§ 19c(2) IT Specialist Visa Germany (2026): the route when your salary is below the Blue Card threshold
Germany's § 19c(2) AufenthG combined with § 6 BeschV lets IT professionals without a formal degree work legally on the strength of experience alone. The 2026 salary threshold is €45,630 gross per year. No degree required. No German language requirement. Two years of IT experience in the last five years qualifies you.
§ 19c(2) at a glance: 2026
Salary threshold
€45,630
gross / year
Experience required
2 years
within last 5 years
Degree required
No
IT exemption in § 6 BeschV
German required
No
dropped March 2024
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The EU Blue Card reaches permanent residence in 21 months (B1 German) or 27 months (A1), under § 18c(2) AufenthG as of 1 March 2024.
No email required to see your result.
Who qualifies
The § 19c(2) IT specialist permit targets applicants who fall into one or more of these situations:
- Self-taught developers and bootcamp graduates with no formal CS degree
- Professionals whose degree is not recognised in Germany and who prefer not to pursue ZAB evaluation
- IT workers with a salary offer of €45,630–€45,933 (just below the Blue Card IT threshold of €45,934.20)
- Career-switchers who spent several years in unrelated work before transitioning into IT
- Applicants whose employer cannot or will not wait for the BA pre-approval process required by the Blue Card § 18g(2) no-degree route
If your salary offer meets the Blue Card threshold (€45,934.20 for IT roles) and you have either a recognised degree or 3 years of IT experience, the Blue Card gives substantially better long-term rights. Read the comparison table below before deciding.
Worked example: Aarav
Aarav Sharma, 28, backend developer, Pune, India
Education
3-year BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications), anabin status uncertain, ZAB not done
Experience
4 years backend development (Node.js, PostgreSQL) at two Indian SaaS companies, all post-graduation
Salary offer
€45,800 gross / year from a Munich e-commerce company
German level
None (A1 planned but not yet certified)
Result: § 19c(2) AufenthG, eligible
Aarav's BCA is a 3-year programme, and its anabin status is unclear for his specific institution. Pursuing a ZAB Zeugnisbewertung would take 4–8 weeks and may return "teilweise gleichwertig" rather than full equivalence, blocking the Blue Card route. His salary of €45,800 is above the § 6 BeschV threshold of €45,630 but below the Blue Card IT threshold of €45,934.20.
Under § 19c(2) + § 6 BeschV, his 4 years of post-graduation IT experience satisfies the 2-years-in-last-5 requirement. No degree verification needed. No German language proof needed. His employer submits an Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis to the Ausländerbehörde, which consults the BA; BA approval is routinely granted for compliant applications in ISCO-08 group 25 roles.
Aarav applies at the German consulate in Mumbai. Target: national visa issued, travel to Germany, convert to residence permit at Munich Ausländerbehörde within 90 days. He plans to negotiate a salary increase to €45,934.20 after 6 months and then apply to convert to a Blue Card to start the 27-month settlement permit clock.
The 2026 salary threshold: how it is calculated
The § 6 BeschV threshold is set at 45% of the annual pension insurance contribution ceiling (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze, BBG). In 2026 the BBG rose to €101,400 per year (€8,450 per month), applying uniformly across Germany for the first time. East and West Germany now share one figure.
| Applicant profile | Annual | Monthly | % of BBG |
|---|---|---|---|
| § 19c(2) standard (under 45) | €45,630 | €3,802.50 | 45% |
| § 19c(2) age 45+ at first issuance | €55,770 | €4,647.50 | 55% |
| EU Blue Card IT (§ 18g shortage threshold) | €45,934.20 | €3,827.85 | ~45.3% |
Source: § 6 BeschV; bundesregierung.de Beitragsbemessungsgrenze 2026; § 18 Abs. 2 Nr. 5 AufenthG i.V.m. § 1 Abs. 2 BeschV (age 45+ threshold).
The age 45+ threshold applies at the time of first permit issuance, not at every renewal. If you turn 45 after the permit is issued, the higher threshold does not apply to your renewal. The exception to the 55% threshold is available if you can show adequate pension provision (e.g. private pension insurance or substantial savings) under § 1 Abs. 2 BeschV.
§ 19c(2) IT specialist vs. Blue Card vs. Chancenkarte: side-by-side
| Criterion | § 19c(2) | Blue Card § 18g | Chancenkarte |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job offer required | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2026 salary threshold (IT) | €45,630 | €45,934.20 | No salary req. |
| Degree required | No (IT exempt) | No (if 3y exp.) | Recognised qual. for Route 1 |
| Experience required | 2y in last 5y | 3y in last 7y (no-degree route) | 2y in last 5y (points) |
| German language | None required | None at application | A1 German or B2 English |
| Grant type | Discretionary | Legal entitlement | Entitlement if pts ≥ 6 |
| Settlement permit path | 5 years (§ 9 AufenthG) | 21 months (B1) / 27 months (A1) | Converts to work permit first |
| EU mobility rights | None | Yes (after 12 months) | None (job-search only) |
| Spouse work rights | Yes, immediate | Yes, immediate | Not automatic |
Sources: § 19c(2) AufenthG, § 6 BeschV, § 18g AufenthG, § 20a AufenthG.
The settlement permit gap: why the 5-year vs. 21-month difference is significant
The single biggest practical disadvantage of the § 19c(2) route is the settlement permit timeline. Blue Card holders can apply for a Niederlassungserlaubnis (permanent settlement permit) after 21 months with B1 German or 27 months with A1 German, under § 18c(2) AufenthG. That is the fastest path to permanent residence of any German work visa.
A § 19c(2) permit holder follows the general § 9 AufenthG path: 5 years (60 months) of lawful residence, 60 months of pension insurance contributions, B1 German, and evidence of livelihood security. There is no accelerated skilled-worker path unless you convert to a Blue Card first.
The recommended path for most applicants
- Apply for § 19c(2) with a salary of €45,630–€45,933.
- Negotiate a salary increase to €45,934.20 within 6–12 months (or seek a new employer at that level).
- Convert to an EU Blue Card at the Ausländerbehörde. No travel required, in-country conversion.
- The 21/27-month settlement permit clock starts from Blue Card issuance, not from original entry.
What counts as qualifying IT experience
§ 6 BeschV requires "professional experience acquired within the last five years, minimum of two years" in the relevant occupation. The following points apply:
The experience must be paid employment or self-employment
Freelance contracts, full-time employment, and part-time roles all count. Unpaid internships, open-source contributions, and personal projects alone do not constitute qualifying experience under § 6.
The occupation must match the role you are applying for
A backend developer role requires backend development experience. If you are a DevOps engineer applying as a software developer, the Ausländerbehörde and the BA will assess whether the experience is sufficiently related. Roles within the same ISCO-08 group 25 subgroup generally satisfy this.
The 5-year window is measured back from the date of application
If you worked 2 years in IT between 2017 and 2019 but have been outside IT since, those years may fall outside the 5-year window by the time you apply in 2026. Check your timeline carefully.
Employment letters and payslips are the standard proof
Provide employer reference letters (Arbeitgeberbescheinigung) stating dates of employment, job title, and main responsibilities, plus payslips or tax documents confirming the period. Three employer letters for a 4-year employment history are excessive. One detailed reference letter per employer is sufficient.
Common mistakes and denial reasons
Applying under § 19c(2) when the Blue Card is actually available
If your salary offer is €45,934.20 or above and you have 3 years of IT experience in the last 7 years, you likely qualify for the Blue Card § 18g(2) no-degree exception. The Blue Card gives 21/27-month settlement rights and EU mobility. Applying for § 19c(2) instead means giving those up for no reason.
Experience gap that falls outside the 5-year window
The requirement is 2 years within the last 5 years measured from application date. An applicant who worked in IT from 2017 to 2019, then switched industries, has a gap. By June 2026, those years are more than 5 years ago and do not count. The fix: document any IT-adjacent work in the intervening years, or wait until you have 2 years of recent IT experience.
Assuming discretionary approval means likely refusal
The 'kann erteilt werden' (may be granted) language in § 19c(2) creates anxiety for applicants, but in practice the Ausländerbehörde and BA routinely approve compliant applications. The discretion allows authorities to refuse applications with obvious red flags (fraudulent documents, implausible salaries). A straightforward application with genuine employment and accurate documents is approved in the vast majority of cases.
Counting non-IT roles toward the 2-year experience requirement
Product manager, IT sales, and technical recruiter roles are not IT professional roles under ISCO-08 group 25. The experience must be hands-on technical work: software development, systems administration, network engineering, data engineering, cybersecurity, and equivalent roles.
Providing salary figures below the threshold in the employment declaration
Only guaranteed contractual salary counts. If your offer letter states €44,000 base and €2,000 in annual bonus, the BA sees €44,000, which is below the €45,630 threshold. Ensure the Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis reflects a guaranteed base at or above the threshold.
Document checklist
Required documents for the national visa application at your German consulate. Requirements vary by consulate. Always download the current checklist from the specific mission where you will apply (embassy.de or the relevant consulate's Auslandsportal).
Valid national passport
Minimum 2 blank pages; valid for at least 6 months beyond intended stay
Completed visa application form
Latin characters; English or German; available on the consulate website
2 biometric passport photos
45×35mm, white background, taken within 6 months
Employment contract or binding job offer
Signed by employer; shows guaranteed annual gross salary at or above €45,630
Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis
Employment declaration form completed by your German employer (BA pre-clearance document)
Proof of 2 years IT experience
Employer reference letters (Arbeitgeberbescheinigung) with dates, title, and responsibilities; payslips optional but useful
CV / résumé
Chronological, showing all IT roles with dates
Degree or vocational certificate (if held)
IT professionals are exempt from qualification requirements, but providing your degree expedites BA processing
Health insurance confirmation
German statutory health insurance (GKV) or private equivalent; often arranged by employer
Visa fee
€75 (cash or card accepted at most consulates)
When you need an immigration lawyer
Most straightforward § 19c(2) applications do not require a lawyer. You need one when:
Frequently asked questions
What is the § 19c(2) IT specialist visa and who is it for?
The § 19c(2) AufenthG visa (combined with § 6 BeschV) is a German national work permit for IT and ICT professionals who have at least 2 years of qualifying experience in the last 5 years but no formal degree recognised in Germany. It is the main route for self-taught developers, coding bootcamp graduates, and career-switchers whose salary offer is at or above €45,630 gross per year (2026) but below the EU Blue Card threshold of €45,934.20.
What is the salary threshold for the § 19c(2) IT specialist visa in 2026?
The 2026 threshold is €45,630 gross per year (€3,802.50 per month). This equals 45% of the annual pension insurance contribution ceiling (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze), which rose to €101,400 for 2026. If your employer is subject to a collective bargaining agreement (tarifgebunden), the threshold does not apply and the collectively agreed salary governs. If you are 45 or older at the date of first issuance, the threshold rises to €55,770 gross per year (55% of BBG), unless you can demonstrate adequate pension provision.
Do I need a degree for the § 19c(2) IT visa?
No. § 6 BeschV explicitly states that in IT and ICT professions the qualification requirement does not apply ('In Berufen auf dem Gebiet der Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie findet Satz 1 Nummer 3 keine Anwendung'). You do not need a university degree, a vocational certificate, or any anabin verification. Experience alone qualifies you.
Do I need German language skills for the § 19c(2) IT visa?
No. The March 2024 Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz reform removed the B1 German language requirement that previously applied to this route. As of 1 March 2024, § 6 BeschV contains no language requirement. Note that B1 German remains relevant later: it reduces the settlement permit waiting period from 5 years to an accelerated path if you transition to a Blue Card, and it is required for naturalisation.
How does the § 19c(2) IT visa differ from the EU Blue Card?
Key differences: (1) Salary threshold: §19c(2) requires €45,630; Blue Card requires €45,934.20 for IT roles. (2) Grant type: §19c(2) is discretionary ('kann erteilt werden'); the Blue Card is a legal entitlement ('ist zu erteilen') if criteria are met. (3) Settlement permit: §19c(2) holders wait 5 years under the general § 9 AufenthG path; Blue Card holders can reach settlement in 21 months (B1 German) or 27 months (A1). (4) EU mobility: the Blue Card gives intra-EU work rights after 12 months; the §19c(2) permit is a purely national permit with no EU mobility. (5) Family reunification: both routes allow spouses to work immediately.
How many years of IT experience do I need for the § 19c(2) visa?
You need at least 2 years of qualifying professional experience in IT or ICT, acquired within the last 5 years (§ 6 S.1 Nr.1 BeschV, as amended 1 March 2024). Before the 2024 reform, the requirement was 3 years within 7 years. The experience must be in the same occupational field as the role you are applying for. Adjacent IT experience in a different specialism may not count.
Is the § 19c(2) IT visa a good long-term path, or should I target the Blue Card instead?
The §19c(2) route is best used as a bridge when your salary offer falls just below the Blue Card threshold (€45,934.20). If your offer is €45,630–€45,933, take the §19c(2) now, negotiate to Blue Card level at your next salary review, and then apply to convert. The Blue Card's 21/27-month settlement permit path and EU mobility rights are substantially better for long-term residence. If your employer offers €45,934.20 or above from day one, pursue the Blue Card directly.
Can I convert from a § 19c(2) IT visa to an EU Blue Card later?
Yes. You apply at the Ausländerbehörde for the Blue Card once your salary reaches the €45,934.20 IT threshold and you have an eligible employer. There is no mandatory waiting period before converting. The months spent under §19c(2) do not count toward the Blue Card's accelerated settlement permit timeline. The 21/27-month clock starts from Blue Card issuance.
Free · No login required · 90 seconds
Check your eligibility in 90 seconds
GermanyTalent applies the official rules to your actual degree, experience, and points, then gives you a personalised result with exactly what to prepare.
The EU Blue Card reaches permanent residence in 21 months (B1 German) or 27 months (A1), under § 18c(2) AufenthG as of 1 March 2024.
No email required to see your result.
Related guides
Sources
- § 19c AufenthG (gesetze-im-internet.de)
- § 6 BeschV (gesetze-im-internet.de)
- Beitragsbemessungsgrenzen 2026 (bundesregierung.de)
- Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz reform March 2024 (pwwl.de)
- § 18g AufenthG: EU Blue Card (gesetze-im-internet.de)
- § 18c AufenthG: settlement permit for skilled workers (gesetze-im-internet.de)
Last updated: . Sources: § 19c(2) AufenthG, § 6 BeschV (as amended 1 March 2024), bundesregierung.de Beitragsbemessungsgrenze 2026.