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 2025, this salary limit is 48,300 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 43,759.80 euros. 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 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 firmly agreed in the employment contract and are not dependent on certain conditions being met. Not every salary component is clear from the outset and requires individual examination in case of doubt.
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.
Can I change jobs with an EU Blue Card?
Yes, with the EU Blue Card, changing jobs is easier than with almost any other residence permit for gainful employment. If you have a Blue Card and change your job, you do not even need permission from the immigration authorities. According to § Section 82 (1) sentence 6 AufenthG you only have the obligation to inform the immigration authority about your change. To comply with this obligation, it is best to send the authority the notice of termination from your old job, the employment contract for your new job, including a detailed job description, and a declaration of employment completed by your new employer. The obligation to notify applies only within the first yearin which you are employed with your EU Blue Card. After that, you are no longer obliged to notify a change of job. A change in your place of work does not cause the year does not start anew.
Within the first year of your employment with the EU Blue Card, the immigration authority can suspend your planned job change and reject it within 30 days of the suspensionif the new job does not fulfill all requirements of the Blue Card requirements. In this case, instead of the Blue Card, you may be issued a another residence permit for example a residence permit for skilled workers with an academic education in accordance with § 18b AufenthG.
At the end of the first year rejection of your change of employment by the foreigners authority is no longer possible - even if your new job does not meet all the requirements, for example because your new salary is below the salary threshold is below the salary threshold. Your Blue Card will still be valid for the entire period for which it was originally issued. However, an extension beyond this period could be problematic.
Can my family accompany me as an EU Blue Card holder?
Yes, the (nuclear) family can accompany you. As a holder of a Blue Card, you can not only bring your children not yet of age and your spouse to come to Germany with you, but also your parents. If your spouse also lives in Germany, you can even bring their parents, i.e. your parents-in-lawto join you. This regulation was introduced with the Skilled Immigration Act of 2023 and only applies to holders of a Blue Card who received it in March 2024 or later.
Family reunification for holders of an EU Blue Card is also subject to less stringent requirements. In this case, according to § Section 29 (5) AufenthG you do not have to be able to prove that there is sufficient living space for you and your family members. In addition, your spouse is also § 30 para. 1 sentence 3 no. 5 AufenthG exempts your spouse from having to prove knowledge of the German language. This means that you can bring both your spouse and your children to Germany even if neither of them speaks German, if neither of them speaks German. In addition, your family members may work in Germany work without restriction and even become self-employed. And as a rule, they should be entitled to take part in an integration course. You can find more information on this on the BAMF website.
Family reunification can also be applied for as part of the accelerated procedure for skilled workers, which has the advantage that the processing time for the application is the same for you and your family. You can enter Germany together.
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.
Can I apply for a settlement permit with an EU Blue Card?
Yes, you can! With a Blue Card, it is even easier for you to obtain a settlement permit, which allows you to stay in Germany permanently for an unlimited period of time, than for holders of other residence permits. This is because, as a rule, you must have been in Germany for at least five years in order to be granted a permanent residence permit, and a residence period of at least three years also applies to skilled workers. However, if you have an EU Blue Card, you can obtain a settlement permit with basic German language skills at level A1 you can obtain a settlement permit after just 27 months. If you have German language skills at level B1, this period of residence is reduced by a further six months to just 21 months. There is no faster way to obtain a settlement permit under German law.
If you are granted a settlement permit as a Blue Card holder, this offers advantages not only for you, but also advantages for your spouse. This is because, in accordance with § Section 9 (3a) of the Residence Act (AufenthG) also apply for a settlement permit themselvesafter just three years of residence. However, the prerequisite for this is that your spouse works at least 20 hours per week.
In order to be granted a settlement permit, you must also meet a number of other requirements. You can find out what these are on our main page on the settlement permit.
Will I lose my EU Blue Card if I stay abroad for a longer period of time?
1. extended period of stay abroad for holders of the EU Blue Card:
- Normally, a residence permit expires in accordance with Section 51 (1) no. 7 AufenthG if the holder has been abroad for more than six months without interruption.
- However, an extended period of up to twelve months applies to EU Blue Card holders and their family members (Section 51 (10) AufenthG). This means that they can stay abroad for up to one year without their residence permit expiring.
2. application to settlement permits pursuant to Section 18c (2) AufenthG:
- The twelve-month period also applies to foreigners who have received a settlement permit pursuant to 18c (2) AufenthG.
- It is therefore important that the correct legal basis is entered in the electronic residence permit when the settlement permit is issued.
3. principles for stays abroad:
- Since Section 51 (10) AufenthG only extends the time limit, the previous rules from Section 51 (1) (7) AufenthG apply accordingly, but with the proviso that the time limit is 12 months instead of 6 months.
- According to the Federal Administrative Court (judgment of 11.12.2012, BVerwG 1 C 15/11), stays abroad are harmless if they are limited in time and do not result in a significant change in living conditions in Germany.
- It is important that the absence is uninterrupted Several shorter stays abroad are not added together and do not lead to the expiry of the residence permit as long as the 12-month period is not exceeded.
4. abuse through repeated short entries:
- However, if there are several trips abroad and the reasons for the absence are not only temporary, the right of residence may expire in accordance with 51 (1) no. 6 AufenthG.
- The practice of entering Germany only briefly shortly before the 12 months expire in order to obtain the residence title does not prevent the title from expiring.
5. extension to 24 months for certain persons:
- For holders of an EU permanent residence permit who previously had an EU Blue Card and their family members, the period is extended to 24 months (Section 51 (9) no. 3 AufenthG).
To summarize:
- EU Blue Card holders and their family members can stay abroad for up to 12 months without their residence permit expiring.
- Several short stays abroad are not added together and do not lead to the loss of the title, provided the trips are temporary and the center of life remains in Germany.
- Abuse through regular short entries in order to circumvent the time limit is not permitted and can lead to the expiry of the residence permit.
- The period is extended to 24 months for certain persons with EU permanent residence.
Important:
These regulations are intended to ensure that holders of the EU Blue Card and comparable titles have their center of life in Germany and do not permanently move it abroad without their residence title expiring. Every situation is unique, so we are happy to help you with an individual legal assessment.
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.
After you have stayed in Germany for one year with your EU Blue Card, you can leave at any time to another EU member state at any time in order to obtain a Blue Card and work there. and work there. After entering this other EU country, you must submit an application for a Blue Card to the immigration authorities there as soon as possible, at the latest within one month. In order to obtain this, you must fulfill the requirements of that country for the issue of an EU Blue Cardbut this should not usually be a problem, as you have already fulfilled the requirements in Germany.
What happens if I lose my job as an EU Blue Card holder? (Termination of the employment relationship)
Your employer gives you notice or you have to leave your job for other reasons and you can't find a new job straight away - what now? In the event that you are dismissed by your employer, you have three months to find a new job. If you are unable to do so, there is a risk that your Blue Card will be revoked and you will have to leave Germany again.
In principle, the EU Blue Card is only issued for the purpose of employment. This means that if you lose your job, the basis for your Blue Card also disappears. However, the EU Directive on the EU Blue Card stipulates in Art. 8 Para. 5 that temporary unemployment does not lead directly to the loss of the Blue Card. A total of up to three months of unemployment is irrelevant. If you have already held your Blue Card for at least two years, then even up to six months of temporary unemployment are harmless. However, if you are unable to find a new job during this time, your Blue Card may be revoked. In this case, however, you may be able to obtain a residence permit to look for a job instead. instead.
If you have found a new job, you must comply with the rules on changing jobs with the EU Blue Card, which we have summarized summarized for you here have summarized for you here.
A termination or change of employment also entails certain obligations for employers vis-à-vis the local immigration authority. For example, employers are obliged to inform the foreigners authority within four weeks of the premature termination of the employment relationship if the residence permit for this employment has been issued. Violations of the notification obligation can be punished with a fine of up to 30,000 euros .
From an employment law perspective, you may be able to claim severance pay from your employer as a result of your dismissal. Find out more about severance pay following dismissal here.
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 2025 is an annual gross salary of 48,300 euros. For so-called shortage occupations, the lower salary limit in 2025 is 43,759.80 euros. Find out more about minimum salary limits here.
Do I need an entry visa for Germany to apply for the EU Blue Card?
Do I need prior approval from the Federal Employment Agency for my EU Blue Card?
If the job offer you have received only meets the lower salary threshold for shortage occupations and young professionals, you must first obtain approval for your EU Blue Card from the Federal Employment Agency. No approval is required for all employees whose salary is also above the general (higher) salary threshold, even if they work in a shortage occupation or are career starters. Here you can find the salary limits for the Blue Card for 2025.
