Latest updates in global
immigration
17 January 2022
This week, the SSW Global Immigration team would like to highlight the following updates on salary requirements recently issued by the authorities in France, Germany and Russia.
France: New minimum salary requirements
Effective 1 January 2022, the French government has increased the minimum legal monthly salary requirement (SMIC) to EUR 1603.12 per month (up 0.9% from 2021).
The SMIC is the minimum legal salary for all workers in France, and it affects the minimum salary thresholds for some types of work permit:
- Passeport Talent – Employee on Assignment: Gross annual pay of at least 1.8 times the statutory national minimum wage (SMIC), i.e., €34,627.32.
- Passeport Talent – Qualified Employee/Employee of an Innovative Company: Gross annual pay of at least twice the statutory national minimum wage (SMIC), i.e., €38,475.
The salary threshold for the “EU Blue Card” version of the Passeport Talent, for highly skilled employees, is not calculated using the SMIC, but is 1.5 times the average annual gross salary set by decree, which equals €53,836.50 as of 1 January 2022.
Germany: Salary requirement for EU Blue Card reduced
The German authorities have reduced the minimum annual gross salary required for a German EU Blue Card.
- Blue Card holders in standard professions must be paid at least EUR 56,400 per year (down from EUR 56,800 in 2021).
- Blue Card holders in shortage occupations must be paid at least EUR 43,992 per year (down from EUR 44,304 in 2021).
The Blue Card (Blaue Karte) applies to employees with a university degree recognised or comparable to a German higher education qualification. In addition, either an employment contract or a specific job offer must be submitted which results in a specific minimum gross annual salary. Furthermore, the employment must be commensurate with the qualification.
The Blue Card regulation also applies to skilled employees in shortage occupations (‘Mangelberufe’ – mathematics, information and communication technology (IT), natural sciences, engineering and human medicine (with the exception of dentistry). The EU Blue Card is issued after approval by the Federal Employment Agency in such cases.
No labour market test is carried out. It will only be assessed whether the working conditions comply with the local standard.
Russia: Salary notifications for Highly Qualified Specialists
Salary notifications for Highly Qualified Specialists (HQS) are due by 31 January 2022. Employers have until this date to report to the migration authorities the salaries of HQS foreign national employees for the fourth quarter of 2021.
Quarterly notifications must be submitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) within 30 days of the end of each quarter, and the reported salary should be at least RUB 167,000 per calendar month or RUB 501,000 per quarter.
Violation of the established notification procedure may lead to administrative fines on the employer. Failure to pay the salary in the minimum amount established for HQS may lead to the company being banned from employing new HQS employees for two years.
The Highly Qualified Specialist (HQS) programme allows companies in Russia to employ foreign national workers for up to three years (renewable) with various benefits including a simplified application process and exemption from quotas.
Questions about global immigration?
If you would like advice on current entry restrictions for your destination country, or assistance with any other area of immigration, Smith Stone Walters would be delighted to help.
To speak to a member of our global immigration team, please contact us today.
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