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Country guide · Germany

Living and working in Germany

Unless you're an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you'll need a residence title that lets you work. The best-known route is the EU Blue Card. In 2026 it needs a recognised or comparable degree and a job paying at least €50,700 a year, or €45,934.20 in shortage occupations and for recent graduates. There's no sponsor licence: employers deal with the Federal Employment Agency instead.

See Germany jobs with visa sponsorshipCreate your free profile

112

Emergency number

Fire and ambulance, 110 (police)

Source

Type F and Type C

Plug

Schuko, 230 V

Source

EU Blue Card

Main work route

AufenthG § 18g

Source

€50,700 a year

Minimum salary

Source

Last checked 13 October 2026. Every figure links to its official source.

Find a specialist

Where the jobs are, region by region.

All regions lets you pick a place and see rent, jobs and the sectors in this guide.

Cyan is the region you picked. Navy is everywhere else.

Region

Schleswig-Holstein

Median full-time pay €47,220 a year (€3,935 a month).

€705 (€7.41/m², 95 m²)

Employees
1.1m
Share of Germany
3.0%
Strongest sector
Hospitality
Rent
€705/m² a month

Hospitality is 3.9% of jobs here, 1.25 times its share across Germany.

Sector strength vs average for Germany

  • Hospitality1.25×3.9%
  • Healthcare1.16×18.8%
  • Engineering0.75×14.0%
  • Finance0.75×2.2%
  • Tech0.57×2.2%
See jobs in Schleswig-Holstein

Job links open all Germany roles for now. Rent compared with the other regions in this guide.

Bars show each sector's share of jobs here against its share across the country. Tech means information and communication, engineering means manufacturing and hospitality means hotels, restaurants and cafes. Source: Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), 31 December 2025.

View the map as a table
LandJobs (thousands)Average net cold rent a month, Census 2022Median full-time pay a month
Schleswig-Holstein1,470€705 (€7.41/m², 95 m²)€3,935
Hamburg1,370€702 (€9.16/m², 77 m²)€4,768
Lower Saxony4,231€685 (€6.56/m², 104 m²)€4,029
Bremen446€605 (€7.34/m², 82 m²)€4,392
North Rhine-Westphalia9,818€632 (€6.82/m², 93 m²)€4,231
Hesse3,611€807 (€8.21/m², 98 m²)€4,530
Rhineland-Palatinate2,054€727 (€6.75/m², 108 m²)€4,124
Baden-Württemberg6,395€806 (€8.13/m², 99 m²)€4,546
Bavaria7,841€879 (€8.74/m², 101 m²)€4,363
Saarland516€656 (€6.12/m², 107 m²)€4,149
Berlin2,196€562 (€7.67/m², 73 m²)€4,459
Brandenburg1,144€550 (€6.21/m², 89 m²)€3,613
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania752€488 (€5.91/m², 83 m²)€3,497
Saxony2,047€453 (€5.72/m², 79 m²)€3,588
Saxony-Anhalt983€452 (€5.38/m², 84 m²)€3,563
Thuringia1,005€489 (€5.65/m², 87 m²)€3,508
Sector share of jobs, and strength compared with Germany
RegionEmployeesTechHealthcareEngineeringFinanceHospitality
Schleswig-Holstein1,059,7002.2% (0.57×)18.8% (1.16×)14.0% (0.75×)2.2% (0.75×)3.9% (1.25×)
Hamburg1,091,9806.8% (1.78×)13.1% (0.81×)10.1% (0.54×)4.4% (1.52×)3.8% (1.23×)
Lower Saxony3,170,2492.2% (0.58×)17.4% (1.07×)19.2% (1.03×)2.7% (0.93×)2.8% (0.89×)
Bremen349,2194.3% (1.13×)14.9% (0.92×)15.2% (0.81×)2.0% (0.68×)2.8% (0.92×)
North Rhine-Westphalia7,394,5403.6% (0.93×)17.8% (1.10×)17.2% (0.92×)2.9% (0.99×)2.5% (0.82×)
Hesse2,781,0754.3% (1.13×)14.2% (0.88×)14.8% (0.79×)5.6% (1.92×)3.1% (0.99×)
Rhineland-Palatinate1,490,0122.5% (0.65×)17.0% (1.05×)20.2% (1.08×)2.7% (0.91×)3.0% (0.98×)
Baden-Württemberg4,950,0994.2% (1.09×)14.0% (0.87×)26.5% (1.42×)2.7% (0.93×)2.7% (0.86×)
Bavaria5,965,0794.6% (1.20×)14.3% (0.88×)22.9% (1.22×)3.1% (1.07×)3.3% (1.07×)
Saarland387,1353.1% (0.82×)18.0% (1.11×)20.4% (1.09×)2.8% (0.95×)2.5% (0.82×)
Berlin1,686,2808.3% (2.18×)15.9% (0.98×)6.3% (0.34×)2.8% (0.95×)5.0% (1.60×)
Brandenburg885,6371.5% (0.39×)18.8% (1.16×)12.8% (0.68×)1.3% (0.45×)3.5% (1.11×)
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania573,3111.6% (0.41×)21.6% (1.33×)11.1% (0.59×)1.4% (0.50×)5.7% (1.83×)
Saxony1,627,1113.2% (0.85×)17.6% (1.09×)18.2% (0.97×)1.6% (0.54×)3.3% (1.07×)
Saxony-Anhalt789,8161.4% (0.37×)19.2% (1.19×)16.1% (0.86×)1.5% (0.50×)2.9% (0.95×)
Thuringia782,9692.1% (0.54×)17.6% (1.09×)22.1% (1.18×)1.4% (0.47×)2.9% (0.92×)
Germany34,985,5553.8%16.2%18.7%2.9%3.1%

Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit): Beschäftigte nach Wirtschaftszweigen (WZ 2008) - Deutschland, West/Ost, Länder und Regionaldirektionen (Zeitreihe), with mining from Beschäftigte nach Wirtschaftszweigen (WZ 2008) - Länder (Quartalszahlen), Dec 2025. 31 December 2025. Employees paying social insurance, by place of work. Civil servants, the self-employed and mini-jobs are not counted. Industry codes: WZ 2008 (= NACE Rev. 2). View the source

Cities

5 cities, side by side.

Pay, rent and the share of pay that rent takes.

Germany

€562/m² a month

Berlin

Median pay €53,508 a year (€4,459 a month)

Rent share 12.6%

  • Tech 2.33
  • Hospitality 1.48
  • Finance 1.14
  • Healthcare 1.08
See jobs in Berlin

Germany

€947/m² a month

Munich

Median pay €67,200 a year (€5,600 a month)

Rent share 16.9%

  • Tech 2.85
  • Finance 2.26
  • Hospitality 1.57
See jobs in Munich

Germany

€702/m² a month

Hamburg

Median pay €57,216 a year (€4,768 a month)

Rent share 14.7%

  • Tech 1.71
  • Finance 1.61
  • Hospitality 1.28
See jobs in Hamburg

Germany

€784/m² a month

Frankfurt am Main

Median pay €65,628 a year (€5,469 a month)

Rent share 14.3%

  • Finance 5.12
  • Tech 1.91
  • Hospitality 1.55
See jobs in Frankfurt am Main

Germany

€1,070.42 a month

Cologne

Median pay €38,005 a year (€3,167.06 a month)

Rent share 34%

Germany's fourth-largest city on the Rhine; media, insurance and trade fairs.

See jobs in Cologne

Cost of living by city

Crowd-sourced estimates for budgeting; official city-card figures take priority where available.

Price your household with the tools below

Numbeo, accessed 13 October 2026

Climate

Temperature, city notes

Typical high or mean temperatures from the city notes already in this guide.

Berlin · Jan

1.2°C

January

Berlin · Jul

20.2°C

July

Source: DWD 1991-2020 station normals (official).

Seasonal notes for Germany

Pack for the seasons that matter in Germany. Check local forecasts before you travel, and use the city notes in this guide for sunshine and rainfall patterns.

Germany roles

Visa sponsorship jobs in Germany

Each listing shows what the employer or agency offers: visa sponsorship, relocation support or remote work.

Live jobs

Live roles in Germany

See all jobs
See jobs in Germany

Tools

Run the numbers before you decide.

Take-home and rent

Take-home and rent

The Federal Ministry of Finance wage-tax calculator includes income tax, the solidarity surcharge and church tax.

City

Rent a month in Berlin

€562/m² a month

Pay
€53,508 a year (€4,459 a month)
Rent share of pay
12.6%

Official tax calculator

The Federal Ministry of Finance wage-tax calculator includes income tax, the solidarity surcharge and church tax.

Open the wage-tax calculator

Income tax (EStG § 32a, 2026)

taxable income up to €12,348: 0. €12,349 to €17,799: (914.51 × y + 1,400) × y, y = (income − 12,348) / 10,000. €17,800 to €69,878: (173.10 × z + 2,397) × z + 1,034.87, z = (income − 17,799) / 10,000. €69,879 to €277,825: 0.42 × x − 11,135.63. From €277,826: 0.45 × x − 19,470.38. Round down to whole euros.

Employee lump sum

€1,230 a year deducted before tax (EStG § 9a).

Solidarity surcharge

5.5% of income tax, only when income tax is above €20,350 (€40,700 joint), with the 11.9% phase-in above that (SolzG §§ 3, 4).

Social insurance, employee share (half of each rate)

pension 9.3% and unemployment 1.3% on pay up to €101,400; health 7.3% plus half the fund's additional rate (2026 average 2.9%, so 1.45%) on pay up to €69,750; long-term care: employee 1.8% (2.4% if childless and aged 23 or over); in Saxony employee 2.3% (2.9% childless). Parents of 2 to 5 children under 25 pay 0.25 points less for each child from the second (Bundesgesundheitsministerium).

Church tax

8% of income tax in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, 9% in the other Länder, only for members of a church that levies it (Deutsche Bischofskonferenz; Finanzämter Brandenburg).

Tax classes and the Vorsorgepauschale

classes I (single), II (single parent), III and V (married, unequal pay), IV (married, similar pay) and VI (second job), EStG § 38b. Payroll tax and the Vorsorgepauschale follow the BMF Programmablaufplan for 2026 (https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de, Lohnsteuer Programmablaufplan 2026); the simple calculator uses the § 32a annual formula above and class I.

Context figures

minimum wage €13.90 an hour from 1 January 2026; Kindergeld €259 a month per child.

Visa route finder

Step 1 of 2

Visa route finder

A route to read about, not a decision on your application. Figures are the ones in this guide.

Do you have a job offer in Germany?
City match

City match

Compare pay and rent for the cities already listed in this guide.

City

Rent a month in Berlin

€562/m² a month

Pay
€53,508 a year (€4,459 a month)
Rent share of pay
12.6%

Visa routes to read about.

EU Blue Card (AufenthG § 18g)

€50,700 a year

Graduates with a recognised or comparable degree and a job matching their qualification. €50,700 a year; €45,934.20 for listed shortage occupations and graduates of the last 3 years (with BA approval).

Source

Skilled workers with vocational training or a degree (§§ 18a, 18b)

Route

People with a recognised qualification and a job offer. No fixed salary threshold in the law for most cases.

Source

Opportunity Card (§ 20a)

€1,091

Job seekers: recognised skilled workers, or 6 points on the points table. €1,091 net a month proof of funds; up to 20 hours' work a week.

Source

Recognition measures (§ 16d)

20 hours a week

People whose qualification needs adaptation training. Recognition partnership: permit for 1 year at a time, up to 3 years; side job up to 20 hours a week.

Source

Western Balkans regulation (BeschV § 26(2))

Route

Nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Up to 50,000 approvals a year.

Source

ICT card (§ 19)

90 days

Managers, specialists and trainees moving within a company. At least 6 months with the group abroad; transfer of more than 90 days; no fixed salary floor.

Source

Accelerated skilled worker procedure (§ 81a)

€411

Employers applying on the worker's behalf. €411 fee.

Source

Work-and-Stay Agency

Route

Central digital platform for skilled worker immigration. Cabinet decision 5 Nov 2025.

Source

Life in Germany

Daily life, family, school and pets.

Daily life
Daily life

Address registration within two weeks (Anmeldung); tax ID arrives by post after registration (BZSt: sent automatically to your registered address; write to the BZSt if nothing arrives after 3 months).

Sunday shop closing, recycling and deposit bottles.

Sunday shop closing, recycling and deposit bottles.

€0.25+Deposit on single-use drink bottles and cans: at least €0.25 (Verpackungsgesetz § 31).

Deposit on single-use drink bottles and cans: at least €0.25 (Verpackungsgesetz § 31).

Public transport€63 a month

Deutschlandticket €63 a month in 2026, €66.80 from 1 January 2027 (Bundesregierung).

CurrencyEuro

Euro (€, EUR)

Emergency number112

112 (fire and ambulance), 110 (police); 116117 for an out-of-hours doctor

Healthcare
  • HealthcareStatutory health insurance is compulsory for employees up to €77,400 a year (2026); above that private cover is an option.
  • 14.6% general rate plus a fund-specific additional rate (2026 average 2.9%), split with the employer.
  • 116117 for an out-of-hours doctor; 112 in emergencies.
    • Family, school and pets

    Spouses

    Spouses of EU Blue Card holders don't need to show German language skills and can work in Germany.

    Official source

    School

    State schools are free; schooling is compulsory, with rules set by each Land.

    Official source

    Kindergeld

    Child benefit paid by the Familienkasse; residence and permit rules apply.

    Official source

    Childcare

    Children have a legal right to a childcare place from age 1; fees are set locally.

    Official source
  • Family, school and petsBlue Card spouses get a residence title without proof of German and can work immediately (BAMF).
  • Childcare right from age 1 (SGB VIII § 24); Kindergeld €259 a month per child.
  • School is run by each LandSchool is compulsory from about age 6 for 9 or 10 years of full-time schooling, depending on the Land (KMK, The education system in Germany).

    • Little-known facts

    Five things people don't expect.

    90 days

    Nationals of eight countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the US, can enter without a visa and apply for a residence title in Germany within 90 days.

    You must register your address within two weeks of moving in.

    27 months

    EU Blue Card holders can get settlement after 27 months, or 21 months with German at B1.

    Every child from age 1 has a legal right to a childcare place until starting school.

    24 working days

    The legal minimum holiday is 24 working days, counted on a six-day week, so four weeks.

    Timeline

    From job offer to settled in.

    Timeline
    1

    visa or visa-free entry

    2

    Find a flat

    3

    Anmeldung (14 days)

    4

    Residence title appointment at the Ausländerbehörde

    5

    Health insurance

    6

    Bank account

    7

    Tax ID

    8

    Kindergeld claim

    Your first 30 days

    Your first 30 days

    Register your address (Anmeldung)

    Register with the local Bürgeramt within two weeks of moving bring the landlord's confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung).

    Tax ID

    Your Steuer-ID arrives by post after you register; give it to your employer.

    Health insurance

    Cover is compulsory; choose a statutory fund (or private, above the threshold) before your first payday.

    Residence permit appointment

    Book the foreigners' authority (Ausländerbehörde) if your visa needs converting to a residence title.

    Broadcasting fee

    Each household pays the Rundfunkbeitrag after registering.

    Avoiding scams

    Avoiding scams

    Avoiding scams

    Fake landlords asking for deposits before a viewing; fake "visa guarantee" offers; payments to private accounts for appointments at German missions (appointments are free and agencies get no priority access: Federal Foreign Office missions, e.g.

    Questions people ask first.

    Do I need a job offer to move to Germany for work?

    Not always. The Opportunity Card lets people search for work for up to a year if they meet its conditions, including proof of €1,091 a month. Most other work routes need a job offer.

    What salary does the EU Blue Card need in 2026?

    €50,700 gross a year, or €45,934.20 for listed shortage occupations and people who graduated in the last three years. The lower figure needs Federal Employment Agency approval.

    Do I need to speak German?

    Not for the Blue Card itself. German at B1 shortens the wait for settlement from 27 to 21 months.

    Can I enter first and apply in Germany?

    Nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the UK and the US can, applying within 90 days. Others usually need a visa from a German mission.

    Does my employer need a sponsor licence?

    No. Germany has no sponsor licence. Many cases need Federal Employment Agency approval instead, and employers can start the accelerated skilled worker procedure.

    Does every employer on Global Sponsor Hub sponsor visas?

    No. Each listing shows the support the employer or agency has stated, such as visa sponsorship or relocation support. Confirm it with the employer before you apply.

    Checked against official sources. Need help with your own move? Find a specialist.

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