Published: June 30, 2022
Updated: December 15, 2025

EU Blue Card

The EU Blue Card - a residence permit for highly qualified workers

Since August 1, 2012, employees and university graduates have had the opportunity to acquire a special residence permit, the so-called EU Blue Card. The aim of this residence permit is to promote and facilitate the permanent immigration of highly qualified workers from outside the EU to Germany. The legal basis for who can live and work in Germany with a Blue Card is regulated in Section 18g of the Residence Act.

Overview

  1. The requirements for the acquisition of an EU Blue Card

  2. Authority competence

  3. Advantage of the accelerated skilled worker procedure

  4. Advantages of the EU Blue Card

  5. No approval from the Federal Employment Agency

  6. What documents are needed for the application?

  7. Regional differences in the application for the EU Blue Card

  8. The EU Blue Card after Brexit

  9. Frequently Asked Questions about the EU Blue Card (FAQ)

The requirements for obtaining an EU Blue Card

To obtain an EU Blue Card and be able to work in Germany, you must meet the following requirements:

However, there is one important exception to this: IT specialists can obtain an EU Blue Card even without a degree. However, they must have gained at least three years of relevant professional experience in the past seven years and be able to demonstrate theoretical knowledge at the level of university graduates. We explain more about this special regulation here.

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University degrees

In principle, both German and foreign degrees can be sufficient for applying for an EU Blue Card.

  1. German university degree
    A university degree completed in Germany is generally sufficient.
  2. Foreign university degree
    A foreign degree may also be sufficient for the application, provided it is either recognized or comparable to a German university degree.
    The extent to which a foreign university degree is recognized in Germany can be checked in the online database of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).

In the event that the online database does not contain sufficient information, the applicant must apply to the ZAB for an individual evaluation of the degree, which is subject to a fee (so-called comparability with German university degree).

Further information on the recognition and equivalence of foreign university degrees can be found at www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de. Unfortunately, problems can often arise when determining the equivalence or recognition of a university degree obtained abroad, which may delay or prevent the process of applying for this residence permit.

Completed training in a specific profession is generally not sufficient to obtain an EU Blue Card. Only IT specialists can obtain a Blue Card under the exception mentioned above if they have the necessary professional experience in addition to their training. Nevertheless, even people who have completed training are generally considered to be skilled workers. You can find out which residence permit is suitable for you here.

Employment contract or concrete contract offer

You can only apply for an EU Blue Card if you have a domestic employment contract or a concrete offer of such a contract. In practice, this point can be proven either by presenting your employment contract or, if you only have a concrete offer of a job, by a confirmation from the company. It is important to note that the employment must take place in Germany. In addition, the offer of an employment contract must provide for a period of employment of at least six months.

Qualification-appropriate employment:
Link between university degree and job for an EU Blue Card

For the EU Blue Card, your education and the job must be related. Whether the job is appropriate for your qualifications does not depend on the salary level; the minimum salary for the EU Blue Card is set by law.

In the case of non-regulated professions, employment is considered appropriate to the professional qualification for the granting of an EU Blue Card - irrespective of the subject area of your university degree - if it usually requires an academic degree and the knowledge acquired during your studies is used at least partially or indirectly. For example:

  • A doctor with a university degree who works in a non-regulated profession in a pharmaceutical company.
  • A graduate of a chemistry course takes on a managerial role in another scientific, mathematical or commercial profession at an academic level.
  • A cultural scientist who works in event management.

Minimum salary EU Blue Card

To obtain an EU Blue Card, your annual gross salary in 2026 must be at least €50,700. You can find more information about this salary threshold here.

For certain occupations that are in particularly high demand in Germany (shortage occupations), a lower threshold of currently (2026) at least €45,934.20 applies. The same threshold also applies to career starters who obtained their university degree within the last three years prior to applying for the EU Blue Card. This is intended to make it easier for them to enter professional life.

List of shortage occupations

  • Specialists in information and communication technology
  • Architects
  • Designer
  • Doctors (incl. dentists and veterinarians)
  • Physiotherapists
  • Engineers and engineering scientists
  • Mathematician
  • Scientist
  • Teacher
  • Spatial, urban and traffic planners
  • Managers in production, construction and logistics
  • Managers in the healthcare sector

Professional practice

If a permit is required for practicing a profession under German law (e.g. medicine, engineering), the applicant must provide evidence of the existence of this permit or its approval before the EU Blue Card is issued.

General conditions for granting

In addition to all these special requirements, you must also be able to provide evidence of some general requirements that must always be met in order to be issued a residence permit. This includes, for example, that you can prove your identity, for example with a valid passport or other documents if necessary. You must also be able to prove that you have health insurance in Germany.

Authority competence

The EU Blue Card can be applied for within Germany at the local immigration office. Depending on which country you come from, you may need a visa to enter Germany. Once you have entered the country, you can apply for the EU Blue Card at the relevant immigration office.

A visa is not required for entry to the following countries: USA, Japan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, South Korea, Israel and New Zealand. Citizens from these countries can enter the country without a visa.

If you live outside the EU and do not come from the above countries, you usually need a visa for the purpose of gainful employment. This is issued to you by the relevant German mission abroad. With this visa you can enter Germany and apply for the EU Blue Card at the foreigners authority responsible for you. It is important to note that you must apply for the EU Blue Card before your visa expires.

Skilled workers who have held an EU Blue Card in another EU member state for at least 12 months can also enter Germany without a visa in order to apply for an EU Blue Card. In this case, the EU Blue Card must be applied for within one month of entering Germany.

People who already have a valid residence permit can also apply for an EU Blue Card. Of course, they do not need a visa either, as they are already in Germany.

Advantage of the accelerated skilled worker procedure

You can apply for an EU Blue Card using the so-called accelerated procedure for skilled workers. The accelerated procedure for skilled workers ensures that appointments are made more quickly at the German diplomatic mission abroad so that you receive your visa more quickly and, if necessary, includes the recognition procedure for a foreign qualification.

Advantages of the EU Blue Card

The EU Blue Card opens up many opportunities. Holders of this residence permit have very easy access to the German labor market, with the same rights and obligations as German employees, and can live in Germany without any further requirements. While they are working in Germany, they can travel freely within the EU in their free time.

One of the main advantages of the EU Blue Card is that it enables a quick transition to a settlement permit permit. This means that you can quickly consolidate your stay in Germany - because the settlement permit is issued as an permanent residence permit issued. It allows you to settle permanently in Germany and to live and work here. With the EU Blue Card, it is possible to apply for a settlement permit after just 21 months of residence, provided you can prove that you have German language level B1. And even if you only have a basic knowledge of German (level A1), you can still apply for a settlement permit after 27 months.

In addition to working, you can also bring your close family (children, spouse, parents of both you and your spouse) to join you as part of family reunification. You can find details on the topic of family reunification in our FAQ.

No approval from the Federal Employment Agency

The Federal Employment Agency must carry out a labor market check, which basically consists of the so-called priority check (checking whether German employees or employees with equivalent status - e.g. from EU member states - are available for the job) and checking the employment conditions.

However, if the gross annual income is at least €50,700, i.e., the general salary threshold for the EU Blue Card (as of 2026), approval from the Federal Employment Agency is not required. This means that only employees in shortage occupations or career starters are dependent on the agency's approval.

What documents are needed for the application?

  • Copy of passport
  • Biometric passport photo
  • Copy of your original university degree
  • Copy of the English translation of your university degree
  • Resume
  • Letter of intent or employment contract from a company in Germany (incl. detailed job description)

If applicable, you will also need:

  • Copy of your spouse's passport
  • Biometric passport photo of your spouse
  • Copy of the marriage certificate
  • Translated version of the marriage certificate
  • Copy of your child's passport
  • Copy of your child's birth certificate

Regional differences in the application for the EU Blue Card

The formal requirements for applying for an EU Blue Card vary in practice, depending on where in Germany the EU Blue Card is applied for. The legal requirements are the same, but the forms, the required documents and the method of submitting the application may differ.

In our overview, you will find the practical requirements for the cities of Berlin, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt, Cologne, Leipzig, Munich, and Stuttgart with further notes.

You can find all the information about applying abroad and the country-specific practical requirements for the United Kingdom, South Africa, India and China here.

The EU Blue Card after Brexit

British professionals will also have the opportunity to apply for an EU Blue Card for Germany after January 01, 2021. Learn more about the possibilities and potential of the EU Blue Card for British nationals here.

Frequently Asked Questions about the EU Blue Card (FAQ)

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.

At the end of each year, the minimum salary required to obtain an EU Blue Card in the coming year is announced. To understand this change, it is important to know the following: The minimum salary for the EU Blue Card is derived from the contribution assessment ceiling in the general pension insurance scheme, which rises slightly at the beginning of each year. Therefore, the minimum salary required for a Blue Card also increases every year. In November 2023, however, the new Skilled Immigration Act adjusted the calculation method, resulting in a relatively sharp drop in salary limits this year.

The following chart provides an overview of the development of the minimum salary for the EU Blue Card. For more information on the minimum salary and the EU Blue Card, please visit our website, where you will find an article on the currently applicable salary threshold as well as articles on the years 2025 and 2024 and on the last months of 2023 after the new Skilled Immigration Act comes into force.

EU Blue Card - Salary limits over time
General minimum salary Minimum salary for shortage occupations

Yes, holders of an EU Blue Card are permitted to travel to other Schengen countries within the EU for tourism purposes without a visa. For up to 90 days within a 180-day period, you may even conduct business in other EU countries with your Blue Card, provided that this activity is related to the job for which you received the Blue Card. This allows you to participate in business meetings, negotiations, or training courses in other EU countries, among other things. If the EU member state to which you wish to travel for this purpose is not part of the Schengen area, you may need to provide additional evidence in order to be allowed to enter. We therefore recommend that you always check with the relevant authorities in the destination country to find out about the rules that apply there.

After you have stayed in Germany for one year with your EU Blue Card, you can leave the country at any time to obtain a Blue Card and work in another EU member state. 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 meet the requirements of this country for the issue of an EU Blue Card, but this should not usually be a problem as you have already met the requirements for the issue of a Blue Card in Germany.

If you are a national of a so-called privileged country, you do not need an entry visa to apply for an EU Blue Card in Germany. These privileged countries that do not require an entry visa include: Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. Citizens of other countries generally require a visa for the purpose of gainful employment, which is issued by the responsible German diplomatic mission abroad.

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.

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, in most cases, you must have been in Germany for at least five years in order to be granted a permanent residence permit, with a residence period of at least three years applying to skilled workers. However, if you have an EU Blue Card, you can obtain a permanent residence permit with basic German language skills at level A1  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 permanent residence under German law.

If you are granted a permanent residence 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) they can 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 permanent residence permit, you must also meet a number of other requirements. You can find out what these are on our main page on permanent residence.

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.

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.

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.

If the job offer you have received only meets the lower salary threshold for shortage occupations and career starters, you must first obtain approval from the Federal Employment Agency for your EU Blue Card. No approval is required for all employees whose salary is above the general (higher) salary threshold, even if they work in a shortage occupation or are career starters. Here you will find the salary thresholds for the Blue Card for the year 2026.

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.

There are two minimum salary thresholds that must be met in order to obtain an EU Blue Card. The basic salary threshold for 2026 is an annual gross salary of €50,700. For so-called shortage occupations, the minimum salary threshold in 2026 is €45,934.20.

Find out more about the current topic of minimum salary thresholds in 2026 here, or read more about the development of minimum salary thresholds in recent years here.

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.