- EU Blue Card — shortage occupation
A lower salary threshold, for occupations on Germany's shortage list — IT, engineering, health and others.
- EU Blue Card — general
The standard EU Blue Card: a recognised university degree and a salary above the general threshold, in any qualified job.
- Skilled worker — academic (§ 18b)
Your university degree is recognised in Germany and the job matches it.
- Skilled worker — vocational (§ 18a)
Your vocational training is recognised in Germany and you have a job offer that matches it.
- Experienced worker (§ 19c / § 6 BeschV)
No German recognition needed: two years of recent skilled work in the last five, plus either a qualification your home country officially recognises, or experience in IT.
- Researcher (§ 18d)
A research institution — from a university to a company's research department — has agreed to host you and to cover the costs.
- ICT Card — a transfer within your company (§ 19)
Your company moves you to its German branch for more than 90 days, as a manager, specialist or trainee.
- Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte, § 20a)
A one-year card to come and look for work, with part-time work of up to 20 hours a week.
Quoted here, not scored
One route we hold the rules for and will not score. Each page states them as the authority does, with the day we read them, and asks you nothing; the checker never offers it.