Here, we will explain the purpose and scope of the EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte) in Germany, the eligibility criteria, and the application process. For expert assistance with your immigration matter, contact Reiss Edwards, immigration lawyers, and solicitors in London.
Germany remains extremely popular with skilled workers from outside of the EU/EEA due to the wide range of high-quality job opportunities available and robust pay. Immigrants are also attracted to the excellent quality of life in Germany, the stunning scenery, the overall levels of safety, and the friendliness of the German people. If you are considering making the move to Germany to work, an EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte) may provide you with the immigration permission you require. Here, we will explain the purpose and scope of the EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte) in Germany, the eligibility criteria, and the application process.
The EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte in German) is an EU-wideg immigration programme that gives highly qualified workers from outside the bloc the permission they need to live and work in an EU nation. The scheme is specifically intended for those with university degrees and above and an offer of employment with above-average pay. The EU Blue Card is available in 25 EU nations (not Denmark and Ireland), including Germany.
There are several advantages to the EU Blue Card, including:
The main criteria which must be met to receive a Blaue Karte for Germany relate to education and a job offer with sufficient pay, as follows:
Applicants for an EU Blaue Karte for Germany must hold either a degree from a German education provider, a recognised higher education degree from an education provider outside Germany, or have a non-German higher education degree which is equivalent to a German higher education degree. Information on equivalent degrees is provided by Anabin. Where a foreign degree is not listed in the Anabin database, it is still possible to have an assessment carried out to verify if a degree is equivalent to a German degree.
Applicants for an EU Blaue Karte in Germany must have a valid offer of employment before they can be considered. This job offer must be “concrete”. In addition, the role being offered must be a degree-level position. This ensures that Blue Cards are only issued to those with sufficiently high skill levels. In some cases, additional authorisation may need to be requested by the employer from the Federal Employment Agency before an offer of employment can be made and an application for a Blue Card submitted.
As part of the application process for an EU Blaue Karte in Germany, the authorities will check that the salary being paid by the German employer is sufficiently high. The rules state, “The position in Germany must be remunerated with a gross annual income of at least EUR 56,800 (in 2021). A gross annual salary of at least EUR 44,304 (in 2021) is required for employees in the fields of mathematics, IT, natural sciences, engineering, and human medicine. In such cases, the German Federal Employment Agency must approve your request for employment”.
Having secured a job offer in accordance with the above requirements, you will then be able to apply for a D visa (a long-term visa for Germany). The first stage of the application process is to make an appointment with your German embassy. The embassy will book a time and date for you to visit and explain the documents you will need to bring with you, including:
At your appointment, you will submit your documents and pay the EUR75.00 application fee. If approved, the German immigration authorities will grant your visa, at which time you can make arrangements to travel to Germany.
Even though you have a visa, you will need to apply for your Blue Card when you arrive in Germany. The process for securing a work and residence permit is as follows:
The EU Blue Card is typically issued for up to four years. Where an employment contract is for less than four years, the EU Blaue Karte will be granted for the same amount of time as the contract plus three extra months.
It is also possible to extend an EU Blaue Karte if additional time is needed in Germany.
Your Blue Card is valid as long as you remain employed with the same German employer. If you wish to change employer, you will need to request permission from the immigration authority (this is only necessary for the first two years of employment).
