By Andre Atallah, CEO of EP Advisory
Why You Should Move to Germany in 2026
If you’re reading this text, you’re already considering moving. This is unsurprising. Germany is the largest economy in the European Union.
According to the German Federal Employment Agency, unemployment in Germany was 6.5% in August 2026 (national measure). By the EU-wide Eurostat measure it was 4.0% in July 2026, against 6.1% for the EU as a whole. The job market is slower than a few years ago. The agency still counted 656,000 open vacancies in August 2026. Its latest shortage analysis lists 157 shortage occupations, mostly in healthcare, care, skilled trades and some engineering jobs. Software development is no longer on that list.
In 2025, the median full-time salary in Germany was €54,066 gross a year, about €4,500 a month including bonuses. Pay varies a lot by sector. In 2025, average full-time pay was €86,638 a year in information and communication, €91,678 in finance and insurance and €67,520 in manufacturing. The final amount depends on region, experience and how well you negotiate your offer.
It’s important not to immediately agree to the salary offered but to negotiate. For instance, one of EP Advisory’s clients received a +19% relocation bonus when moving to Berlin last year.Founder @ EP Advisory
Your tax bill depends on marital status, the number of children and income level. Sometimes even on religion. Fun fact: registered members of the Catholic and Protestant churches and some Jewish communities pay church tax of 8-9% of their income tax (8% in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg). In general, taxation in Germany is high. Income tax rates run from 14 to 45%, and the first €12,348 of annual income is tax-free in 2026.
Salaries also depend on the region. More economically developed cities are in the south of the country: Bavaria, Hesse, Baden-Württemberg. In 2025, Hesse had the highest average full-time pay (€5,344 a month without bonuses), and Saxony one of the lowest (€4,143). Berlin is above the national average and has many startups and tech vacancies.
As for culture and mentality, you surely think of the Germans’ passion for order, punctuality, excessive seriousness, and even gloominess. But it is not that bad!
Germans are very logical at work and will consider a situation from all sides before making a decision! At first, I didn’t understand this and even got annoyed because a task could be dragged out for a long time! Over time, I realized how important it is. In the end, it’s better to think longer and then act than to close a task quickly and then redo it.Marketing Manager
There are other special German traits like: stingines in money, water, and electricity usage; maximum striving for gender equality; love of bread (yes, no less than in France) and fairly early bedtimes.
For the move, it is important to be open to new opportunities. To the fact that you will be surrounded by people with a different mentality and perspective on seemingly familiar things. If you see a square and someone else sees a triangle – it all depends on perspective. Try to look from the other person’s point of view; it will greatly simplify the adaptation process.IT Career Consultant – Germany @ EP Advisory
Visas and Residence Permits for Moving to Germany in 2026
In short: Germany has several routes for skilled professionals from outside the EU. The Skilled Immigration Act (Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz) widened them in 2023 and 2024. It lowered the Blue Card salary thresholds and added the Opportunity Card. Below, we consider which visas you can obtain.
Blue Card
This is the basis for obtaining a temporary residence permit, a kind of work visa. Blue card is issued to qualified specialists with higher education for four years.
The applicant must have an employment contract with a German employer. In 2026, the minimum gross annual salary is €50,700. For shortage occupations (for example IT specialists, engineers, scientists and doctors), recent graduates and IT specialists without a degree, it is lower: €45,934.20 gross.
The Blue Card is issued directly in Germany – first, you need to enter on a national visa (or category D visa), register at your place of residence, and apply for the Blue Card at the Immigration Office.
Attach your diploma, employment contract, proof of salary, and health insurance to the application. Processing times differ between immigration offices.
ICT card
Suitable if you are moving to Germany under a relocation program. The ICT card is a residence permit for non-EU citizens. It can be obtained for up to 3 years. You must have an employment contract for the entire transfer period – at least 90 days.
The ICT card is issued in Germany – first, you need to enter the country on a national visa. After registration and obtaining health insurance, you can apply for the ICT card at the Immigration Office.
Visa for qualification recognition
Needed for doctors, teachers, lawyers – everyone who must confirm their qualification. The applicant must come to Germany and undergo the procedure in person.
For this, there is a special visa for recognition measures. You need your educational documents, the German level your recognition measure asks for, and proof that you can support yourself. Check the current requirements and amounts on the Federal Foreign Office page. More details
Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
Needed if you want to look for a job on-site, for example to come to Berlin and attend interviews. Since June 2024, the Opportunity Card has replaced the old job search visa. It is issued for up to one year.
You qualify in one of two ways. Either your foreign qualification is fully recognised in Germany. Or you have a degree or at least two years of vocational training recognised in your home country, and you collect at least 6 points (for example for experience, language skills, age and ties to Germany). You also need German at A1 or English at B2, and proof that you can support yourself: €1,091 a month in 2026.
With the Opportunity Card you may work up to 20 hours a week and do trial work of up to two weeks with an employer. Once you find a qualified job, you can switch to a work permit or Blue Card without leaving Germany. More details
Researcher/Guest scientist visa
For scientists, researchers, and academics. You need a hosting agreement or a contract for research activities with a research institution. More details
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Visa options for IT Professionals in 2026
Option 1: Skilled worker permit (Sections 18a and 18b of the Residence Act)
- A higher education degree or vocational qualification recognised in Germany.
- A concrete job offer in Germany.
- No minimum salary if you are under 45. From 45, a first permit needs at least €55,770 a year (2026) or proof of pension provision.
- Approval of the Federal Employment Agency (BA).
Option 2: EU Blue Card
- Higher education qualification recognized in Germany or comparable tertiary education qualification.
- Concrete job offer in Germany as an IT specialist or manager.
- Minimum gross annual salary of €45,934.20 in 2026 for IT specialists, a shortage occupation. The BA must approve the job at this level.
- No BA approval is needed if the salary is at least €50,700 (2026).
Option 3: EU Blue Card for IT specialists without a degree
- At least 3 years of IT work experience at a comparable level during the previous 7 years.
- Gross annual salary of at least €45,934.20 (2026).
- Approval of the Federal Employment Agency (BA).
Option 4: Work permit based on professional experience (Section 19c (2) of the Residence Act)
- A qualification recognised by the country where you earned it. IT specialists can qualify on experience alone.
- At least 2 years of relevant work experience during the previous 5 years.
- Gross annual salary of at least €45,630 (2026), unless the employer pays under a collective agreement.
- Approval of the Federal Employment Agency (BA).
Find out more here.
Moving to Germany for studies: undergraduate, master’s, and colleges
Before deciding to move, it is important to understand if the country, its mentality, and culture suit you. While studying for your bachelor’s degree, you can get a scholarship and go for a semester on exchange, as Dasha from Relocation Stories did. By the way, Dasha later enrolled in a master’s program in Berlin.
After completing my master’s degree at the Goethe University Frankfurt, I would recommend Germany to those who love stability. There are rather high taxes, but the salary level corresponds. It’s a good country to start a family, have children, and buy property.Graduate Career Consultant – Germany @ EP Advisory
For those dreaming of an undergraduate degree in Germany: you cannot enroll immediately after your home country’s school. Depending on your country, your school certificate may not give direct entry. Then you first need a preparatory course or some university study at home. Check the entry rules of your chosen university.
Many students come to Germany for Studienkolleg. These are special preparatory schools at universities for foreign students. To enroll, you usually need German at B1 level or higher. Public Studienkollegs charge no tuition, but you need money for living in Germany.
A year before applying, study the websites of your desired universities to find out how they accept foreigners – some have exams, some just interviews. Application deadlines differ by university, so check each one.
At most public universities, students pay only the Semesterbeitrag, a semester fee that differs by university. Some states, such as Baden-Württemberg, charge non-EU students tuition fees. The same applies to master’s programs.
To enroll in a master’s programme, you need a bachelor’s or specialist’s degree, German or English at level B2-C1, and recommendation letters. Apply early. Checking documents can take several weeks. If you don’t have a diploma at the time of application, get a certificate from your university stating that you are completing your studies in the relevant specialty.
Another great opportunity to study in Germany is to get vocational education (Ausbildung). Suitable for those who want to learn working professions: locksmiths, carpenters, masons, nurses, midwives, and others. Since 2020, people from outside the EU can train in any recognised training occupation. You need a training contract with an employer and enough German to follow the training.
You can start an Ausbildung after school or much later. Look for offers on the websites of enterprises, companies, hospitals, and factories. Training usually lasts 2 to 3.5 years, following the dual system: 3-4 days at the enterprise, 1-2 at the vocational school.
As a student in Germany, you can already find your first job – students can work up to 20 hours a week during term. Pay depends on the job. The minimum wage is €13.90 an hour in 2026. This is a great chance to establish yourself in the country, gain experience, and build projects.
Germans don’t like risks and the unknown. If you move to Germany for studies, it is important to start doing projects, internships, and “self-affirming” in the country right away. This will greatly help in finding a full-time job later!Founder & CEO @ EP Advisory
Moving to Germany for work: how to find vacancies and pass interviews
Relocation
You can move to Germany through a relocation program. That is, get a job in your country in an international company that can transfer you to the head office. For example, Henkel’s head office is in Düsseldorf, BMW’s is in Munich, Volkswagen’s is in Wolfsburg.
Where to look for a job
Look for vacancies on official company websites, popular portals, and social networks. For example:
- Xing – the German equivalent of LinkedIn. However, also update your profile on LinkedIn!
- StepStone – the most popular job board in Germany. Create a profile there and sign up for alerts. They also have a CV builder!
- Berlin Startup Jobs – for those looking for work in startups.
- Gruenderszene, Monster, Glassdoor – popular portals where large corporations often post ads.
- Hays and Robert Half: recruitment agencies with many vacancies in Germany.
- Jobsuche of the Federal Employment Agency and Make it in Germany: official job portals.
- Local resources (in German):
More resources for job searching:
- https://www.jobmensa.de – for students, young professionals
- http://www.ictjob.de – for IT specialists
- https://berlinstartupjobs.com – for those dreaming of startups
In Germany, the recommendation/referral culture is very strong, so you can safely ask for support. Look for employees of companies you are interested in and don’t hesitate to introduce yourself. Many companies pay employees for referring candidates, so it’s beneficial for them too.
How to write a resume (Lebenslauf)
Anna Yakovleva, HRD of the Berlin office of Adjust, advises being brief and specific in your resume. Fit it on one PDF page and supplement it with a cover letter – read the article on how to write it correctly. In her view, some jobs in Germany, especially in tech and startups, need only strong English. Many other roles still expect German.
Make sure to list your previous career achievements using the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Read our full guide on writing the CV in English based on 35,000 resumes.
How to send applications
Don’t bet on mass mailing resumes – tailor your application to each company and key duties listed in the vacancy. If you are sending application after application but see no results, review your mistakes and request feedback from recruiters.
👉🏻 For inspiration: watch the recording of our webinar “Job search abroad: how to nail it?” 🔥🔥🔥
How to pass the interview
The number of interviews depends on the company and position. The first interviews are usually conducted by phone or video call, and the final one in the office, to meet in person. In Germany, it’s normal to bring a whole stack of papers to the interview: diplomas, certificates, awards, printed resume.
Conduct research on the company in advance: check their website, social media, articles, and key top management. Prepare 2-3 questions you are interested in about the employer – you are not only being chosen, but you are also evaluating the company.
… And get the desired offer!
It can take several months from application to offer. Although there are exceptions – one of our article’s heroines received an offer in a week! Offers are often sent as a PDF document by email. They specify the pre-tax salary – you can calculate the net amount using an online calculator. It’s better to do this before moving to Germany!
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How EP Advisory Can Help You Move to Germany
If you’re unsure about moving, start with your CV. Check your CV for free: see it the way a recruiter in Germany does, then fix each problem.
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