What is an EU Blue Card? A comprehensive guide to gaining employment in Europe

An EU Blue Card is a residency permit or document that allows qualified non-EU foreign nationals to live and work in an EU nation. It enables its holder to travel to and stay in a specific EU nation in order to work.

The card makes it easier for highly qualified, non-EU professionals to enter the EU. It aims to make things easier and give EU citizens who are already in the country better legal standing. According to Germany-Visa.org, the EU Blue Card intends to simplify the procedures and improve the legal status of those already in the EU.

The permit gives its bearer permission to enter, exit, and remain in the nation that issued it. They can go with members of their family. Freedom of movement inside the EU for the holder of an EU Blue Card as well as their family members.

Additionally, the holder of an EU Blue Card is equal with the citizens of the Member State in which they have made their home. However, they can only work in the industry of their interest.

Furthermore, an individual from a third country may relocate to another EU member state to seek employment if they possess an EU Blue Card and have worked regularly for 18 months. Within a month of their arrival, he or she must notify the local authorities. Please take note that this program does not include Denmark, Ireland, or the United Kingdom.

Where Can I Work with an EU Blue Card?

EU Countries Issuing the EU Blue Card

• Austraia
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czechia
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden

While the EU Blue Card is accepted by twenty-five EU member states—all of which must meet the same basic requirements—each member state has established some minor additional requirements of its own.

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Which EU Member States are not issuing EU Blue Cards?

The following member states do not issue the EU Blue Card because they have chosen to withdraw from the EU Blue Card Directive:

• Denmark
• Ireland

EFTA member states are among the other states in the European Union that do not issue EU Blue Cards.

• Norway
• Liechtenstein
• Iceland
• Switzerland

In terms of the free market and service sharing, Switzerland operates under a bilateral agreement with the EU member states, whereas EFTA member states are part of the single EU market through the EEA agreement.

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What is the average salary for the EU Blue Card in 2024?

The majority of your pay depends on the company you work for. However, there is the salary threshold, which indicates the legally protected minimum wage.

What are the eligibility criteria for the EU Blue Card?

Verify your eligibility before beginning the application process to obtain a Blue Card. The applicant needs to fulfill the following requirements in order to be eligible for a Blue Card:

• You must possess an equivalent master’s degree.
• I have worked in your field for at least five years.
• You must possess a work contract or a job offer valid for a minimum of a year that is for highly qualified employment.
• You must fulfill the requirements for the minimum wage in the EU nation where you wish to work.
• Proof of compliance with national legal requirements is necessary for regulated professions.

You will have three months to find employment if, during the first three years of your Blue Card, you lose your job. If not, they will force you to exit the nation.

Requirements for the Card

The required documents for an EU Blue Card are as follows:

• Application Document. Either you or your employer must fill it out with accurate and truthful information. Sign both copies of the completed form after printing it twice.
• An up-to-date passport. Valid for a minimum of 15 months after the date you intend to leave the EU. It can’t sustain any damage. It can’t attach a visa unless it has at least two blank pages.
• Copies of the relevant pages in a passport. These are the initial pages containing your information and the pages bearing the visa stamps and stickers.
• Earlier passports. You will also need to turn in any older passports you may have. If you possess multiple expired passports, secure them with a rubber band.
• Two pictures. They have to be the same and compliant with ICAO regulations. The images have to be color, taken within the last three months, and have a simple white background.
• Work contract with a European Union employer situated in the nation where you want to work. Signed by each of the parties involved. It must pay at least the minimum wage and be valid for a minimum of one year.
• Evidence of expertise at a professional level. A college degree is necessary as evidence of professional standing. Additionally, you must provide documentation of your five years of continuous professional work experience in your field.
  • If you work in a regulated field, show the obtained certification.
• Up-to-date CV.
• Proof of application fee payment.
• Proof of health insurance.
• Proof that your salary exceeds the average in the hosting state by 1.5 times or 1.2 times for professions in shortage
• A formal statement from your employer. This is an official letter from your employer outlining the rationale behind your employment as well as the advantages of this action. It is sufficient for the sponsor to write a declaration attesting to the employee’s compliance with all conditions and requirements that are significant to the employer.
• Evidence that the host state’s security, public policy, or health are not in danger.

Note that you will need about four to six months to prepare and gather the necessary documentation, such as the certification of qualifications or translation of documents and other similar documents. Although you will need to consider this information when you are applying, some member states might be quicker.

What is the application process for an EU Blue Card?

Each EU nation has a different application procedure for an EU Blue Card. The member states retain the autonomy to determine if the third-country national and/or their employer must apply for the card.  Few member states allow online applications, and the majority of members require candidates to apply by scheduling appointments at the relevant embassies or consulates in their home countries.

The maximum number of citizens of third countries who can enter into their country with an EU Blue Card may also be set by the EU Member States. The EU Blue Card must be renewed for 100 euros, and there is an application fee of 140 euros for its issuance. You might have to wait a maximum of three months or ninety days, after submitting the application for processing.

What is the processing time for the Card?

The maximum processing time for issuing an EU Blue Card is 90 days.

How long is the card valid?

A Blue Card typically has a three-year validity period. You can extend your work contract and renew your EU Blue Card in line with it.

An EU Blue Card good for that duration (30 months) will be issued to you if your work contract is valid for longer than a year but less than three years.

You are entitled to three extra months after the EU Blue Card expires, giving you enough time to renew it or find another job in case your circumstances change.

A copy of your previous EU Blue Card must be submitted if you are applying for a renewal.

You can live and work in the hosting state lawfully while your application is being processed, which could take up to ninety days.

Benefits of being an EU Blue Card Holder

Here is a summary of some of the benefits of having an EU Blue Card:

• Equal work and salary conditions for national citizens,
• Free movement throughout the EU,
• Social rights, including education, economic, cultural, human, and health rights,
• Family reunification and
• Permanent-residency rights.

All EU Blue Card holders are eligible for all benefits, with the exception of housing, loans, and grants.

Note that EU Blue Card holders are not required to surrender their cards in order to return home or to other non-EU nations for a maximum of 12 months at a time.

After working in the first hosting state for 33 months, or 21 months if you have attained B1 language proficiency, you can apply for a permanent residency permit.

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Reasons why your application may be rejected

The following reasons could lead to the denial of your Blue Card application:

• You don’t meet the requirements for eligibility.
• Your application was made using inaccurate or misleading data.
• In the EU, you are viewed as a danger to public health, public safety, or public policy.
• The post could be filled by a national, an EU employee, or a non-EU citizen who is currently employed.
• It has been determined that your employer employed undocumented migrants without proper documentation.
• In your industry, there aren’t enough skilled workers in your country.

Within three weeks of receiving the decision, you have the option to appeal the rejection or withdrawal; an attorney may also appeal on your behalf. The court and the window of time for the appeal will be decided by the competent authorities of the hosting state. They will reject your application if it is not submitted by the deadline.

How can my family join me in applying for the EU Blue Card?

Whether your family applies at the same time as you will determine this. You can include them in your online application if you are applying concurrently. They can complete their own online application if not.

Can I obtain permanent residency using the EU Blue Card?

Indeed. To be eligible for an earlier permanent residency permit, you must work in the hosting state for 33 months or 21 months and obtain the B1 language certificate. You are also a strong candidate for the permanent residency permit if you work in several EU member states and have five years of total work experience.

What happens if I lose my current job while an EU Blue Card holder?

In the event of such an occurrence, you will be granted a three-month period during which you can look for new employment; failing that, your EU Blue Card may be revoked and you may be required to depart the country you are visiting.

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