Immigration

Germany | Increased skilled worker salary thresholds from 2025

Summary

The German government has recently announced an increase in the contribution assessment ceiling for statutory pension insurance in 2025. This adjustment will impact the calculation of minimum salary requirements for several immigration categories under the Residence Act. Employers should be aware of the new thresholds to ensure compliance when hiring skilled workers under these provisions.

The detail

Key changes for 2025

The contribution assessment ceiling for statutory pension insurance is a benchmark that also affects immigration-related salary thresholds. The ceiling has been increased, resulting in new minimum gross salary requirements for various immigration categories in Germany. These changes will directly impact non-EU nationals seeking residence permits based on employment in Germany.

Old and New Contribution Assessment Ceiling
	2024	2025
EU Blue Card without pre-approval	45.300,00 EUR	48.300,00 EUR
EU Blue Card with pre-approval	41.041,80 EUR	43.759,80 EUR
Employment in selected professions with extensive practical work experience[1]	40.770,00 EUR	43.470,00 EUR

[1] Not applicable if the employer is bound by collective agreements within the meaning of the Collective Agreement Act (TVG) and the foreign national is employed under the applicable collective agreement conditions.

Other examples:

• Minimum salary threshold for e-sports activities will also increase from EUR 45.300 to EUR 48.300 gross
• For Skilled workers with vocational or academic training from EUR 49.830 to EUR 53.130 if they are above 45 years.

Action Points for Employers

1. Legal Consultation: Seek advice to verify compliance with the new minimum thresholds, especially for non-standard or complex cases.
2. Update Offer Letters: Review and, if necessary, adjust the salary figures in offer letters to ensure compliance with the 2025 thresholds.
3. Budget Adjustments: Adjust budgets to account for the increased salary requirements for new hires under immigration-related categories.
4. Proactive Communication: Inform HR and recruitment teams about the updated thresholds to streamline recruitment processes and ensure consistent compliance. The rest of my text is directly below with no extra line space above and not bolded.

Conclusion

Employers hiring skilled foreign workers in Germany should promptly review and adjust their compensation offers to align with the increased minimum salary thresholds for 2025. Ensuring compliance with these changes is essential for attracting and retaining foreign talent under German immigration law.

For more guidance on how these updates may affect your workforce planning, please contact our specialized immigration team.

Contact us

For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:

Mostafa Massoud
Partner

Eva Witt
Manager

Further information on Vialto Partners can be found here: www.vialtopartners.com

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