A Guide to the EU Blue Card for Germany
Did you know that Germany issues more EU Blue Cards than any other country in the European Union?
If you have a college degree and a job offer in Germany, you might be eligible for a German Blue Card.
What is the EU Blue Card for Germany?
The German Blue Card, or EU Blue Card is a pathway to German immigration that comes with some advantages, including a reduced timeline to permanent residence status.
Designed to attract highly-qualified workers from outside the European Union, the Blue Card is available to anyone with a college degree, a work contract with a German company, and a salary of €58,400 per year (2023). Though if you work in a field with a shortage of qualified workers, such as mathematics, computer science, the natural sciences, engineering and medicine, the annual salary requirements go down to €45,552 (2023).
One of the biggest advantages of the Blue Card is the ability to apply for permanent residence in Germany after just 33 months, as opposed to the five years required for other types of residency permits. And, if you learn German up to the B1 level, that timeframe goes down to 21 months.
When to apply for the EU Blue Card for Germany
Apply for the Blue Card after your arrival in Germany. If you’re coming from a country that requires you to secure a visa before your arrival, be sure to go through that process. In that case you must apply for a national visa at your closest German Embassy or Consulate at your country of residence. Once you get to Germany, you can begin the process of applying for the EU Blue Card.
If you’re from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Britain or the United States of America, you don’t need a visa to enter Germany, but you should apply for the Blue Card within three months of arrival, and you will need to have it before you start your job.
If you already have an EU Blue Card from another EU country, and you’ve had it for at least 18 months, you can relocate to Germany, but you must apply for a Germany-issued Blue Card within one month. You can’t start your new job without it.
If you are living in Germany on another type of visa, you may apply for the EU Blue Card at any time, provided you meet the requirements.
How to apply for the EU Blue Card for Germany
In-person appointments are required for submitting your Blue Card application in Germany. It is highly recommended that you make an appointment. You will also need to bring along several important documents including your work contract and proof of health insurance. Find the list of application requirements as well as downloadable application forms here.
Archer Relocation offers several relocation packages that include the EU Blue Card application process. We would be happy to assist you apply for your EU Blue Card, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Interesting statistics
84.5 percent of EU Blue Cards issued by European Union countries were issued by Germany in 2017.
Nearly 50 percent of the EU Blue Cards Germany issued in 2018 were given to people from India.
The number of Blue Cards issued in Germany has consistently gone up since 2012 when this type of work permit was introduced.
More on these statistics here.
** The information in this article is based on our research. As a relocation agency, Archer Relocation does not provide legal advice, but we strive to provide information that may be helpful to our clients living in or moving to Berlin and elsewhere in Germany.
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Archer Relocation has been providing relocation services to families, individuals and companies in Berlin since early 2015. Managing Director, Emily Archer, founded the company desiring to use her first-hand experience as an expat to make the relocation process as smooth as possible for others moving to Berlin. Read other useful information about moving to and living in Berlin, such as ‘How to Find a Berlin Apartment’, on our Berlin Blog.
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