Germany

Work Assignment

(rather short-term, ie some months to three years, contract and social security as far as possible abroad and intended return to origin)

ICT-Card

The ICT-Card allows for an intra-company transfer. It is aimed at companies that are based outside the EU and want to temporarily transfer staff to a branch office in Germany. With the ICT Card, managers, specialists and graduate trainees can come to work at a German branch for a limited period of time. It allows work mobility throughout the EU countries. However, to obtain the ICT-Card a previous approval of the Federal Employment Agency is required that could slightly delay the process and requests to outline the concrete business need/requirement of the individual in Germany (and to make sure that the salary is adequate). The ICT Card is a non-permanent residence permit and requires an exit and a cooling off period after max. three years in Germany. Furthermore, in contrast to the Blue Card its precondition is a foreign employment contract that remains in place and the individual must return to his home country after the concrete assignment.

Employment Immigration

(rather long-term or indefinite, local contract and social security)

Blue Card

The Blue Card is a residence title allowing high-skilled third-country nationals to work in Germany. In order to be granted a Blue Card, applicants need to possess an academic degree (that is acknowledged by local authorities) and an employment contract setting out a gross salary of or above a specified minimum amount. This residence title regularly is the fastest and easiest way provided its preconditions are fulfilled. In detail, the Blue Card is a title specifically addressed to highly qualified individuals who (i) hold either a German university degree or a recognized or comparable foreign university degree and (ii) have a concrete job offer for adequate employment in Germany with an annual salary of at least EUR 45,300 gross in 2024. The Blue Card requires a German employment contract and an employment relationship being subject to all mandatory provisions of the German social security system (contributions generally paid by both the employer and the employee). For some understaffed professions like mathematicians, engineers, IT-specialists or physicians as well as newly graduates there is a lower income threshold of currently EUR 41,041,80 gross p.a.

With the revision of the Skilled Labour Immigration Act, the immigration options with a Blue Card have been further expanded and facilitated.