German for EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU)

The Blue Card itself needs no German. German decides how soon you can settle.

German level: A1, B1

Exams that count: Goethe-Zertifikat, telc Deutsch, ÖSD, DTZ

Rules for this route

Last checked 2026-09-30

Settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) after 27 months of Blue Card employment.

Which months count (only Blue Card months, or also earlier time a Blue Card could have been issued) is interpreted differently; check with your Ausländerbehörde. Time on another EU country's Blue Card does not count.

Last checked 2026-09-30

Settlement permit after 21 months of Blue Card employment, 6 months sooner than with A1.

Which months count (only Blue Card months, or also earlier time a Blue Card could have been issued) is interpreted differently; check with your Ausländerbehörde. Time on another EU country's Blue Card does not count.

Blue Card → settlement permit (standard)

Settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) after 27 months of Blue Card employment. Last checked 2026-09-30

Blue Card → settlement permit (fast)

Settlement permit after 21 months of Blue Card employment, 6 months sooner than with A1. Last checked 2026-09-30