The EU Blue Card (§18g AufenthG) is the main route to Germany for academic skilled workers. Salary is almost always the deciding factor.
General floor and shortage occupations There is a general salary threshold and a lower one for shortage occupations (IT, engineering, medicine, and others). Both are adjusted annually — the value that applies depends on the date the application is filed.
Why the date matters Filing just before or after a year boundary can mean a different threshold applies. A file checked against last year's numbers can suddenly fall below the line if it's submitted later.
How Mila helps Mila checks the salary threshold **as of the right date**: the stored limits are effective-dated, and the validator flags a case as blocked the moment the salary is below the threshold in force on the application date — before anything is filed.
As of 2026, no warranty. This article is general information, not legal advice.