Residence permit in Germany after 45: salary threshold 2026

Updated:
05.10.2026

After 45 years of age, the law adds yet another requirement to the usual ones: €4,647.50 gross per month — or proof that you will not end up dependent on social assistance in old age. This is 55 % of the annual contribution assessment ceiling in pension insurance, and in 2026 the threshold rose from the previous €4,427.50.

We are looking into who the rule applies to, which visas bypass it, and what is considered “sufficient pension provision” in practice. We are talking about two routes:

employment — Section 18a for professionals with vocational education and training and Section 18b for those with a degree;
own business — § 21 for the self-employed, entrepreneurs and freelancers.

Straight to the main point, which makes it worth reading to the end: This rule does not apply to the EU Blue Card, and its salary threshold in 2026 is €5,070 a year lower. For a person with higher education over the age of 45, this is usually the shortest path.

If you do not yet have an employer in Germany, you can come over and look for work on the spot with a jobseeker visa. However, age works directly against you there: up to 35 you get 2 points for it, from 35 to 40 you get one, and after 40 you get nothing at all. You will have to make up the required six points through the recognition of the degree, German language skills and work experience.

More about residence permits

§18a

A skilled worker with vocational training shall be granted a residence permit for the purpose of taking up any qualified employment.

A foreign skilled worker with vocational training (at least two years of training) obtains a residence permit to take up any qualified employment.

A permit under this section does not tie you to a single employer.

For those professions that are considered regulated, recognition of the diploma is required.

Examples of occupations covered by this section:
Mechanic
Chef
Logistics specialist
Nurse
Car mechanic
Bricklayer
Network engineer
Technologist
Electrician

Section 18b

A skilled worker with an academic qualification shall be granted a residence permit for the exercise of any qualified employment.

An employee with an academic qualification receives a residence permit to pursue any qualified job. Having a completed higher education degree opens up the possibility of working in Germany in any position that requires qualified work.

A permit under this section does not tie you to a single employer or industry.

You can change your field of activity as long as the position remains skilled

Examples of occupations covered by this section:
Engineers (including IT)
Dentist
Clinical psychologist
Architect
Risk manager
Corporate finance consultant

Section 21

A foreign national may be granted a residence permit to carry out self-employed work.

A foreign national may be granted a residence permit for self-employment.

Obtaining a residence permit in Germany after the age of 45

The rule goes like this: if you have turned 45 and you for the first time receive a residence permit under § 18a or § 18b, the salary must be at least 55 % of the annual contribution ceiling in the general pension insurance scheme. In 2026 this ceiling is €101,400 per year, which means the threshold is €55,770 gross per year, or €4,647.50 per month.

An alternative is to prove “adequate retirement provision” (angemessene Altersversorgung) instead of a high salary. What this means in practice is broken down below: there is no single figure in the law, and that is the main difficulty.

The threshold is reviewed every January. In 2025 it was €53,130 per year (€4,427.50 per month), and in 2026 it is already €55,770. Fact sheets and articles on the internet become outdated in a single season, so always check which year the figure relates to.

Section 18 paragraph 2 number 5 of the Residence Act
In cases where a residence title under Section 18a or Section 18b is issued for the first time after the foreign national has reached the age of 45, the salary must amount to at least 55 per cent of the annual contribution assessment ceiling in the general pension insurance scheme, unless the foreign national can provide proof of adequate provision for old age.

Who does the rule apply to, apart from §§ 18a and 18b

The same threshold of €4,647.50 per month will be applied by the authority in two further cases:

Section 19c paragraph 1 in conjunction with § 22a, § 24a or § 26 para. 2 BeschV — care assistants, professional drivers, Western Balkans regulation;
Section 19c(2) in conjunction with Section 6 BeschV — skilled work based on experience, without a degree recognised in Germany. Up to the age of 45, the threshold via this route is lower at €3,802.50 per month, after which it rises to the general €4,647.50.

Trap: the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) and upskilling do not exempt you from the rule

It seems logical: if you are already living in Germany on an Opportunity Card or a qualification recognition visa, then switching to a work residence permit is no longer a “first-time issuance”. That is not the case. The German Federal Foreign Office states explicitly in a memo that the applicant signs:

This also applies if, while remaining in Germany, the residence as a skilled worker follows a qualification measure in accordance with Section 16d of the Residence Act (AufenthG) or an opportunity card in accordance with Section 20a of the Residence Act (AufenthG).

That is, the rule also applies even if you have been living in Germany all this time. A practical takeaway for those over 45: if you are planning to apply for a Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card), don’t just count the points, but also the future salary — €4,647.50 per month is noticeably higher than the average salary for many professions.

Blue Card does not fall under this rule

The most important thing for anyone over 45 to know: the 55 % threshold is set out in § 18(2)(5) and relates to § 18a and § 18b. The EU Blue Card is issued under Section 18g and operates according to its own salary thresholds — and in 2026 they are lower.

Permit	Threshold 2026, gross per annum	Per month
§ 18b – degree-educated professional, 45+	€55,770	€4,647.50
EU Blue Card, standard salary threshold	€50,700	€4.225
Blue Card, shortage occupations and graduates of the last three years	€45,934.20	€3,827.85

The difference between § 18b and the reduced Blue Card threshold is almost €10,000 a year. If you have a university degree and a job offer in your field, the Blue Card is probably a more realistic option for you than a standard work residence permit. Plus, it grants a permanent residence permit after 27 months (with A1 German), or after 21 months with B1, instead of three years under § 18b. In both cases your spouse is not required to speak German.

One caveat. The Blue Card requires a higher education degree — or, for IT specialists, three years of relevant experience within the past seven. For those with vocational qualifications (§ 18a), this workaround does not apply: there, it is either €55,770 or proof of pension provision. If the degree has not yet been evaluated in Germany, you need to start with degree recognition — without it, you will not get a Blue Card either.

What is “adequate pension provision” and how much is that in money

This is where the worst part begins: there is not a single specific sum in the law. Section 18(2)(5) refers only to “proof of adequate pension provision”, whilst Section 21(3) for the self-employed states “shall… provide adequate pension provision” and leaves the decision entirely to the discretion of the relevant authority.

What the department wants to see on the substance

The logic is simple: by the age of 67, you should have guaranteed lifetime income sufficient to live without social assistance. Not “savings in general”, but income that cannot be withdrawn early and will not run out after ten years.

The lower baseline is the level of Grundsicherung im Alter (basic income support in old age). In 2026, the basic rate for a single person is €563 a month (there was no indexation in 2026), plus actual costs for accommodation and heating. According to our estimates, in a major city this amounts to around €1,100–1,400 per month — and it is this figure, rather than the bare €563, that the authorities use as a guide. This is an estimate, not a fixed figure: you will only be given the exact figure at your local Ausländerbehörde (immigration office).

Figures mentioned during consultations

The most common figure is as follows: for a 45-year-old applicant, a pension from the age of 67 of around €1,565 a month for 12 years or confirmed assets amounting to approximately €225,000. These amounts are not specified in the federal law. This is a calculation from the practice of individual departments; it changes along with the subsistence minimum and varies by federal state. You can use it as a guideline for planning, but not as a rule that you can cite in an application.

What we recommend you do before submitting your application: Write to your Ausländerbehörde to ask what amount they consider sufficient in your particular case. It is worth keeping a copy of their reply by email — this will help avoid any disputes when you come to renew your permit.

How is this confirmed?

pension entitlements accrued in the country of origin — a statement from the pension fund;
property free from mortgages and encumbrances, with a valuation;
bank deposits and securities;
German private pension schemes — Rürup-Rente (tax-subsidised private pension), Lebensversicherung (life insurance), bAV (company pension): we’ll look at these in more detail below;
business assets.

Retirement age — 67 years old for anyone born in 1964 or later; the transition period ends in 2031. It is from this date that the number of years you have left to save is calculated.

Frequently asked questions about proof of pension provision in Germany when applying for and renewing a residence permit

For residence permits under Section 18

If a residence permit was obtained before the age of 45 and renewal is due at 47, what happens then?

Nothing further needs to be confirmed. The rule is tied to the words “erstmalige Erteilung” — first receipt of a residence permit under Section 18a or Section 18b. If you were granted it at the age of 43, the usual conditions apply when renewing it at the age of 47: a valid employment contract, an income covering the minimum cost of living, and health insurance.

What if I change employers after the age of 45?

A change of employer whilst already holding a § 18a or § 18b permit does not constitute a new first-time application. The 55 % threshold does not apply in this case, but the general requirements remain: the work must continue to be skilled, and the income must be sufficient to cover living costs.

What if I came here on a Chancenkarte and am now applying for a work residence permit?

This is where the threshold applies. A switch from an Opportunity Card (§ 20a) or a further training visa (§ 16d) to § 18a or § 18b counts as a first-time issuance, even if you have been living in Germany all this time. This is explicitly stated in the German Foreign Office’s guidance note – see the quote above.

Is salary calculated to include bonuses and allowances?

The authority looks at the contractually guaranteed gross salary. Variable bonuses, profit shares and bonuses paid at the employer’s discretion are usually not counted. If part of the income is variable, ask the employer to write a guaranteed minimum into the contract.

For the self-employed and entrepreneurs (Section 21)

If you are applying for a residence permit under Section 21 of the Residence Act as a sole trader, entrepreneur or freelancer and you are already 45 years of age or older, § 21 para. 3 applies: pension provision “should” be demonstrated. The word “soll” is crucial here — it is not a strict prohibition, but a strong legal recommendation: the authority may refuse if there is no pension provision, but in a justified case it is also entitled to grant the permit.

The key difference from § 18: Self-employed people do not have a salary threshold that can resolve the issue with a single figure. All that remains is proof of pension provision, the content of which is determined by the agency itself.

Upon renewal, you will have to confirm again. Unlike § 18, where the rule regarding 45 years applies only once, for § 21 every extension involves a fresh check of the provision of means of subsistence and pension savings (Section 5(1), Section 8(1) of the Residence Act). Therefore, a private pension scheme contract for an entrepreneur over 45 is not a one-off formality, but something that will have to be shown on every visit to the department.

Methods of pension provision for obtaining a residence permit in Germany

Let us look at several types of pension provision that will help you obtain a residence permit under Section 18 or 21 in Germany after the age of 45 – specifically, accumulating a pension in private German insurance programmes. In other words, when you submit your documents to the immigration office, you also enclose your contract confirming that you are taking part in such a programme. The contract sets out the amounts of the monthly payments and the term.

Rürup-Rente

The name Rürup-Rente (Basis-Rente) comes from the name of the author who developed the pension savings system, Bert Rürup. On his suggestion, a new form of private supplementary pension insurance with government subsidies was introduced in 2005. This means the accumulation of a voluntary pension, unrelated to the employer, which the state stimulates not through direct contributions, but via a tax relief for participants.

We discuss the Rürup-Rente in more detail in this article

More details

Lebensversicherung

When applying for a residence permit in Germany, you can also prove your guaranteed pension by submitting a contract for a Lebensversicherungcontract. This form of pension savings is also recognised by the German immigration office (Ausländerbehörde).

Lebensversicherung is an investment savings product that allows you, upon reaching retirement age, to build up enough capital for a lifelong pension or receive a lump-sum payment. In the event of the policyholder’s death, the accumulated capital is passed on as an inheritance.

The Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) wants savings to be sufficient, guaranteed and impossible to withdraw early from the account. These are precisely the requirements that a Lebensversicherung in Germany meets.

Betriebliche Altersversorgung (occupational pension scheme)

Corporate pension, or bAV – a supplementary pension scheme that companies offer to their employees. Part of your gross salary will be paid into a pension fund. You will not have to pay tax and social security contributions on this amount. You can choose the contribution amount yourself within set limits. The employer’s contribution will help to increase your future pension payouts. For obtaining a residence permit under Section 18 or 21, this can serve as proof of pension capital. Upon reaching retirement age, you can start receiving this supplementary pension monthly for life or opt for a lump-sum payment.

Calculation tables for obtaining the required pension to secure a residence permit under Sections 18 and 21 in Germany

Model calculation: how much more you need to pay in by the age of 67 to reach €1,565 pension per month A guideline from agency practice, not a rule of law. Our calculation is based on a fixed salary and excludes indexation.
Starting work in Germany	30 years*		45 years		50 years		55 years
Gross monthly salary (€)	3000	4000	3000	4000	3000	4000	3000	4000
State pension euro/month	1160	1540	690	915	530	707	373	500
How much more is needed to reach the € limit?	405	25	875	650	1035	858	1192	1065
Your minimum monthly contribution to the additional pension programme in euros	112	10	570	425	965	800	1720	1540

* And although there is no requirement to confirm pension provision to obtain a residence permit before reaching the age of 45, the table clearly shows the level of the pension without participating in the voluntary pension savings system.

Health insurance is part of the same requirement

Pension provision after 45 is not the only money question the authority checks. Under § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 AufenthG a residence permit is granted as a rule when “der Lebensunterhalt gesichert ist”. And § 2 Abs. 3 Satz 1 AufenthG spells out what that includes: you must support yourself “einschließlich ausreichenden Krankenversicherungsschutzes ohne Inanspruchnahme öffentlicher Mittel” — that is, together with adequate health insurance and without drawing on public funds. Insurance here is not a separate formality attached to the document pack; it is part of the same condition as income.

Why the choice of system costs more after 45

In the private system the premium is calculated from the age at entry: the later the contract is taken out, the higher the premium stays for the rest of your life. And the way back closes with age. Under § 6 Abs. 3a SGB V, a person who becomes subject to compulsory insurance after the age of 55 remains versicherungsfrei (exempt from compulsory insurance) if they were not in the statutory system during the previous five years and were free of it, or exempt from it, for at least half that period. In practice this means one thing: a decision to go private taken at 46 may turn out to be irreversible after 55.

Statutory health insurance (GKV) — the contribution is calculated from income, not from age or state of health.
Private health insurance (PKV) — the premium depends on the age at entry and on health, and the scope of benefits is wider.
Switching between GKV (statutory health insurance) and PKV (private health insurance) — when it is possible at all, and on what conditions.

For the self-employed and for entrepreneurs under § 21 AufenthG this matters even more: there is no employer paying half of the contribution, so the whole amount falls on the applicant. The health insurance contribution belongs in the calculation alongside the pension one — otherwise the picture of “how much do I need per month” stays incomplete.

Legal references verified on 8 September 2026.

It is easy to see that the later you start and the lower your salary, the more you need to contribute to your individual pension “pot”.

Our information will help you to work out the size of your monthly contributions so that you can maintain your usual standard of living when you retire.