GERMANY · CHAPTER 16
Staying in Germanyafter graduation.
After graduating you can get a residence permit of up to 18 months to find a job matching your qualification. The EU Blue Card requires €50,700 gross a year in 2026, or €45,934.20 for shortage occupations and recent graduates. Graduates of German universities can apply for permanent settlement after two years of qualified employment.
Published by Althéa Consulting · Adviser: Harshita Kohli
Source review: · How to use our guides
- Job search
- Up to 18 months
- Blue Card (general)
- €50,700 / year
- Blue Card (shortage / new grads)
- €45,934.20 / year
Routes
- Job-search residence permit (18 months)
- EU Blue Card
- Skilled worker residence permit
- Settlement permit after qualifying employment
IN DEPTH · TAP A TOPIC TO OPEN
Routes after your degree
| Route | Key point |
|---|---|
| 18-month job-search permit | Work any job while looking for a qualified one |
| EU Blue Card | Qualified job meeting the salary threshold; faster settlement |
| Skilled worker permit | Qualified job below Blue Card salary |
| Settlement permit | Possible after about 2 years of qualified work for German graduates |
QUICK ANSWERS
Your questions, answered.
German graduates working in a qualified job can apply for a settlement permit after about two years, with pension contributions and basic German. Blue Card holders with good German can apply earlier.
WHERE TO GO NEXT
Keep going: the pages that help next.
Each card says what you will find there. Looking for something else? See every page on the site.
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