EU Blue Card China
BLUE CARD EU FOR CHINESE CITIZENS
Applying for an EU Blue Card is a worthwhile endeavor both for Chinese academics who want to work in Germany and for German companies who want to hire skilled workers from China. Here we explain what this special residence permit is all about, what advantages it brings and what you need to bear in mind when applying.
Advantages of the EU Blue Card
The EU Blue Card is a residence permit for skilled workers that allows them to live and work in Germany. It has many advantages over other residence permits. For example, applicants do not have to provide proof of German language skills. Those in possession of a Blue Card also have access to the German labor market with the same rights and obligations as German citizens, including the benefits of statutory health insurance for the whole family and 250 euros in child benefit per month. Furthermore, the EU Blue Card enables its holders with basic knowledge of the German language (level A1) to apply for a permanent residence permit, such as a settlement permit, after just 27 months, and with language skills at level B1 after just 21 months. This means that you can quickly consolidate your residence, which gives you planning security.
Of course, it is also possible for children and spouses to join blue card holders. It should be noted that a new law has been in force since March 2024, which makes it possible to bring not only children and spouses but also parents and possibly even parents-in-law from China to Germany.
The EU Blue Card therefore offers a whole host of attractive benefits. But what requirements do you need to meet to apply for it?
Requirements for Chinese citizens
In order to obtain an EU Blue Card, you must first have an employment contract or a specific contract offer from a company registered in Germany. The gross annual salary must be above an annually adjusted salary limit. For 2024, this salary limit is 45,300 euros. For career starters and employees in certain particularly sought-after shortage occupations such as IT specialists, engineers, mathematicians, logistics managers and urban planners, it is only EUR 41,041.80. You can find a detailed list of all professions that are considered shortage occupations here.
Also important: The EU Blue Card is only aimed at academic specialists. This means that it can only be issued to university graduates. If the academic degree in question was not obtained in Germany, it must be equivalent to a German degree. You can find out whether this is the case via the anabin platform. There, the degree must be rated as "equivalent" or "equivalent" and the awarding university as "H+". Alternatively, you can apply for a certificate evaluation on the website of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).
However, there is an important exception for IT specialists. They do not need to have a university degree in order to apply for an EU Blue Card. Instead, it is sufficient if they have at least three years of professional experience within the last seven years and can demonstrate theoretical knowledge at the level of an academic education.
Application from China
The application procedure for applicants from China to obtain an EU Blue Card is divided into two parts. The first step is to apply for an entry visa at the German embassy in China. This requirement is waived for some privileged countries, but unfortunately China is not one of them. You can find out which visa office is responsible for your province on the website of the German Embassy ( click here for the Chinese version of the website). Alternatively, you can also apply for a visa online.
Once they have received their visa, applicants must then use it to enter Germany and contact the immigration authority responsible for their planned place of residence to apply for the EU Blue Card. For this second step in the application process, the same documents are generally required as for the entry visa application. However, the exact documents required may vary from office to office. Our lawyers can help you here. We have experience with various immigration authorities throughout Germany and will ensure that your application is complete.
Accelerated skilled worker procedure for applicants from China
Germany in general and the EU Blue Card in particular are popular with qualified skilled workers from abroad. This is a good thing, but it also means that there can sometimes be longer waiting times when processing your application. In addition, the German embassy in China is still suffering from a shortage of staff as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which can further increase processing times. As a result, the entire process often takes several months, sometimes almost a year. This in turn leads to uncertainty, which is often stressful. To avoid this and get the application process over with as quickly as possible, you can opt for the accelerated specialist procedure. Under this procedure, your future employer can submit the application on your behalf. It also ensures that your application is processed much more quickly, both by the embassy and the immigration authorities. The entire procedure from start to finish usually only takes between three and five months. We will be happy to advise you on this topic and on all other questions relating to the EU Blue Card. Simply get in touch with our lawyers.
How German lawyers can help you
Bureaucracy is never easy, and German authorities often make it particularly difficult for applicants. But don't let this put you off! Our experts offer you individual advice on all questions relating to the EU Blue Card and will check your documents in advance. Whether you are a company or a private individual, our team of experienced lawyers will ensure that your application has the best possible chance of success and is processed as quickly as possible. This saves you long waiting times and uncertainty and frees you up to concentrate on the important things.
Frequently Asked Questions about the EU Blue Card (FAQ):
What is the period of validity of an EU Blue Card?
The EU Blue Card is usually issued for four years, unless the employment contract is shorter than four years. In this case, the EU Blue Card is valid for the duration of the employment contract plus three months, but never longer than four years. The EU Blue Card can be extended before it expires, provided you still meet all the requirements for an EU Blue Card.
What is the minimum salary for obtaining an EU Blue Card?
There are two minimum salary thresholds for the EU Blue Card that must be met in order to obtain an EU Blue Card. The basic salary limit for 2024 is an annual gross salary of 45,300 euros. For so-called shortage occupations, the lower salary limit in 2024 is 41,041.80 euros. Find out more about minimum salary limits here.
What happens if I lose my job as an EU Blue Card holder?
In case you are dismissed by your employer, you have three months to find a new job. If you do not succeed, there is a risk that your Blue Card will be revoked and you will have to leave Germany again. Get more information about the EU Blue Card and termination here.
What counts towards the gross salary for the salary threshold for an EU Blue Card?
In principle, certain additional payments can be included in the gross basic salary. These payments count towards the minimum salary if the supplements are agreed in the employment contract and are not dependent on the occurrence of certain conditions. Not every salary component is clear from the outset and requires individual examination in case of doubt.
Are German language skills required to obtain the EU Blue Card?
No, unlike other residence permits, no German language skills are required to obtain an EU Blue Card. This applies to both the applicant and their family.
If you can demonstrate language skills at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), you can apply for a permanent work and residence permit after just 21 months with an EU Blue Card. However, language skills are not mandatory. Without language skills, the waiting period for the possibility of applying for a permanent work and residence permit is extended to 27 months.
For how long can I leave Germany as an EU Blue Card holder?
You can leave Germany for up to 12 months without losing your EU Blue Card. The 12-month period also applies to your family members.
Can my family accompany me as an EU Blue Card holder?
Can I change jobs with an EU Blue Card?
It is generally possible for holders of an EU Blue Card to change jobs. However, in the first year of your employment, you must report any change of employer to the immigration authority. The authority then has the option of suspending the change and checking within 30 days whether it is permissible. If the authority allows this period to elapse or does not respond to your notification at all, the change is automatically deemed permissible. After one year, you can change your job without the approval of the immigration authority. However, the basic requirements, such as the minimum salary, must still be met.
Can I travel within the EU with an EU Blue Card?
Yes, holders of an EU Blue Card are permitted to travel to other Schengen states within the EU for tourism purposes without a visa. You can travel to Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland for 90 days within a 180-day period. As a rule, it is not possible to take up employment outside Germany without a corresponding residence permit.
