How an IT specialist can relocate to Europe in 2026: visas, residence permits, and taxes
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A complete guide for developers and IT professionals from the CIS: EU Blue Card, Germany’s Opportunity Card, Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa, and tax regimes. Updated 2026 requirements and income thresholds.
IT professionals are one of the few professional groups for whom Europe is not just open — it is actively competing for their attention. Germany is raising salary thresholds while simultaneously expanding access for candidates without formal degrees. Portugal offers tax regimes tailored to technical specialists. The Netherlands maintains one of the most attractive expat tax benefits in the EU.
Yet many developers from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus still choose their route by inertia — “friends moved to Germany” or “I heard Portugal is easy.”
This guide focuses on concrete numbers and legal pathways as of February 2026. We analyze each country from three angles: how to enter, how to legalize your stay, and how much tax you will pay.
Yet many developers from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus still choose their route by inertia — “friends moved to Germany” or “I heard Portugal is easy.”
This guide focuses on concrete numbers and legal pathways as of February 2026. We analyze each country from three angles: how to enter, how to legalize your stay, and how much tax you will pay.
Three main pathways for IT specialists
There are three fundamentally different scenarios:
1. You Have a Job Offer
The optimal route is the EU Blue Card or a national work visa. The employer often handles much of the paperwork, and you receive legal status immediately upon arrival.
2. No Job Offer, But You Have Qualifications
Germany’s Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) allows you to enter without a job and search for one locally for up to one year while working up to 20 hours per week.
3. You Work Remotely
The Digital Nomad Visa route. The strongest options in 2026: Portugal (D8), Spain, and Greece.
1. You Have a Job Offer
The optimal route is the EU Blue Card or a national work visa. The employer often handles much of the paperwork, and you receive legal status immediately upon arrival.
2. No Job Offer, But You Have Qualifications
Germany’s Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) allows you to enter without a job and search for one locally for up to one year while working up to 20 hours per week.
3. You Work Remotely
The Digital Nomad Visa route. The strongest options in 2026: Portugal (D8), Spain, and Greece.
EU Blue Card: the main work visa for IT specialists
The EU Blue Card is a combined residence and work permit for highly qualified non-EU professionals.
Conditions differ by country.
Germany: Strict Yet Highly Attractive
Germany remains the leader in Blue Card issuance due to:
IT specialists can qualify without a university degree if they have at least 3 years of relevant professional experience within the last 7 years and a qualifying salary offer.
Permanent residence:
Typical Blue Card roles: backend developer, DevOps engineer, data scientist, cloud architect, cybersecurity specialist.
France, Netherlands, Spain: Alternative Blue Card Destinations
Conditions differ by country.
Germany: Strict Yet Highly Attractive
Germany remains the leader in Blue Card issuance due to:
- Fast path to permanent residence
- Full work rights for spouses
- Strong IT salaries
- Standard professions: €50,700 gross/year
- Shortage occupations (IT, engineering, medicine): €45,630 gross/year
IT specialists can qualify without a university degree if they have at least 3 years of relevant professional experience within the last 7 years and a qualifying salary offer.
Permanent residence:
- After 21 months with German B1 level
- After 33 months with A1 level
Typical Blue Card roles: backend developer, DevOps engineer, data scientist, cloud architect, cybersecurity specialist.
France, Netherlands, Spain: Alternative Blue Card Destinations
- France: €59,373/year (1.5× national average salary)
- Spain: approximately €40,000–41,000/year
Portugal: digital nomad visa (D8)
Portugal remains popular among remote IT professionals due to:
After 5 years of legal residence → eligibility for citizenship.
- Moderate income threshold
- 5-year path to citizenship
- Attractive tax framework for qualified professionals
- Savings: at least €11,040
- Proof of remote employment or freelance contracts
After 5 years of legal residence → eligibility for citizenship.
Netherlands: high-tech hub with 30% ruling
The Netherlands offers one of Europe’s strongest tax incentives.
30% Ruling
Allows up to 30% of gross salary to be paid tax-free as compensation for extraterritorial expenses.
In 2026:
30% Ruling
Allows up to 30% of gross salary to be paid tax-free as compensation for extraterritorial expenses.
In 2026:
- Maximum tax-free portion: €78,600/year
- Valid for 5 years
- Reduction to 27% planned for 2027
- Approx. €68,590 gross/year
- €52,139 for specialists under 30 with a master’s degree
Required documents (universal checklist)
Regardless of destination:
- Proof of qualification (apostilled diploma + certified translation)
- Proof of experience (employment contracts, references)
- Financial documentation (3–6 months bank statements)
- Criminal record certificate (apostilled + translated)
- Health insurance (minimum €30,000 coverage until residency approval)
Common mistakes that cost months
- Submitting documents without verifying consulate-specific requirements
- Delaying diploma recognition (Germany’s anabin or ENIC-NARIC can take 3–6 months)
- Ignoring tax exit obligations in the home country
- Choosing a country based on one factor (e.g., “low taxes”) without evaluating cost of living and labor market conditions
Conclusions: which route is best?
If you have a job offer — Germany or the Netherlands via EU Blue Card offers the strongest combination of speed, tax efficiency, and long-term prospects.
If you are a freelancer or remote worker — Portugal’s D8 combined with the IFICI regime offers moderate thresholds, a 20% professional income tax (where applicable), and a 5-year path to citizenship.
If you want to relocate to Germany without a job offer — the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) allows on-site job search and increases employment chances.
If you are a freelancer or remote worker — Portugal’s D8 combined with the IFICI regime offers moderate thresholds, a 20% professional income tax (where applicable), and a 5-year path to citizenship.
If you want to relocate to Germany without a job offer — the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) allows on-site job search and increases employment chances.
Why do customers choose Visa Dan?
Visa Dan is an international company with a strong legal team and experience in assisting more than 1,000 clients. We offer:
- Individual selection of solutions and strategies for obtaining a residence permit.
- Complete transparency and support at every stage.
- A strong team in Europe: lawyers, translators, operators, notaries.
- Support until you receive your ID card, as well as assistance with renewal and integration in the country.
The Visa Dan team will help you navigate this journey from start to finish. Get personalized advice and start your new life in 2025!