Germany: EU Blue Card 2026 salary thresholds updated

Who it affects

Non-EU applicants for the EU Blue Card from 1 January 2026.

Sources

Primary: Make it in Germany (Federal Government) ↗

Corroborating: BAMF — Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge ↗

Verified 2026-04-21 · methodology · report a correction

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In force 1 Jan 2026

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Statutory minimum wage rises to €13.90 per hour

The Minimum Wage Commission's recommended increase was adopted: the Mindestlohn rises from €12.82 to €13.90 per hour on 1 January 2026. The mini-job earnings threshold (currently pegged at 130 hours at the minimum wage) rises correspondingly.

Who it affects: Low-wage employees, mini-jobbers, and employers of both.

Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales ↗ · Bundesregierung (Federal Government) ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

Announced 19 Feb 2025

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Who it affects: Employees and employers across most sectors.

Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales ↗ · Bundesregierung (Federal Government) ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 15 Jan 2025

In force Healthcare

Electronic patient record (ePA) rollout begins nationwide

The opt-out electronic patient record (elektronische Patientenakte, ePA) was rolled out nationally by statutory health insurers from 15 January 2025, after pilot regions in early 2025. Insured residents automatically receive an ePA unless they opt out; doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies access the record via the Telematik-Infrastruktur with the patient's health card.

Who it affects: All residents covered by statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung).

Bundesministerium für Gesundheit ↗ · Bundesregierung (Federal Government) ↗ · verified 2026-04-18

In force 1 Jan 2025

In force Visa & immigration

EU Blue Card 2025 salary thresholds updated

The annual update to the EU Blue Card salary thresholds for 2025 was published. Thresholds are indexed to the German statutory pension-insurance contribution ceiling (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze) and rise each year. Applicants should confirm the current figure on BAMF or Make it in Germany before applying; the practical rule of thumb is "regular" ≈ pension ceiling × 50%, "shortage" ≈ × 45.3%.

Who it affects: Non-EU applicants for the EU Blue Card in 2025.

Make it in Germany (Federal Government) ↗ · BAMF — Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge ↗ · verified 2026-04-18

In force 1 Jan 2025

In force Taxation

Basic personal allowance and income tax brackets adjusted for 2025

The basic personal allowance (Grundfreibetrag) rose to €12,096 for 2025 (from €11,784 in 2024), and the income tax brackets were adjusted for cold-progression. The child allowance (Kinderfreibetrag) was also increased. Retroactive adjustment to 2024 values was included in the package.

Who it affects: All income tax payers; marginal effect on take-home pay.

Bundesministerium der Finanzen ↗ · Bundesregierung (Federal Government) ↗ · verified 2026-04-18

In force 1 Jan 2025

In force Healthcare

Statutory health-insurance supplementary contribution rate rises

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Who it affects: All residents enrolled in statutory health insurance.

Bundesministerium für Gesundheit ↗ · Bundesregierung (Federal Government) ↗ · verified 2026-04-21