who it fits
- Qualification + concrete job offer
- 2026 key number
- Age 45+: ~€50,700/yr floor
- Who it fits
- Vocational training contract
- 2026 key number
- B1 German + pay €1,280+/mo
- Who it fits
- Job-seekers via points system
- 2026 key number
- 6 points + €1,091/mo funds proof
- Who it fits
- Spouse or minor of a resident
- 2026 key number
- Spouse A1 German (exceptions apply)
- Who it fits
- Self-employed liberal profession
- 2026 key number
- Portfolio + €10,000+ savings typical
2026 changes to note
What got easier
- Settlement permit from skilled-worker permit: now 3 years (was 4)
- Chancenkarte expansion + more occupations qualifying
- Blue Card EU portability still unchanged
- Work-experience route (3 yrs in last 5 for IT) still bypasses degree
What got stricter
- Blue Card thresholds lifted 1 January 2026: general €50,700/yr, shortage €45,934.20/yr
- Chancenkarte financial proof raised to €1,091/month
- Blocked-account minimum for students climbed to €11,904/yr
- §20 is now post-study only (generic job-seeker got absorbed into Chancenkarte §20a)
The Blue Card shortcut
What the wizard does — and doesn't — do
It asks about your goal, existing offers, qualification, language, age, family status, and Germany ties. It then runs every path against those answers and labels each as Likely fit, Possible fit, or Unlikely fit. It tells you which concrete signals are supporting the guess and which are missing.
It does not give legal advice. The German Legal Services Act (Rechtsdienstleistungsgesetz, §20 Abs. 1 RDG) reserves individualised legal analysis for licensed Rechtsanwälte and a handful of official advisory services. Our output is educational only; the final decision and filing belongs with you + an official channel.
Where to get real legal help
- BAMF MigrationsberatungFree, nationwide
- Caritas / Diakonie / AWOMBE contact network
- Make-it-in-Germany helplinePhone + email
- Rechtsanwalt für MigrationsrechtComplex cases
- BAMF Migrationsberatung (free): federal network of advisers specifically helping migrants with residence paperwork. bamf.de Migrationsberatung
- Caritas / Diakonie / AWO run the MBE contact network on the ground in most cities.
- Make-it-in-Germany helpline (federal): phone + email for skilled workers abroad. Make-it-in-Germany contact
- A licensed Rechtsanwalt für Migrationsrecht if your case is nuanced (family reunion exceptions, visa denials, settlement permit edge cases).
Ready when you are
→ Start the 7-minute pathway checkLast updated: 2026-04-23