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.
Understanding tax filing in Germany is one of the most confusing parts of student life for new arrivals, but it matters: most working students owe little or no tax, and many are owed a refund. This guide explains how the German system treats student income,
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Each year, many people living in Germany as migrants, choose to become citizens. One of the steps to becoming a German citizen is passing the German citizenship test. Read on to find out more. One in every 4 German residents is a migrant. In 2017,
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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
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Studying in Germany costs less than in many popular study destinations because most public universities charge no tuition, but it’s not free. International students pay a semester contribution every six months, must show €11,904 in living costs for their first year, and pay rent, health
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