Apply for an EU Blue Card

The EU Blue Card is a residence permit for foreign academics. In certain circumstances, it is sufficient to provide evidence of another professional qualification instead of a completed university degree.

The EU Blue Card entitles you to a number of benefits:

• If you meet certain criteria, you are legally entitled to an EU Blue Card.
• The EU Blue Card makes it easier for you to move for work within the European Union (EU).
• It’s easier for your family to join you.
• You can obtain your settlement permit more quickly.

To apply for the EU Blue Card, you will need a German university degree or a foreign university degree that is comparable to a German university degree.

Under certain conditions, you may be able to obtain an EU Blue Card even if you do not have a university degree. In that case, you will need, for example, a qualification such as:

• Master or Mistress
• Childcare worker (male or female)

To be eligible for the EU Blue Card, you must already have a specific job offer from a company in Germany. The duration of employment must be at least 6 months. The Federal Employment Agency does not need to approve the position.

The job must be commensurate with your university degree. If you are working in a regulated profession, you must hold, or have been granted, a licence to practise.

Regulated professions include, for example,

• Specialist solicitor
• Engineer (male or female)
• Teachers.

You must earn at least 48,300 EUR gross in your job in Germany.

In certain occupational groups, you can also obtain an EU Blue Card with a lower gross annual salary of at least EUR 43,759.80. In such cases, the Federal Employment Agency must approve your employment. These occupational groups include, for example:

• Managers, for example, in childcare centres, the health sector or the education sector
• academic professionals in architecture, spatial planning and transport planning
• Doctors.

You can also obtain the EU Blue Card with a lower gross annual salary of at least EUR 43,759.80 if you graduated from higher education no more than three years ago.