A residence title under Section 18g of the Residence Act for academics (or people with a comparable qualification) who already have a qualifying job offer in Germany. It offers the fastest route to a settlement permit of any path here.
Your qualification needs to be a German academic degree, or a foreign one Germany treats as comparable. If it isn’t a traditional degree, you can still qualify with a tertiary-level qualification that took at least 3 years and sits at ISCED/EQF level 6 or above (e.g. a Meister/master craftsman qualification).
You need a specific offer, not just a job search — for at least 6 months, in a role that matches your qualification. If the role is a regulated profession (e.g. medicine), your licence to practise must already be in place or clearly in prospect.
Three thresholds exist depending on your situation: the general threshold, a lower shortage-occupation threshold, and the same lower threshold for "young professionals" (graduated within the last 3 years, any profession). See Key figures below for exact amounts.
Submit your application through the Consular Services Portal, or in person at the German embassy/consulate in your home country.
Source: Consular Services Portal — Federal Foreign Office ↗Once your visa is approved and you’ve entered Germany, register your address (Anmeldung) and collect your EU Blue Card residence permit from your local foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde).
Yes, but if you switch within your first year, you must notify your local foreigners authority — they’ll re-check that your new job still meets Blue Card conditions.