§ 19c Abs. 2 AufenthG i. V. m. § 6 BeschV
Work permit for IT specialists and experienced professionals (no degree required)
Germany hires self-taught developers: with 2+ years of relevant experience (within the last 5), a job offer paying at least €45,630 (2026), you can get a work permit without any university degree. For IT jobs, even the formal vocational certificate is waived.
Last verified: 21 July 2026 · Legal basis: § 19c Abs. 2 AufenthG i. V. m. § 6 BeschV
Duration
48 months
Tied to the employment contract, max 4 years; renewable.
Family
Regular family reunification: spouse and minor children can join once income and housing suffice.
Permanent residence
This § 19c permit is not itself a 'skilled worker' permit — PR runs via the general § 9 AufenthG route (usually 5 years). Tip: with 3 years' IT experience you may qualify directly for the Blue Card § 18g and its 21/27-month PR track.
Financial thresholds
| Minimum salary (2026, non-tariff employers) | €45,630
(Source: § 6 BeschV,
Last verified 21 July 2026)
|
| IT specialists aiming for a Blue Card instead (3 yrs experience in last 7) | €45,934
(Source: § 18g Abs. 2 AufenthG — Blue Card for IT specialists without degree,
Last verified 21 July 2026)
|
Requirements
- At least 2 years of relevant professional experience within the last 5 years 2 years within last 5 (Source: § 6 Satz 1 BeschV, Last verified 21 July 2026)
- State-recognised qualification in the training country (waived entirely for IT professions) 'In Berufen auf dem Gebiet der Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie findet Satz 1 Nummer 3 keine Anwendung' — § 6 BeschV.
- Salary ≥ 45% of the pension contribution ceiling: €45,630 in 2026 (waived if the employer is bound by a collective agreement) €45,630 (Source: § 6 BeschV — 45% × 101,400 € (2026 pension ceiling), Last verified 21 July 2026)
How to apply
- Document your experience Reference letters, contracts, project lists, GitHub — the visa section wants evidence the experience is real and relevant.
- Check which route pays off ≥3 years experience + €45,934.20 salary → Blue Card (better PR track). 2 years + €45,630 → this § 6 BeschV route.
- Employer paperwork & BA approval Employment declaration; the BA checks salary level and conditions.
- Apply via the Consular Services Portal Or after visa-free entry at the Ausländerbehörde if you hold a § 41 AufenthV nationality (US, UK, CA, AU, JP, KR, IL, NZ).Official page ↗
Frequently asked questions
I never finished university — can I really work in Germany legally?
Yes. For IT professions § 6 BeschV explicitly waives the formal qualification; 2 years of solid, provable experience plus the salary floor is enough.
Does freelance IT work count as experience?
It can, if you can document it credibly (contracts, invoices, client references). Purely informal work is hard to prove.
What German level do I need?
None is fixed for IT roles in law; many Berlin tech jobs are English-first. Sufficient German can be required where the job demands it.