Residence permit for skilled workers: §§ 18a and 18b Residence Act — Requirements, salaries and procedures

You have a concrete job offer in Germany – or your employer wants to hire a foreign skilled worker. But which residence permit is suitable, what are the requirements, and how high does the salary need to be? Since the reformed Skilled Immigration Act (FEG) came into force in three stages between November 2023 and June 2024, much has improved – but also become more complicated.

This article explains the two central residence permits for skilled workers from non-EU countries: Section 18a AufenthG: (Vocational training) and Section 18b AufenthG: (academic education). Furthermore: the EU Blue Card, the recognition partnership, and the pathway to Settlement permit.

Note: This post is for general guidance only and does not replace individual legal advice. Residency rights are dependent on the specific case – please consult a Specialist lawyer for immigration law Consult before submitting an application.

The most important change since 2024: From discretion to entitlement

Before November 2023, §§ 18a and 18b of the Residence Act (AufenthG) stated: The residence permit can granted. This meant: the foreigners' authority had discretionary power. It could refuse, even if all the requirements were met.

This has fundamentally changed. Since 18 November 2023, it is: The residence permit becomes granted. Anyone who meets the requirements now has a Legal claim. There is no longer any discretion – the authority must grant the title.

And a second change is almost as important: the old tie to one's learned profession has disappeared. Previously, a trained engineer also had to work as an engineer. Today, skilled workers are allowed to every qualified employment practise – regardless of what they originally trained as. An exception only applies to regulated professions (doctors, lawyers, etc.) where a professional practising licence is required.

§ 18a Residence Act — Skilled workers with vocational training

Who is considered a skilled worker with vocational training?

A skilled worker with vocational training is, according to § 18 (3) No. 1 of the Residence Act, any person from a third country who possesses a Vocational training has completed at least two years of vocational training. This can be German vocational training – or foreign vocational training that has been recognised as equivalent.

Prerequisite: The training must have been completed in a state-recognised or comparably regulated vocational occupation. An overview of recognised vocational occupations can be found at the Federal Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB) at bibb.de. The portal checks whether your foreign degree is eligible for recognition. recognition-in-germany.de.

Overview of Requirements

• Recognised professional qualification either a German vocational training qualification or a foreign qualification recognised as equivalent
• Concrete job offer for qualified employment (since 2024: in any subject area, not just in the trained profession)
• Approval from the Federal Employment Agency — the Federal Employment Agency checks whether the employment conditions (salary, working hours) meet German standards. A priority check has not taken place since 2020
• Secure livelihood
• Valid passport and clarified identity
• No intention of deportation
• Professional practice permit – if required (e.g. for healthcare professions)
• Special rule for over 45s: Upon initial issuance after reaching the age of 45, the gross annual salary must be at least 55,770 euros (2026) shall be €23,000 or provide proof of an adequate pension

§ 18b German Residence Act - Academically Qualified Professionals

Wer gilt als Fachkraft mit akademischer Ausbildung?

A qualified professional with academic training, according to § 18 (3) No. 2 of the Residence Act (AufenthG), is any person with a German, recognised foreign or comparable university degree. Whether a foreign degree is recognised can be determined via the Anabin database to the KMK check.

Unlike vocational training, a formal recognition procedure is generally not required – comparability is sufficient. And here too, since November 2023: Specialists with a university degree are allowed to take up any qualified employment, not just those corresponding to their studies.

Prerequisites

Essentially, the same requirements apply as in Section 18a – with the difference that a university degree must be present instead of vocational training. The special rule for those over 45 (minimum salary of €55,770/year in 2026) and the other general requirements according to Section 18(2) of the Residence Act also apply equally.

§ 18a vs. § 18b vs. EU Blue Card — which permit is right?

	§ 18a (Vocational Training)	§ 18b (Higher education degree)	§ 18g (EU Blue Card)
Qualification	Minimum. 2-year vocational training, recognised	University degree (comparable)	University degree or tertiary education + professional experience
Minimum wage	No fixed minimum salary (maintenance must be secured)	No fixed minimum salary	€50,700/year (normal) or €45,934/year (shortage occupations/beginners) — as of 2026
Over 45 years	55,770 €/year (2026) on initial application	55,770 €/year (2026) on initial application	No specific age limit
Professional commitment	No — any qualified employment	No — any qualified employment	Yes — commensurate with qualifications
BA approval	Yes (checks employment conditions)	Yes	Normal: No. Shortage occupations/Beginners: Yes
Expiry date	4 years (or contract duration + 3 months)	4 years (or contract duration + 3 months)	4 years (or contract duration + 3 months)
Settlement permit	After 3 years (2 years of training in DE)	After 3 years (2 years studying in DE)	After 27 months (21 months at B1 German)
Family reunification	Spouse: with German language skills (A1)	Spouse: with German language skills (A1)	Spouse without Language certificate

As a general rule of thumb: anyone with a university degree who reaches the minimum salary for the Blue Card should apply for it – it offers Family reunification, employer change and settlement permit clear advantages.

The EU Blue Card (§ 18g AufenthG) — four variants since 2024

With the reform, the Blue Card has become significantly more accessible. Since November 2023, there have been four variants:

1. Standard Blue Card (§ 18g para. 1 sentence 1)

For academics with a salary of at least €50,700 gross per year (2026). No approval from the BA required.

2. Blue Card for shortage occupations (§ 18g para. 1 sentence 2 no. 1)

For certain occupational groups experiencing a particular shortage of skilled workers, the reduced salary limit of 45,934 Euros gross per year (2026). Approval of the BA required. Since November 2023, the list of shortage occupations has been significantly expanded. Occupations from the following ISCO-08 groups are recognised:

• Managers (ISCO 132, 133, 134) — in production, manufacturing of goods, mining, construction, and logistics
• Scientists and engineers (ISCO 21) Physicists, chemists, mathematicians, statisticians, all engineering professions
• Human medicine (ISCO 221) Doctors
• Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health (ISCO 222, 225, 226) — Dentists, pharmacists, academic health professions
• Teachers (ISCO 23) University lecturers, school teachers and vocational school teachers
• Computer Science and IT (ISCO 25) — Software developers, database specialists, network administrators, IT security experts

Ob Ihr Beruf in eine dieser Gruppen fällt, lässt sich über die ILO ISCO-08 Classification check. If in doubt, we will advise you on this.

3. Blue Card for Career Starters (§ 18g(1) sentence 2 no. 2)

For individuals whose higher education degree was awarded no more than three years ago. Same reduced salary threshold: €45,934 per annum (2026). Applies to all professions, not just shortage professions.

4. Blue Card without a university degree (§ 18g para. 2)

For individuals with a tertiary qualification (e.g., master craftsman, technician, business specialist) or IT professionals with at least three years of work experience in the last seven years – even without a university degree. Salary threshold: €45,934 per year. Approval from the Federal Employment Agency (BA) is required.

Salary Thresholds 2026 — all thresholds at a glance

Residence permit	Gross/Year	Gross/Month	BBG Share
EU Blue Card (Standard) — § 18g Para. 1 Sentence 1	50.700 €	4.225 €	50 %
EU Blue Card (Skilled Trades in Shortage / Entry Level) — § 18g para. 1 sentence 2 / para. 2	45.934 €	3.828 €	45,3 %
Professional experience without recognition — § 19c (2) in conjunction with § 6 BeschV	45.630 €	3.803 €	45 %
Skilled workers over 45 on initial application — § 18(2)(5)	55.770 €	4.648 €	55 %

Basis: Contribution assessment ceiling for general pension insurance 2026: €101,400/year. The thresholds are published every year in December for the following year in the Federal Gazette.

For skilled workers under 45 years of age who receive a title under § 18a or § 18b, there are no flat-rate minimum salary. Here, the Federal Employment Agency merely checks whether the employment conditions (salary, working hours) correspond to the usual standards and whether financial subsistence is secured within the meaning of SGB II.

Process and Documents: From Job Offer to Residence Permit

Those wishing to come to Germany as a skilled worker typically go through five steps. The exact order depends on whether the regular or the accelerated procedure is chosen – but the basic structure is always the same:

1. Secure job offer You need a concrete job offer from a German employer for a qualified position. No visa without a job offer (exception: Chancenkarte for job searching).
2. Recognise qualifications — For vocational training: Recognition of equivalence via the responsible body (depending on the profession, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Chamber of Crafts or specialist authority). For university degrees: Check comparability via Anabin or ZAB certificate assessment. For regulated professions (e.g. doctors, nurses): additionally apply for the professional practice permit
3. Apply for a visa — at the German mission abroad in the country of origin. The BA simultaneously checks the employment conditions (salary, working hours). Standard processing time: 4–12 weeks. For the accelerated skilled worker procedure (§ 81a): approx. 3 weeks after preliminary approval
4. Entry to Germany
5. Apply for a residence permit at the immigration office — at the place of residence in Germany, within the validity period of the visa

Document Checklist for Visa Application

Depending on the specific circumstances, further documents may be required — but you will almost certainly need these documents:

• Valid passport (must be valid beyond the planned duration of stay) — Original + copy of the photo page
• Completed application form — via the VIDEX portal (videx-national.diplo.deto fill out and print electronically
• Biometric passport photo
• Proof of qualification — Original and copy of the final certificate. For foreign professional qualifications: additionally, the recognition decision with established equivalence. For university degrees: printout from the anabin database („H+“ rating and „equivalent“) or ZAB certificate evaluation.
• Explanation of employment relationship — completed and signed by the employer (form from the foreign representation)
• Information according to § 18 (2) No. 4a of the Residence Act — Signed declaration confirming a concrete job offer (Embassy form)
• Employment contract or binding job offer — stating position, salary, working hours, and contract duration
• Curriculum vitae — seamless, in German or English
• Proof of health insurance — for entry, travel health insurance is initially sufficient; in Germany, statutory or comparable private health insurance is then required. Foreign health insurance policies are not accepted
• For those over 45: Salary statement (minimum €55,770/year in 2026) or proof of adequate retirement provision (statutory pension, private provision, real estate, other assets)
• Possible prior approval the immigration office - if the accelerated skilled worker procedure (§ 81a) is used
• Possibly professional practice permit — for regulated professions (doctors, pharmacists, nurses, lawyers, etc.)

Costs: The visa fee is 75 Euros. For the accelerated skilled worker procedure, an additional 411 Euros is payable to the foreigners' authority. Recognition procedures cost between 100 and 600 Euros, depending on the profession.

Missing documents are the most common reason for delays.

Tip: Leave all foreign-language documents before The application needs to be translated into German by a sworn translator. Incomplete documents almost always lead to queries – and cost weeks.

New Paths: Recognition Partnership and Opportunity Card

Recognition partnership (§ 16d para. 3 Residence Act)

Since March 2024, there has been a new option for skilled workers with foreign qualifications: the recognition partnership. The concept is simple – you enter Germany, start working and go through the recognition procedure. in parallel with employment. The employer and employee jointly undertake to conduct the proceedings expeditiously.

Prerequisites: a professional or university degree recognised in the country of origin, a concrete job offer and an agreement to carry out the recognition procedure. The residence permit is initially granted for 24 months, with the possibility of an extension of 12 months. During the recognition phase, you may engage in supplementary employment for up to 20 hours per week.

Opportunity Card (§ 20a Residence Act)

Since June 2024, skilled workers from third countries can also without a specific job offer come to Germany to look for work. The Chancenkarte is based on a points system: anyone who achieves at least six points (for qualifications, professional experience, German or English language skills, age, and connection to Germany) will receive a residence permit for job searching, initially limited to one year. During this time, you are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week and undertake trial employments of two weeks each.

Accelerated specialist immigration procedure (§ 81a of the Residence Act)

The regular visa procedure can take months. For employers who want to hire a skilled worker quickly, the accelerated skilled worker procedure has been available since 2020. The employer submits the application to the competent immigration authority and pays a fee of €411. The authority then coordinates all steps — recognition, BA approval, preliminary approval — and must within two months grant prior approval. The foreign mission will then decide on the visa within three weeks.

In practice, this procedure can reduce waiting times from several months to a few weeks. It is particularly worthwhile for employers who regularly hire skilled workers from third countries.

Change of asylum procedure

Since December 2023, switching from asylum proceedings to a skilled worker residence permit under §§ 18a/18b has only been possible to a very limited extent.

Here's an overview of the rules:

• During an ongoing asylum procedure: a change to §§ 18a/18b is only possible with the consent of the highest state authority and in cases of particular public interest (§ 10(1) sentence 2 of the Residence Act).
• Following the legally binding rejection of the asylum application: changing to §§ 18a/18b is blocked (§ 10 para. 3 sentence 4 of the Residence Act).
• Cut-off date rule: Those who entered the country before 29 March 2023 and withdraw their asylum application (before a rejection) can, under certain conditions, obtain a residence permit as a skilled worker (§ 10 para. 3 sentence 5 AufenthG)
• Following the granting of a residence permit according to § 104c AufenthG (opportunity residence permit), no change is possible.

Path to settlement permit (§ 18c of the Residence Act)

For many skilled workers, the settlement permit — the indefinite right of residence — is the ultimate goal. Since March 2024, the path to achieving this has been shortened:

• Holders of §§ 18a/18b without prior qualifications in Germany: Residence permit for 3 years (previously 4 years)
• §§ 18a/18b holders with vocational training/university studies in Germany: already after 2 years
• EU Blue Card to 27 months, with B1 German skills afterwards 21 months

The requirements in each case are: a workplace that meets the conditions of the respective title, sufficient knowledge of the German language, basic knowledge of the German legal and social system, and at least 60 months of contributions to the statutory pension insurance (proportionally for a reduced waiting period). And of course: secure livelihood and adequate housing.

Further information on the settlement permit and on Naturalisation Find them in our specialized articles.

Frequently asked questions

What has changed regarding residence permits for skilled workers since 2024?

• § 18a and 18b have been entitlement provisions since November 2023 – anyone who meets the requirements has a right to the residence permit. The link to the trained profession has been removed. The settlement permit is granted after 3 instead of 4 years. And with the recognition partnership, skilled workers can enter the country while the recognition process is still ongoing.

Does my foreign degree need to be recognised in Germany?

For § 18a (Vocational Training): Generally yes. However, since March 2024, there are alternatives with the Recognition Partnership and § 19c para. 2 of the Residence Act (vocational experience), where the procedure does not need to be completed. For § 18b (University Degree): Comparability is sufficient — verifiable via the Anabin database.

How much do I need to earn as a skilled worker over 45?

When first issued after the age of 45: at least 55,770 Euros gross/year (2026). Alternatively: Proof of an adequate pension. The limit corresponds to 55 % of the contribution assessment ceiling in pension insurance and will be adjusted annually.

What is the difference between § 18a, § 18b and the EU Blue Card?

• 18a: Vocational training. § 18b: University degree. EU Blue Card (§ 18g): Special permit for academics and IT professionals with a minimum salary. The EU Blue Card offers a faster permanent residence permit, simplified family reunification without language proof for the spouse, and more flexibility in changing employers.

Can I change employers as a skilled worker?

Yes — for the first two years with the approval of the foreigner's registration office and, if applicable, the Federal Employment Agency. After that, it is free as long as the new employment is qualified. For the Blue Card: Approval from the Federal Employment Agency only in the first 12 months, after that, only notification to the foreigner's registration office.

Can I switch from asylum proceedings to a skilled worker residence permit?

Only very limited. If proceedings are ongoing: only with the consent of the highest state authority. After rejection: blocked. Exception: entry before 29 March 2023 and withdrawal of the asylum application before a rejection.

How long does the procedure take and can it be expedited?

The regular procedure takes weeks to months. The accelerated skilled worker procedure (§ 81a AufenthG, €411 fee) significantly shortens the processing time: 2 months prior approval, 3 weeks visa decision.

When will I receive a settlement permit?

• § 18a/18b: after 3 years (2 years with vocational training/studies in Germany). Blue Card: after 27 months, with B1 German even after 21 months.

Skilled worker residence permit — we advise you

Whether you wish to come to Germany yourself as a skilled worker or if you want to hire a foreign skilled worker as an employer – selecting the correct residence permit, coordinating between the immigration authorities, the Federal Employment Agency and the foreign mission, and compiling the necessary documents all require care and experience.

Call Lawyer Helmer Tieben under an 0221 - 80187670 or write to info@mth-partner.de. We advise and represent clients nationwide in immigration law.

More about our immigration law services → | Arrange an appointment

Related articles

• Purposes of stay under the Residence Act for obtaining a residence permit
• Settlement permit — articles and judgments
• Family reunification — Spouse reunification and child reunification
• Naturalisation — Becoming a German citizen
• Visa for Germany — Types and Requirements

Important Note: The content of this article has been prepared to the best of our knowledge and belief. However, due to the complexity and constant evolution of the subject matter, we must exclude liability and warranty. The content of this article has been created to the best of our knowledge and current understanding. The complexity and constant changes in the subject matter addressed – particularly the ongoing adjustments to salary thresholds and the further implementation of the Skilled Immigration Act – necessitate the exclusion of liability and warranty.