The EU Blue Card: opportunities and challenges for highly skilled professionals in Europe
Europe continues to attract highly skilled professionals from all over the world, and the EU Blue Card represents a significant step towards a simplified and standardized immigration process for professionals. Since a reform on November 18, 2023, the circle of those who can apply for a Blue Card has been expanded. In this article, we will take a closer look at the EU Blue Card and the opportunities and challenges it presents for highly skilled workers.
What is the EU Blue Card?
The EU Blue Card is a residence permit tailored to university graduates and experienced skilled workers from outside of the EU, which is intended to facilitate permanent immigration to Germany. As a temporary work visa, it allows a stay of up to four years, whereby the duration is adjusted accordingly for shorter employment contracts.
The beneficiaries of this card benefit not only from the easier obtaining of the residence permit itself, but also from concessions for family reunification. Spouses, for example, are entitled to a residence permit with unrestricted permission to work, even without German language skills.
Another advantage is that EU Blue Card holders can obtain a settlement permit quickly. After 33 months, there is the option of a settlement permit, provided that highly qualified employment has been pursued during this time, contributions to pension insurance have been made and simple communication in German is possible. This period is even reduced to 21 months if, among other things, you have sufficient knowledge of German (language level B1).
What are the general requirements for obtaining a Blue Card?
Several requirements must be met in order to obtain the EU Blue Card:
Educational qualification:
A German or comparable foreign university degree is required. However, if no university degree can be proven, this is not a problem either. A tertiary educational qualification with at least three years of training is also sufficient to obtain an EU Blue Card. This must be equivalent to a university degree, which must be determined by the competent German authority.
Employment:
To apply for an EU Blue Card, you must have an employment contract or an offer of employment that is limited to at least 6 months. The position must also be appropriate to your qualifications. Due to the reform at the end of 2023, a gross annual salary of at least €45,300 is now required. The gross annual salary only has to be €41,041.80 if you work in a so-called bottleneck profession and the Federal Employment Agency has approved your employment. A bottleneck profession is a profession with a shortage of skilled workers. Bottleneck professions include teachers and educators, doctors, academic specialists in STEM fields and managers in production, IT and healthcare.
Special case: EU Blue Card for IT specialists without formal qualifications:
IT specialists can also obtain the EU Blue Card without formal qualifications under certain conditions. A job offer in Germany is required, at least six months of employment, a gross annual salary of at least 41,041.80 euros (as of 2024) and at least three years of professional experience in the IT sector in the last seven years. The professional experience must have been at university level and must be required for the employment in Germany.
If you meet these requirements, you are generally entitled to an EU Blue Card in accordance with Section 18g AufenthG.
What is the procedure?
To apply for an EU Blue Card, follow these steps:
1. Check requirements:
- Check whether you meet the requirements above, especially regarding educational qualifications, job offer and salary.
2. Apply for a visa:
- Apply for a visa at the embassy of your home country before you travel to Germany. This visa allows you to enter the country to take up employment.
3. Entering Germany:
- After receiving the visa, you will enter Germany. Observe the applicable entry regulations.
4. Move into an apartment:
- Find a suitable apartment in Germany to establish your residence and register this residence with the residents‘ registration office.
5. Apply for an EU Blue Card:
- Apply for the EU Blue Card at the nearest immigration office in Germany. Here you present all the necessary documents confirming your qualifications, the job offer and other relevant details.
Social insurance and tax liability
It is necessary to have health insurance as soon as you arrive in Germany. Statutory health insurance only comes into force when you take up residence in Germany and the employment contract begins. If you enter the country before the start of your employment, you must take out private health insurance until the start of the employment relationship and admission to statutory health insurance. However, only health insurance policies taken out within the EU will be recognized. You can then switch to statutory health insurance from the start of your employment contract.
Particularly interesting is the case is if you work in Germany but are not liable to pay tax there and do not have to pay social security contributions, for example due to a double taxation agreement. According to the results of our research, it should be possible to apply for a Blue Card in this case as long as you meet the above-mentioned requirements, including residence and health insurance. However, we are still waiting for confirmation of this from the immigration authorities.
Overall, the EU Blue Card represents an opportunity for highly qualified professionals to shape their professional careers in Europe. By creating a uniform and simplified immigration process, it not only facilitates access to demanding labor markets, but also contributes to cultural diversity and innovation in the European workforce. While the EU Blue Card undoubtedly offers many benefits, it is crucial to keep in mind the specific requirements and conditions. In this sense, the EU Blue Card opens up new perspectives for both workers and European companies and consolidates Europe’s position as an attractive labor market for international talent.