germany D-visa:
eu blue card

The EU Blue Card is a European Union-wide work and residence permit which provides the holder with a pathway towards permanent residence and citizenship in an EU country. The application for an EU Blue Card is made to the competent national authorities in the country where the applicant wishes to work.

Germany’s Blue Card scheme gives highly qualified workers from outside the EU the permission to live and work in Germany, provided they have higher professional qualifications such as a university degree, and an employment contract or a binding job offer with a high salary compared to the national average. 

The EU Blue Card visa category requires you to hold a German, a recognised or a comparable foreign academic degree or equivalent tertiary-level qualification. The qualification must be relevant for your intended employment. 

In Germany, this qualification must correspond to at least level 6 of the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 2011) or level 6 of the European Qualifications Framework.

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• IT professionals without a formal qualification, but having worked in IT for at least three of the past seven years and with professional experience at university level may also qualify for an EU Blue Card. 
• Some regulated professions such as medical doctors, nurses, teachers, architects, auditors, tax advisors and more require a formal license to practise their profession in Germany.

The minimum salary you must be paid to qualify for a Blue Card is adjusted each calendar year. The current threshold as of 1 January 2024 is €45,300 gross per annum, subject to change.

Lower salary requirements apply in some circumstances, such as:

• Bottleneck professions: Academic professionals employed in a bottleneck profession qualify for a EU Blue Card with a remuneration starting at €41,041.80 gross per annum (threshold as of 1 January 2024, subject to change). 
• New entrants to the labour market: If you obtained your last degree or equivalent qualification less than three years ago, you can obtain an EU Blue Card if your job offer includes a gross annual salary of at least €41,041.80 (threshold as of 1 January 2024, subject to change).

You must apply for a German EU Blue Card directly with the German Mission having jurisdiction for your place of residence. In some countries, appointments need to be booked with a visa application centre.  

You will need to submit various documents to support your application for an EU Blue Card. The specific documents you must provide depends on your individual circumstances. Please speak to Smith Stone Walters to determine which documents you will need.

If your application is successful, you will be issued a limited-validity entry visa. Once you have arrived in Germany, you must register your new residence with the local authorities (Meldebehörde) within 2 weeks of moving in, and apply to your local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) for your Electronic Residence Permit. We strongly recommend contacting the local immigration office as soon as possible after your arrival in Germany in order to secure a timely appointment. 

Currently, the fee to apply for a German EU Blue Card is €75.00, payable in local currency. Please note, visa fees are subject to change at short notice.  

Most applications for a German EU Blue Card are processed within 1 to 3 weeks from the date of submission. Please note, expedited services are not available for this category.

The EU Blue Card is a temporary residence permit that is generally issued for a period of 4 years. If the duration of the employment contract is less than 4 years, the EU Blue Card is issued for the duration of the employment contract plus three months.

However, the existence of an employment contract or a binding job offer for a period of at least six months is required in any case. If the requirements are met, an extension is possible. Within the first 12 months of employment, the competent immigration authority can suspend the job change of the holder of an EU Blue Card for 30 days and reject it within this period. 

As a holder of an EU Blue Card, you may qualify for a settlement permit in Germany after 27 months if you have been in highly qualified employment during this time, have made contributions to a pension insurance scheme and have a basic command of the German language. If you have sufficient knowledge of German (language level B1), the period is shortened to 21 months.

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This page is intended for informational purposes only. Immigration rules are subject to change and may vary based on your individual circumstances. For up-to-date advice and guidance, please contact Smith Stone Walters.