How Germany's modernised EU Blue Card works for software engineers
Under Germany's reformed Skilled Immigration Act (Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz), the EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU) is the primary work permit for international software engineers, data scientists, and infrastructure specialists:
- Bottleneck profession discount for IT roles: Information and communications technology (ICT) specialists and engineering managers qualify under the lower shortage-occupation salary threshold (45.3% of the annual statutory pension insurance ceiling, rather than 50%).
- No university degree required for experienced IT specialists: Software and infrastructure specialists without a formal university degree can qualify for an EU Blue Card in Germany if they can document at least three years of university-level professional IT experience within the preceding seven years, paired with a job offer meeting the shortage-occupation salary threshold.
- Fast track to permanent settlement (Niederlassungserlaubnis): EU Blue Card holders in Germany can apply for permanent residency after 27 months of qualified employment with basic A1 German proficiency, or after just 21 months with B1 German proficiency.
- Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte): Candidates who do not yet hold a job offer can apply for Germany's points-based Opportunity Card to enter Germany for up to 12 months to interview in person while working up to 20 hours per week or completing two-week trial work stints.
German tech employers explicitly offering visa & relocation support (26 Oct 2026)
Every company in the table below has active German tech job postings that explicitly state visa sponsorship, work permit assistance, or international relocation support. View all 141 open Germany tech roles.
| Employer & hub | Open roles | Verification evidence | Sample open role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helsing Berlin, Munich | 60 | Posting quote: "Relocation support : up to €2,500 and 4 weeks temporary accommodation" | Senior Studio Design Engineer |
| NavVis Munich | 15 | Posting quote: "We offer full visa and relocation support for international candidates" | Lead Software Engineer - Computer Graphics for the Web (WebGL/WebGPU) (F/M/D) |
| Wayve Leonberg | 11 | Posting quote: "Relocation support and visa sponsorship where applicable" | Control Engineer |
| Doctolib Berlin | 7 | Posting quote: "Relocation support in case of international mobility" | Engineering Manager Scheduling Team (x/f/m) |
| HelloFresh Berlin | 6 | Posting quote: "Enjoy a competitive compensation package that goes beyond the norm, with perks like a HelloFresh- subsidized P..." | Senior Product Manager II, Consumer (all genders) |
| OpenAI Munich | 6 | Posting quote: "We use a hybrid work model of three days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employe..." | Applied AI Architect, OpenAI for Government |
| trivago Düsseldorf | 6 | Posting quote: "You can count on the visa support from our talent support team, a relocation package, interest-free newcomer l..." | Site Reliability Engineering Lead |
| Anthropic Munich | 5 | Posting quote: "Visa sponsorship: We do sponsor visas!" | Applied AI Architect, Partnerships |
| N26 Berlin | 5 | Posting quote: "A relocation package with visa support for those who need it." | Senior Site Reliability Engineer - Infrastructure |
| adjoe Hamburg | 3 | Posting quote: "We welcome applications from talent worldwide and provide relocation support to Hamburg, Germany for those rea..." | Senior Android Developer (f/m/d) |
| Augustus Berlin | 2 | Posting quote: "Perks & Benefits: Relocation support, visa support, the latest Apple gear (MacBook + AirPods), lunch benefit, ..." | Engineering Fellowship |
| Marvel Fusion Munich | 2 | Posting quote: "Relocation Support" | Research Software Engineer - Scientific Computing & GPU Infrastructure |
| Perk Berlin | 2 | Posting quote: "For certain roles, we can help with relocation from anywhere in the world, English is the official language at..." | Director of Go-to-Market Engineering |
| SumUp Berlin | 2 | Posting quote: "Numerous other benefits such as Urban Sports Club subsidy, Kita placement assistance, relocation assistance, s..." | Senior Backend Engineer - Identity Lifecycle |
| Crytek Frankfurt am Main | 1 | Posting quote: "Relocation Support" | Publishing Product Director |
| Isar Aerospace SE Parsdorf | 1 | Posting quote: "Relocation support: Benefit from our relocation bonus with deductible expenses up to an agreed amount" | Senior Security Engineer (m/f/d) |
| jetbrains Berlin | 1 | Posting quote: "Relocation support." | Software Developer Java/ Node.JS (Web Development Team) |
| Kolibri Games Berlin | 1 | Posting quote: "Relocation - Relocation support to help you move to Berlin" | Game Data Analyst (f/m/d) |
| Onebrief Wiesbaden | 1 | Posting quote: "Relocation assistance is available." | Staff Site Reliability Engineer (Wiesbaden, Germany) - Relocation Provided |
| Scout24 Berlin | 1 | Posting quote: "Relocation: Our relocation agency supports you with your visa process and an attractive relocation package." | AI Automation Engineer (d/m/f) |
| Sunday GmbH Hamburg | 1 | Posting quote: "We support every ambition - from learning German to a relocation bonus that helps you settle in and make Hambu..." | Engineering Manager |
| Superchat Berlin | 1 | Posting quote: "We support you with practical relocation help." | Engineering Manager (m/f/d) |
| Superhuman Berlin | 1 | Posting quote: "Relocation Support: Superhuman provides comprehensive relocation support to make your move to Berlin seamless." | Senior Product Designer, Growth |
What to check in a German tech job offer
When evaluating an offer in Berlin, Munich, or Hamburg, check whether the company works with an immigration agency (such as Localyze, Jobbatical, or Fragomen) to pre-approve your application through the accelerated skilled worker procedure (beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren under Section 81a of the Residence Act). Under Section 81a, the employer pays a EUR 411 fee to the local foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde) to secure fast-track pre-approval and a rapid embassy appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Does a German company need a sponsor licence to hire a non-EU software engineer?
No. Germany does not use a licensed sponsor register. Any registered German employer can sign the official Declaration of Employment (Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis) so you can apply for an EU Blue Card or skilled worker visa.
Can I get an EU Blue Card in Germany without a computer science degree?
Yes. Under Germany's reformed EU Blue Card rules for IT specialists, three years of verifiable professional IT experience within the last seven years is accepted in place of a formal university degree, provided the job offer meets the shortage-occupation salary threshold.
How does EuropeVisaJobs verify German listings without a public register?
Because Germany has no public sponsor register, our pipeline scans the text of every German tech job posting and only publishes roles that explicitly mention visa sponsorship, EU Blue Card support, or relocation assistance. Every listing displays the exact sentence quoted from the employer's posting.