Italy, Germany or the Netherlands?
The Blue Card is an EU scheme, but each country sets its own threshold and its own employment rules. Italy's threshold is much lower, which opens the route to more roles and earlier-career profiles. Here is how the three compare.
The permit
| Topic | Italy | Germany | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salary threshold 2026 | At least the ISTAT average gross annual salary and the CCNL level; reported at about €36,300 a year [secondary source] | €50,700 a year; €45,934.20 for shortage occupations and IT specialists without a degree | €5,942 gross a month; €4,754 under the reduced criterion (excluding holiday pay) |
| Work authorisation | Nulla osta within 30 days of the application | [confirm] | [confirm] |
| Permit length | 2 years for a permanent contract; otherwise contract plus 3 months | [confirm] | [confirm] |
| Permanent residence | [EU long-term residence rules for Blue Card holders to confirm] | Settlement permit after 27 months of Blue Card employment with A1 German, 21 months with B1 | [confirm] |
| Family | Reunification whatever the permit length | [confirm] | [confirm] |
The employment contract
| Topic | Italy | Germany | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ending employment | A valid reason is required (just cause or justified objective or subjective reason); unfair dismissal leads to compensation or reinstatement | [dismissal protection threshold to confirm] | [UWV or court route to confirm] |
| Notice | Set by the CCNL by level and seniority | Statutory 4 weeks to the 15th or month end; employer notice rises with tenure up to 7 months after 20 years; 2 weeks in probation (BGB § 622) | [confirm] |
| Paid leave | At least 4 weeks a year; CCNLs often add paid hours (ROL) | [confirm statutory minimum] | At least four times the weekly hours (20 days on a 40-hour week) |
| Sick pay | Paid with a medical certificate, shared between INPS and employer under the CCNL | [confirm] | Employer pays 70% of salary for up to two years, not below minimum wage in year one |
| Social contributions | Employer about 30% to INPS, plus INAIL; employee about 9-10% | [confirm] | [confirm] |
| Extra month | 13th month mandatory; 14th under some CCNLs | Not required by law [confirm] | Holiday allowance of 8% of annual salary |
| Severance | TFR: 6.91% of annual pay set aside and paid at the end, for any reason | [confirm] | [transition payment to confirm] |
| Non-compete | Valid only if written, paid and limited in time (max 3 years, 5 for executives), place and activity | [confirm] | [confirm] |
Sources, read 4 Nov 2026. Italy: D.Lgs. 286/1998 art. 27-quater (text); threshold from arlettipartners.com; TFR Civil Code art. 2120. Germany: thresholds from The Local citing the Federal Foreign Office; settlement permit from service.berlin.de; notice from allaboutberlin.com citing BGB § 622. Netherlands: thresholds from IND; leave, holiday allowance and sick pay from L&E Global. General orientation, not legal advice.
What this means for a candidate
A role paid above the Italian threshold but below €45,934.20 a year can qualify for a Blue Card in Italy while falling short of both German thresholds, and of the Dutch one. Living costs outside the biggest cities are lower too. In exchange, Italian employment is more structured: a CCNL sets the minimums, and pay is spread over 13 or 14 installments with TFR on top.
What this means for an employer abroad
Budget the full Italian employment cost, not just the salary: contributions, 13th month and TFR. The calculator shows it month by month. Health care is public and not on your invoice.