Blue Card for IT specialists without a degree – tips from a lawyer

The EU Blue Card is a residence permit granted to qualified Easier access to the German labor market for skilled workers from third countries . Until now, a university degree was a mandatory requirement for many – but there is now an alternative option for experienced IT specialists . This article explains how IT specialists without a degree can still obtain a Blue Card and what they need to consider.

Who can get the Blue Card without studying (requirements)?

If you are an IT professional with extensive professional experience, you can, under certain conditions, obtain an EU Blue Card even without an academic degree . This is based on a regulation specifically tailored to experienced IT professionals. The requirements for the Blue Card for IT professionals without a university degree (or with an unrecognized degree) are as follows:

• Requirement No. 1: Professional experience

  You must have at least three years of professional experience in the IT industry, acquired within the last seven years. This experience must be at a university-level qualification level—so these are not simple tasks, but rather demanding specialist or management positions in the IT field.

  
  

• Requirement No. 2: Suitable profession

  The activity must belong to a specific occupational field. These are defined in the ISCO-08 classification , specifically:

  
  

  • Group 133: IT executives, such as IT managers, network managers or chief information officers.

  • Group 25: Professionals in software development, systems analysis, web development, database or system administration.

  
  

• Requirement No. 3: Appropriate salary

  The salary must exceed a certain threshold. For 2025, this is at least €43,759.80 gross per year.

  
  

• Requirement No. 4: Approval of the Federal Employment Agency

  Even if you earn the necessary salary, approval from the Federal Employment Agency is required. The agency will review whether your qualifications and the proposed position are a good fit, and whether the terms of the employment contract are appropriate.

Documents for Blue Card IT specialists

To apply for the EU Blue Card without studying, you should have the following documents ready:

• Employment references or proof of employment for the last seven years,

• a job description from the future employer,

• an employment contract with information on salary,

• if applicable, certificates or further training certificates,

• a CV with a detailed description of your professional career

• general visa documents (passport etc.) .

Conclusion from the lawyer

The possibility of obtaining the EU Blue Card as an experienced IT professional is an important step towards opening up the German labor market. Those who can demonstrate high-level practical knowledge are no longer required to present a university degree. The process remains complex, however – in particular, the distinction from "simple" IT activities and the provision of proof of professional experience can be legally challenging. A specialized immigration lawyer can help you assess the requirements on an individual basis, compile the appropriate documents, and avoid pitfalls in the process.