Entry-level IT jobs in Germany are open to international graduates, and many are in English, but there are far fewer of them than senior roles. On Germany Dev Jobs on 16 October 2026, 88 jobs were marked junior and 153 were internships out of 3,574 English-speaking tech jobs. If you graduated from a German university, you can stay for up to 18 months to look for work and take any job meanwhile. If you graduated abroad, the Chancenkarte (opportunity card) lets you come to Germany to search, and recent graduates qualify for the EU Blue Card at the lower salary threshold of €45,934.20 in 2026.
This guide explains where junior developer jobs are, which residence permit fits your situation and how to improve your chances. It is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change; check the official links and your local immigration office.
How many junior developer jobs in Germany are in English?
The board classifies every job by seniority. On Germany Dev Jobs on 16 October 2026:
| Seniority | Jobs |
|---|---|
| Intern | 153 |
| Junior | 88 |
| Mid-level | 37 |
| Senior | 1,201 |
| Not specified | 1,391 |
Two things stand out. First, junior roles are about 2% of the board, so expect competition. Second, more than a third of ads don’t state a seniority at all. Many of those are open to graduates with good internships or projects, so read the requirements instead of filtering only by the word “junior”.
The Germany Dev Jobs report for October 2026 shows the same picture: 87 junior and 152 intern jobs among 3,583 live jobs on 15 October 2026. Only 2 of the junior jobs on 16 October were fully remote, so plan to live in or near a tech city. Berlin and Munich together had more than half of all jobs on the board: see jobs in Berlin and jobs in Munich.
Every company on the board works in English, so entry-level IT jobs in Germany for English speakers are the default here. German still helps, especially for internships at traditional German companies.
Can international students work in Germany after graduation?
Yes. Your options depend on where you studied.
Graduated in Germany: the 18-month job search permit
After you successfully finish a degree at a German university, you get a residence permit to look for a job (§ 20(1) no. 1 AufenthG). Key points:
- It lasts up to 18 months and cannot be extended beyond that (§ 20(2) AufenthG).
- You must be able to support yourself during this time.
- The job you look for must be one that a foreigner may take under the rules for skilled workers, the Blue Card, research or self-employment.
- You may work while you search. A residence title allows work unless a law forbids or limits it (§ 4a(1) AufenthG), and § 20 sets no limit. Your permit card states what you may do; check the entry.
Apply at your immigration office before your student permit expires. If your final degree certificate is not ready yet, ask your university and the immigration office which confirmation of completion they accept.
This is the “job seeker visa after master’s in Germany” that many people search for. Strictly, it is not a visa but a residence permit you get inside Germany.
Graduated abroad: the Chancenkarte (opportunity card)
The Chancenkarte is a residence permit to come to Germany and look for work (§ 20a AufenthG). According to the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit):
- It is issued for up to one year.
- You must show you can support yourself for the whole stay: usually €1,091 a month in 2026, for example with a blocked account.
- If your degree is recognised in Germany (for example listed in anabin as comparable), you count as a skilled worker and need nothing more.
- Otherwise you need a state-recognised degree or at least two years of vocational training, German at A1 or English at B2, and at least six points. Points are given for things like German skills, English at C1, work experience and a qualification in a shortage occupation.
- While searching you may work up to 20 hours a week on average, and do trial work of up to two weeks per employer for a qualified job.
- Once you find a qualified job, you can switch to a work permit such as the Blue Card, or extend the card as a follow-up Chancenkarte for up to two years if you don’t yet meet the conditions for another permit.
Still studying: student jobs and working student roles
International students may work up to 140 full working days a year. Days with up to four hours count as half days, and up to 20 hours a week during the semester can be counted as two and a half days. Jobs as a student assistant at your university don’t count (§ 16b(3) AufenthG). A mandatory internship that is part of your course is covered by your student permit (§ 16b(1) AufenthG).
A working student job (Werkstudent) in tech gives you German work experience before you graduate, and it lets an employer get to know you before a full-time offer.
Internships and pay
The German minimum wage is €13.90 an hour from 1 January 2026 (§ 1 MiLoV5). It also applies to interns, with exceptions (§ 22 MiLoG):
- internships that are mandatory under your study or training rules
- voluntary internships of up to three months to choose a course or career
- voluntary internships of up to three months alongside your studies, if you have not done one with the same employer before
So a six-month voluntary internship after graduation must pay at least the minimum wage. Many tech companies pay interns above it, but read the offer.
From junior offer to work permit
When you get an offer, pick the permit that fits:
| Situation | Permit | Salary floor (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Degree finished in the last three years, job matches your degree | EU Blue Card | €45,934.20 gross a year, with Federal Employment Agency approval |
| Software developer or other ICT professional, any time | EU Blue Card | €45,934.20 (shortage occupation) |
| Other cases | EU Blue Card standard | €50,700 |
| Salary below the Blue Card threshold, qualified job | Residence permit for skilled workers | No fixed threshold; ask the immigration office |
Sources: § 18g AufenthG, Bundesagentur für Arbeit.
The lower threshold for recent graduates applies if you finished your degree no more than three years before you apply. Test any offer with our EU Blue Card salary check. Our EU Blue Card guide covers the steps and fees, and the Blue Card is also the fastest path to permanent residence.
How to get a junior developer job in Germany
1. Apply wider than “junior”
Search by role and stack, not only by seniority: backend, frontend, full-stack, data science, Python, TypeScript. Apply to “not specified” roles where you meet most requirements. If you are interested in AI, read our guide to ML and AI engineer jobs.
2. Make your CV German-ready
A one-page tabular CV with month and year for every entry, your degree with its anabin status, a projects section with links and your languages with CEFR levels. Our German CV guide has a template.
3. Show work, not just grades
Graduates with no work experience compete on proof: a deployed project, open-source pull requests, a thesis with code, or a working student role. Put the link at the top of your CV.
4. Learn some German
You don’t need German for an English-speaking team, but even A2 helps with internships at German companies, daily life and points for the Chancenkarte. B1 shortens the path to permanent residence.
5. Use your university
Career fairs, alumni networks and professors’ industry contacts are worth using. If you studied in Germany, your career service can also help with application documents.
6. Know your salary
Graduate offers vary a lot. Check posted salaries in the October 2026 report and our guide to negotiating a tech offer, and make sure a Blue Card offer meets the threshold.
7. Be careful with “remote”
Remote junior roles are rare, and a remote job usually still needs a permit to live and work in Germany. See our remote and hybrid guide.
Is Germany good for international graduates in tech?
It can be. The legal routes are generous: an 18-month search period, the Chancenkarte, and a Blue Card with a lower threshold for recent graduates and IT specialists. The challenge is the market: junior roles are a small share of English-speaking tech jobs, and only a minority of ads say you can apply from abroad. A German degree, working student experience or a clear specialism all make your application stand out.
Frequently asked questions
Can international students work in Germany after graduation?
Yes. Graduates of German universities can get a residence permit of up to 18 months to look for a job, and may work while they search. Once they find a qualified job, they switch to a Blue Card or a skilled worker permit.
What is the job seeker visa after a master’s in Germany?
If you finished your master’s at a German university, you don’t need a visa: you apply at your local immigration office for the residence permit to look for work under § 20 of the Residence Act. It lasts up to 18 months, and you must be able to support yourself.
Can I work in Germany with a job seeker permit?
With the post-study permit under § 20, you may generally work in any job while you search; check the entry on your permit. With the Chancenkarte, you may work up to 20 hours a week on average and do trial work of up to two weeks per employer.
What are the requirements for the Chancenkarte?
Proof that you can support yourself (usually €1,091 a month in 2026) and either a degree or qualification recognised in Germany, or a state-recognised degree or two-year training, German at A1 or English at B2, and at least six points. It is issued for up to one year.
Are there entry-level IT jobs in Germany for English speakers?
Yes, but they are a small share of the market. On Germany Dev Jobs on 16 October 2026 there were 88 junior and 153 internship roles in English, out of 3,574 tech jobs. Many roles without a stated seniority are also open to strong graduates.
What salary do I need for a Blue Card as a graduate?
If you finished your degree no more than three years ago, the 2026 threshold is €45,934.20 gross a year, with Federal Employment Agency approval. Software developers qualify at the same threshold at any stage of their career, because IT is a shortage occupation.
Do interns get the minimum wage in Germany?
Usually yes: €13.90 an hour in 2026. Mandatory internships under your study rules and voluntary internships of up to three months are exceptions. A voluntary internship after graduation that lasts longer than three months must pay at least the minimum wage.