EU Blue Card
The EU Blue Card is a residence title for high qualified workers.
The EU Blue Card (“BlueCard”) offers foreign skilled workers the opportunity to obtain a residence permit with a work permit.
To obtain a Blue Card you need to fulfill the following requriements:
1. you need one of the following qualifications:
-
- a German, recognized or comparable foreign university degree,
- you are an IT specialist with 3 years of professional experience or
- you have a recognized tertiary educational qualification equivalent to the German degrees as Meister, Techniker, Fachwirt
AND
2. you have a concrete job offer for
a) a job appropriate to your degree with a gross salary of 45,300 euros per year (€ 48,300 in 2025) or
b) a job appropriate to your degree with a gross salary of 41,042 euros (€ 43,760 in 2025) for
-
- natural scientists, mathematicians, engineers, doctors or IT specialists or
- persons who obtained their last university degree, relevant for the job position less than three years ago.
if the Federal Employment Agency approves that the salary is appropriate for the concerte job.
Even if you do not reach the income limit for an EU Blue Card, you have the possibility to obtain a residence permit as skilled worker with a recognized university degree or vocational training.
The recognition of a higher academic qualification can be evaluated on the ANABIN database. If you can not find your degree there you should apply for an individual examination.
The visa application for an EU Blue Card can be made at the German missions abroad. If you have legal residence status and receive a job offer after entering Germany that qualifies for an EU Blue Card, the Blue Card can be issued by the local immigration authority.
The EU Blue Card will be issued for four years, max for the duration of your job contract plus 3 months.
A change of job for Blue Card holders does no longer require the approval of the immigration authority. However, the foreigners authority must be notified and can suspend/reject the new job within the first 12 months, if the conditions of the EU Blue Card are no longer met.
As holder of an EU Blue Card you qualify for an indefinite settlement permit after 27 months if you have language skills on level A1. If you can proof language skills on level B1 you can apply for a settlement permit after 21 months.
As Spouse and minor child of a Blue Card holder you have the right to get a residence permit as family member with working allowance even if you cannot proof language or professional skills.
Spouses of Blue Card holders can obtain a settlement permit after just 3 years if they themselves are employed for at least 20 hours per week.
Our expert in this field is Specialist Lawyer for Immigration Law Sven Hasse.
