Germany's migration, work and education agenda and our articles live here. New items appear with their date; the biggest titles stay on top.
For the EU Blue Card the standard threshold in 2026 is 50,700 € gross a year, and 45,934.20 € for shortage occupations and recent graduates. On the experience route the 2026 bar sits at 45,630 €. A first permit under §18a or §18b after 45 takes 55,770 € in 2026 or proof of adequate pension provision; the Blue Card has no such age rule. All four figures are percentages of the pension insurance ceiling, which stands at 101,400 € for 2026.
The Federal Employment Agency has published 2025 pay for full-time employees: the median gross monthly wage stands at 4,217 euros, 203 euros or 5.1 per cent above the previous year. Hamburg leads with 4,768 euros and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern trails with 3,497 euros, a gap of 1,271 euros. Without a vocational qualification the median is 3,133 euros, with a recognised one 4,069 euros, and with a university degree 6,146 euros. The Entgeltatlas and BERUFENET databases were refreshed the same day.
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Since 1 July 2026 the benefit is called Grundsicherungsgeld, based on the 13th SGB II amendment act. Running payment periods simply continue; only the name changes by itself. Where secure maintenance is required, the sums now follow the new order; how long papers issued under the old name stay valid depends on the office's practice.
On 5 November 2025 the federal cabinet took the framework decision: every step from visa application to residence permit is to run on one digital platform, with documents submitted only once. No new authority is being created; the Federal Employment Agency and the Foreign Office share the work.
The 21st amendment to the residence ordinance is dated 26 May 2026; it was published on 2 June and took effect the next day. It has a single article: India came off the Anlage C list, ending the airport transit visa requirement for Indian nationals. Türkiye stays on the list; holders of service, ministerial and official passports are exempt.
Employers in Germany now tell skilled workers and trainees recruited from third countries about the Faire Integration advice service, at the latest on their first working day. The notice is given in writing and names the nearest advice centre. People already living in Germany are exempt. The rule took effect on 1 January 2026.
The amendment of 22 December 2025 makes it explicit in the text: the Opportunity Card covers only the work options listed in § 20a (2). Card holders' working limits now read within that frame.
The change to the citizenship act that took effect on 30 October 2025 removed the three-year fast track introduced in 2024. The minimum residence period is now five years as standard. There is no transitional rule, so pending applications are judged under the new law.
Since 1 May 2025 printed passport photos are no longer scanned in. The picture is taken digitally at the office when the application is made. The step is part of a reform package against forged photos.
Since 17 February 2025 the PIN letter for the electronic residence card is handed over when the application is made. It used to arrive separately by post; there is no second postal wait any more.
The points-based job search card has applied since 1 June 2024. It lets candidates without full recognition look for work or recognition in Germany. Secure maintenance stays a condition, and a first card runs for up to a year.
The second stage of 1 March 2024 brought the recognition partnership: the recognition procedure now runs inside Germany alongside the work contract. The same stage opened the experience route with no recognition requirement. Pay at the local level is expected on both routes.
The first stage of 18 November 2023 tied the Blue Card threshold to half the pension contribution ceiling, with shortage occupations even lower. Recent graduates and certain IT specialists joined the scheme, and the priority check fell away on most routes.
We record here changes that have entered into force, with their dates. Thresholds, fees and time limits change continually; what counts is always the version of the official source at the time of your application.
