EU Blue Card

You have a university degree and have found a job in Germany? Find out here which requirements you have to fulfill for the EU Blue Card.

The EU Blue Card (Section 18b (2) Residence Act) is a special residence title for foreign academics who want to take up qualified employment in Germany.

What are the requirements for the issuance of the EU Blue Card?

You have a German university degree, a recognized foreign university degree or a foreign university degree that is comparable to a German university degree. You can find information on the equivalence and recognition of foreign university degrees in the Recognition section.

You already have a concrete job offer in a company in Germany.

The job must be appropriate to your qualification (university degree).

With the job in Germany, you will achieve a gross annual salary of at least 58,400 euros (in 2023). For jobs in the professional fields of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, engineering and human medicine, a reduced gross annual salary of at least 45,552 euros (in 2023) applies. In this case, the Federal Employment Agency (BA) must approve your employment.

What prospects does the EU Blue Card offer?

The EU Blue Card is issued for the duration of the employment contract plus three months, but for a maximum of four years. If the requirements are met, an extension is possible. A change of job within the first two years of employment must be approved by the competent immigration authority.

After 33 months, holders of an EU Blue Card can obtain a settlement permit. If the required language skills of level B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) are proven ahead of time, the settlement permit can be issued after only 21 months.

You would like to live in Germany together with your family? As a holder of an EU Blue Card, this is possible.