On 22 September 2026 the federal “Make-it-in-Germany” portal published its annual update on the Skilled Immigration Act (Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz), confirming new 2026 salary thresholds and expanded visa options. The minimum salary for EU Blue Cards in shortage occupations is set at €45,934.20 (45.3 % of the pension-contribution ceiling), while other occupations require €50,700. The update also details the now-live Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) points system and simplified rules for IT specialists without degrees. Key changes of interest to employers include entitlement-based residence permits for both academic and non-academic skilled workers, abolition of the Federal Employment Agency’s priority check for professional drivers, and faster settlement-permit paths—three years for most foreign professionals and as little as 21 months for Blue-Card holders with B1 German. Family-reunification rules have likewise eased: spouses, children and even parents can join qualified workers without proof of “adequate living space”. For German companies battling talent shortages, the refreshed guidance provides clarity ahead of the October recruitment season. HR should update job adverts with the new salary floors and review relocation budgets, as lower thresholds make Germany competitive against the Netherlands and France for mid-career STEM talent. The portal also emphasises the Western Balkans Regulation, now permanent with a quota of 50,000 work approvals per year, and introduces a short-term quota employment scheme that allows any sector to hire third-country nationals for up to eight months if collectively bargained wages are paid. Mobility managers should track Federal Employment Agency quota releases to secure slots. Finally, the update includes practical checklists for recognition partnerships and the expanded 20-hour work allowance for international students and apprentices—useful tools for corporate apprenticeship programmes. Failure to align internal policies with the new Act could delay visa issuance at German missions, so stakeholders should disseminate the changes immediately.
Source: Make-it-in-Germany
