European Countries Raising Work Permit Salary Requirements in 2026

Last updated: Jul 4, 2026

If you are planning to move to Europe for work this year, the salary bar is higher than it was in 2025.

Here is what each country now requires, country by country, with the figures straight from official immigration authorities.

Table of Contents

Germany — EU Blue Card from €50,700 a year

Germany now requires an EU Blue Card salary of at least €50,700 gross a year, effective 1 January 2026. That is roughly €4,225 a month and about 5% higher than the 2025 level, according to Make it in Germany.

A lower threshold applies to shortage occupations and new graduates.

Standard threshold: €50,700 gross per year for most professions.
Reduced threshold: €45,934.20 for shortage occupations (IT, engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, medicine), recent graduates, and qualifying IT specialists without a university degree.

The thresholds are set yearly by Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior and tied to the pension contribution ceiling. Most arrivals land in Frankfurt or Berlin.

Netherlands — up to €5,942 a month

The Netherlands now requires a highly skilled migrant to earn up to €5,942 gross a month, excluding the 8% holiday allowance. The new figures took effect on 1 January 2026, an increase of about 4.5% over 2025, per the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

The required amount depends on your age.

Aged 30 and over: €5,942 gross per month.
Under 30: €4,357 gross per month.
Recent graduates (orientation year): €3,122 gross per month.

These amounts apply from 1 January 2026 and are reviewed annually. The salary must be fixed, guaranteed, and paid into your own bank account to count toward the threshold for jobs based around Amsterdam.

Austria — €3,465 a month

Austria’s Red-White-Red Card for Other Key Workers now requires at least €3,465 gross a month, a 7.4% jump from €3,225. The new thresholds took effect on 1 January 2026, according to Austria’s official migration portal, migration.gv.at.

Different routes carry different figures.

Other Key Workers: €3,465 gross per month, calculated over 14 annual payments.
EU Blue Card: €55,678 gross per year.
Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations: no fixed minimum, but pay must match the applicable collective agreement.

Vienna is the main entry point — you can check live routes to Vienna on Wego.

Finland — €3,937 a month for specialists

A specialist or EU Blue Card applicant in Finland now needs at least €3,937 gross a month, up from €3,827 in 2025. The new income requirements took effect on 1 January 2026, per the Finnish Immigration Service, Migri.

Standard employment carries a much lower bar.

Specialist permit and EU Blue Card: €3,937 gross per month.
General work-based residence permit: €1,600 gross per month.
Not counted: fringe benefits, per diems, and benefits in kind.

Most work routes run through Helsinki, and you can compare flights to Helsinki on Wego.

Denmark — DKK 552,000 a year

Denmark’s main Pay Limit Scheme now requires an annual salary of at least DKK 552,000, up by DKK 38,000. The regulated thresholds rose on 1 January 2026, according to the official New to Denmark portal.

There is a lower-cost supplementary track for some applicants.

Regular Pay Limit Scheme: DKK 552,000 per year.
Supplementary Pay Limit Scheme: DKK 446,000 per year (up DKK 31,000).
Payment rule: the salary must be paid into a Danish bank account in your own name.

No specific degree or field is required under the scheme — it is purely salary-based. Copenhagen is the primary hub, so check routes to Copenhagen before you go.

Ireland — €40,904 a year

Ireland’s Critical Skills Employment Permit now requires at least €40,904 a year for roles needing a relevant degree, up from €38,000. The increase took effect on 1 March 2026 as the first step of a phased plan, per the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.

The figure depends on your qualifications and experience.

Critical Skills (with relevant degree): €40,904 per year.
Critical Skills (relevant experience, no degree): €68,911 per year.
Recent graduates (qualified within the prior 12 months): €36,848 per year.

Further increases are phased in through 2030 rather than all at once. Dublin is the main gateway — you can track flights to Dublin on Wego.

Sweden — about SEK 33,390 a month

From 1 June 2026, a Swedish work permit requires a salary of at least 90% of the national median — about SEK 33,390 a month. This replaces the previous “good living” maintenance test, according to the Swedish Migration Agency.

The rule that applies to you depends on when you get your decision.

New applicants (decision from 1 June 2026): at least 90% of the median salary, roughly SEK 33,390 per month.
Extensions (1 June–1 December 2026, permit granted earlier): 80% of the median, currently SEK 29,680 per month.
EU Blue Card: unchanged at SEK 52,000 per month.

A comprehensive health insurance policy is now also required for stays of up to one year. Stockholm is the main entry point — see routes to Stockholm on Wego.

France — €39,582 a year

France’s Talent Passport “qualified employee” route requires a fixed salary of €39,582 gross a year in 2026. The qualified-employee threshold is now tied to a fixed reference salary rather than a multiple of the SMIC minimum wage, per France’s official public-service portal, Service-Public.

Higher-tier routes require more.

Qualified employee (Salarié qualifié): €39,582 per year.
EU Blue Card: €59,373 per year.
Talent – Corporate officer: €67,212.60 per year.

The qualified-employee and EU Blue Card figures were standardised by a 2025 ministerial order and carry through 2026. Paris is the main hub, so check flights to Paris on Wego.

What this means if you’re planning to work in Europe

Check the threshold for your exact permit category and age before you sign anything. A salary that cleared the bar in 2025 may no longer qualify in 2026.

Confirm the figures on the official immigration portal for your destination, since most reset every January.

Read the right category: Blue Card, skilled-worker, and graduate thresholds differ widely within the same country.
Check what counts: most countries count only fixed, guaranteed gross salary — bonuses, allowances, and benefits in kind are usually excluded.
Mind the bank rule: Denmark and the Netherlands require the salary to be paid into an account in your own name.
Watch the dates: Ireland changed on 1 March and Sweden changed on 1 June, so timing your application matters.

You can compare fares and track routes to all these cities on the Wego flight tracker once your permit is sorted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are European countries raising salary thresholds in 2026?

Most thresholds are indexed to national wage growth and inflation, so they rise automatically each year. Some countries, such as Sweden, are also deliberately tightening labour migration by linking permits to a higher share of the median wage.

Do these thresholds apply to every visa?

No. They apply to skilled-worker, EU Blue Card, and similar work permits, not to student, family, or most seasonal visas. Each category usually has its own separate figure.

Are bonuses and allowances counted toward the salary?

Usually not. Most countries count only fixed, guaranteed gross salary, and several explicitly exclude per diems, fringe benefits, and benefits in kind.

When do the new thresholds take effect?

Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, and Denmark applied their changes on 1 January 2026. France’s fixed-reference amounts come from a 2025 ministerial order. Ireland’s took effect on 1 March 2026, and Sweden’s new rule started on 1 June 2026.

Sources

Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.