Germany immigration in 2026 is built around skilled work. Visits of up to 90 days in any 180 fall under the Schengen rules, but anyone coming to work, study or join family needs a German national visa before travel, then a residence permit from the local foreigners’ office (Ausländerbehörde) after arrival.
The main work routes are the EU Blue Card, which now needs a gross annual salary of €50,700, or €45,934.20 in shortage occupations and for recent graduates, and the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte), which lets skilled workers without a job offer look for one in Germany for up to a year if their qualifications are fully recognised or they score at least six points. Our German work visa guide compares the routes, fees and documents.
Our Germany immigration coverage also follows what comes after the visa: permanent residency, which Blue Card holders can reach in 21 to 27 months, and citizenship, which returned to a five-year minimum after the three-year fast track was abolished in late 2025.
A Germany tourist visa is a short-stay Schengen visa that lets you visit Germany, and the rest of the Schengen Area, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period for holidays, sightseeing or visits to friends and family. There is no separate national tourist
Germany Tourist Visa: Requirements, Documents, Fees and How to Apply Continue Reading »
A Germany dependent visa lets a spouse, child, or, in some cases, parent move to Germany to live with a family member already there. German law calls this family reunification (Familiennachzug), and the visa is a national, type D visa rather than a short-stay Schengen
Germany Dependent Visa: Family Reunion Rules, Requirements and Fees Continue Reading »
Permanent residency in Germany is granted through the settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis), an unlimited residence title that lets a non-EU national live, work and run a business in Germany without renewing a permit. Most people qualify after five years, but EU Blue Card holders can apply
Permanent Residency in Germany: Settlement Permit Routes, Requirements and Fees Continue Reading »
A German student visa is a national (Type D) visa that lets a non-EU student enter Germany to study at a German university. In 2026, the German student visa costs €75, and you must show about €11,904 a year for living costs. After you arrive,
German Student Visa: Requirements, Fees and How to Apply Continue Reading »
A German work visa is the national long-stay visa (Type D) that lets a non-EU citizen enter Germany to work, and the right German work visa in 2026 depends on three things: whether you already hold a job offer, whether you have a degree, and
German Work Visa 2026: Types, Eligibility, Fees and How to Apply Continue Reading »
