Skilled Worker Visa Germany (§ 18a / § 18b): Requirements, Salary and Process

This article was written with the help of AI and has not yet been reviewed by our team.

Key Takeaways

• Germany has two skilled worker residence permits: § 18a AufenthG for people with vocational training and § 18b AufenthG for people with a university degree. Both allow any qualified employment, not only jobs in your exact field (except regulated professions).
• You need a concrete job offer, a recognised or comparable qualification, and in most cases approval from the Federal Employment Agency (BA).
• There is no general minimum salary. Only first-time applicants aged 45 or older need at least €55,770 a year (2026) (BAnz AT 18.12.2025 B2) unless they prove adequate pension provision.
• Your employer can speed things up with the fast-track procedure (§ 81a AufenthG) for a fee of €411.
• After three years you can generally apply for a settlement permit (two years if you trained or studied in Germany).

Table of contents

You have a job offer from a German employer, or you want one, and you are not an EU citizen. Unless you qualify for an EU Blue Card, the skilled worker residence permit is usually the route to work in Germany. It covers both university graduates and people with vocational training.

This guide explains who counts as a skilled worker, which documents and approvals you need, how much you have to earn, how the visa process works, and how the permit leads to permanent residence. It reflects the law as of November 2026 and is general information, not legal advice for your individual case. For an overview of all work routes, see our work visa page.

What is the skilled worker visa?

“Skilled worker visa” is the common name for the national visa (category D) and the residence permit that follows it under § 18a or § 18b AufenthG. You apply for the visa at a German embassy or consulate abroad, enter Germany, and then receive the residence permit from your local Ausländerbehörde.

The law defines a skilled worker (Fachkraft) in § 18(3) AufenthG:

Permit	Who qualifies	Legal basis
Skilled worker with vocational training	A German qualified vocational training, or a foreign vocational qualification recognised as equivalent	§ 18a AufenthG
Skilled worker with academic training	A German degree, a recognised foreign degree, or a foreign degree comparable to a German degree	§ 18b AufenthG

Both permits allow “any qualified employment”. A job is qualified if it requires skills that are acquired in a degree or in qualified vocational training (§ 2(12b) AufenthG). According to the Federal Employment Agency, outside regulated professions the job does not have to match your qualification, and graduates may also take non-academic qualified jobs. Helper or entry-level tasks are not enough (BA).

Skilled worker visa or EU Blue Card?

If you have a degree, check the EU Blue Card requirements first. The Blue Card has a salary threshold but faster permanent residence. The skilled worker permit has no general salary threshold.

	Skilled worker permit (§ 18a / § 18b)	EU Blue Card (§ 18g)
Qualification	Vocational training or degree	Degree (or IT experience in some cases)
Minimum salary 2026	None, except €55,770 for first-time applicants aged 45+	€50,700 (reduced: €45,934.20)
Settlement permit after	3 years (2 with German training or degree)	27 months (21 with B1 German)
Legal basis	§ 18a, § 18b, § 18c(1) AufenthG	§ 18g, § 18c(2) AufenthG

The 2027 thresholds are expected to rise. See Blue Card salary 2027 for the expected figures, including the 45+ threshold.

What are the requirements?

Under § 18(2) AufenthG, a skilled worker permit requires:

• A concrete job offer from an employer in Germany.
• Approval from the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) under § 39 AufenthG, unless an exception applies. The BA checks that the job is qualified and that your pay and working conditions are not worse than those of comparable local employees. There is no priority check for German or EU applicants (§ 39(2) AufenthG).
• A licence to practise (Berufsausübungserlaubnis) if your profession is regulated, for example doctors or nurses.
• Recognition or comparability of your qualification (see the next section).
• A confirmation from you and your employer that the job will actually be carried out.
• A minimum salary if you are 45 or older and apply for a § 18a or § 18b permit for the first time: 55% of the pension contribution ceiling, which is €55,770 a year in 2026 (Federal Ministry of the Interior announcement, BAnz AT 18.12.2025 B2 (PDF)), unless you can prove adequate pension provision (BA).
• The authority may also waive the salary rule if there is a public interest in the employment, in particular a regional, economic or labour-market interest, for example if the salary is only slightly below the threshold or the applicant is only slightly over 45 (§ 18(2) no. 5 AufenthG).

The general requirements for every residence permit also apply, such as a valid passport and a secured livelihood. Sections 18a and 18b do not set a general German language requirement, but regulated professions may require language skills for the licence.

Over 45 with a lower salary? Proof of adequate pension provision can replace the salary threshold, for example existing pension entitlements or private retirement savings. The German mission abroad checks this (BA). The authority may also waive the salary rule if there is a public interest in the employment, in particular a regional, economic or labour-market interest, for example if the salary is only slightly below the threshold or the applicant is only slightly over 45 (§ 18(2) no. 5 AufenthG).

How do you get your qualification recognised?

Vocational training (§ 18a)

Your foreign vocational qualification must be found fully equivalent to a German qualification by the competent recognition authority. The training must have lasted at least two years. The Recognition Finder on the “Anerkennung in Deutschland” portal shows which authority is responsible (Make it in Germany).

If the result is only partial equivalence, a § 18a permit is not yet possible. You can enter with a permit for recognition measures under § 16d AufenthG and switch to § 18a once you have full recognition (BA).

University degree (§ 18b)

For non-regulated professions, a positive result in the anabin database usually proves that your degree is comparable. If your university or degree is not listed, apply to the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) for a Statement of Comparability (Zeugnisbewertung), which costs a fee (Make it in Germany).

Regulated professions

Doctors, nurses, teachers at public schools, and some other professions need recognition and a licence to practise before the permit is issued, whether you have a degree or vocational training.

How does the application process work?

1. Sign the job offer or employment contract. It should show the job title, salary, working hours, and start date.
2. Have your qualification recognised or print your anabin result.
3. Optional: fast-track procedure. Your employer applies at the competent Ausländerbehörde in Germany with your power of attorney (see below).
4. Book and attend your visa appointment at the German mission in your country. The fee for a national visa is €75 (§ 46 AufenthV).
5. Enter Germany, register your address (Anmeldung) and apply for the residence permit at your local Ausländerbehörde before your visa expires.

Our guide to the German visa application form explains the forms, and the types of visas for Germany overview helps if you are unsure which route fits.

How does the fast-track procedure work?

Under the fast-track procedure (§ 81a AufenthG), your employer handles the German side of the process with the Ausländerbehörde. The authority starts the recognition procedure, obtains BA approval, and gives a preliminary approval for your visa.

• The fee is €411, paid by the employer (§ 47(1) No. 15 AufenthV).
• The BA’s approval is deemed granted if it does not respond within one week (§ 36(2) BeschV).
• The embassy offers a visa appointment within three weeks and generally decides within three weeks of a complete application (§ 31a AufenthV).

Make it in Germany points out that the fast-track procedure does not guarantee a visa, and the fee is not refunded if the visa is refused (Make it in Germany). Many states have a central authority for fast-track applications. In Hessen, for example, the Rheingau-Taunus district says that from 1 December 2026, all new fast-track applications from employers there must go to the Central Office for Skilled Immigration Hessen (ZFEH) (Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis).

How long is the permit valid?

A skilled worker permit is issued for up to four years. If your employment contract or the BA approval is limited to a shorter period, the permit is issued for that period plus six months, but never longer than four years (§ 18(4) AufenthG). The six-month buffer was introduced in July 2026.

If your job ends early, you have time to look for a new one. Our guide Lost your job on a Blue Card or work permit? explains the rules.

Can you change employers?

According to the Federal Employment Agency, skilled workers are generally tied to their employer during the first two years, and the permit’s supplementary provisions name the employer. A change is generally possible with permission from the Ausländerbehörde (BA). Apply before you start the new job.

Can your family join you?

Family reunion is generally possible with a § 18a or § 18b permit (BA). Read our family reunion guide for the requirements for spouses and children.

When can you get permanent residence?

Under § 18c(1) AufenthG, a skilled worker can get a settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) if they:

• have held a permit under § 18a, § 18b, § 18d or § 18g for three years,
• have a job they are allowed to do under these rules,
• have paid at least 36 months of pension contributions or comparable provisions,
• have sufficient German (B1), and
• meet further requirements, including basic knowledge of the legal and social system and sufficient living space.

If you completed vocational training or a degree in Germany, the periods drop to two years and 24 months. Read more in our permanent residence guide and our guide to the settlement permit for skilled workers (§ 18c).

Common problems

• Partial recognition of vocational training: a § 18a permit is not yet possible.
• The job is not qualified, for example a helper role.
• Pay or conditions below local standards, so the BA refuses approval.
• Missing licence in a regulated profession.
• Age 45 or older with a salary below the threshold and no proof of pension provision.

If your visa is refused, the refusal notice explains your options and deadlines. Check them immediately. An immigration lawyer can assess whether to challenge the decision or apply again with better documents.

FAQ

Do I need to speak German for a skilled worker visa?

Sections 18a and 18b do not require German in general. Regulated professions often do, and B1 German is required later for the settlement permit.

Is there a minimum salary for the skilled worker visa?

Not in general. Your pay must match that of comparable local employees, and first-time applicants aged 45 or older need at least €55,770 a year in 2026 unless they have adequate pension provision. The authority may also waive the salary rule if there is a public interest in the employment, in particular a regional, economic or labour-market interest, for example if the salary is only slightly below the threshold or the applicant is only slightly over 45 (§ 18(2) no. 5 AufenthG).

Can I get a skilled worker visa without recognition?

No. You need a recognised or comparable qualification. Without full recognition, routes such as § 16d (recognition measures) may help.

How long does the process take?

It depends on the recognition procedure and the embassy. Make it in Germany says recognition usually takes up to three months after all documents are in. With the fast-track procedure, the embassy appointment and the decision generally follow three-week targets.

Can I work in a different job than my qualification?

Yes, as long as the job is qualified and not in a regulated profession that requires a specific licence.

This article gives general information on German law as of 11 November 2026. It is not legal advice for your individual case.

Sources

• § 18 AufenthG: General provisions on skilled immigration
• Bundesgesetzblatt 2026 I Nr. 222: MDWG of 22 July 2026, Art. 13, in force 29 July 2026 (the +6 months change to § 18(4) AufenthG)
• § 18a AufenthG: Skilled workers with vocational training
• § 18b AufenthG: Skilled workers with academic training
• § 18c AufenthG: Settlement permit for skilled workers
• § 39 AufenthG: BA approval
• § 2 AufenthG: Definitions
• § 16d AufenthG: Recognition measures
• § 81a AufenthG: Fast-track procedure
• § 31a AufenthV
• § 46 AufenthV: Visa fees
• § 47 AufenthV: Fees
• § 36 BeschV
• Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Access to the labor market for specialists (2026)
• Federal Ministry of the Interior announcement, BAnz AT 18.12.2025 B2 (PDF)
• Make it in Germany: Recognition of foreign qualifications
• Make it in Germany: The fast-track procedure for skilled workers
• Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis: Fast-track procedure moves to ZFEH from 1 December 2026
• anabin database (KMK)