{"id":22306,"date":"2026-08-22T22:28:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T19:28:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goldenvisasolutions.com\/?p=22306"},"modified":"2026-11-11T14:39:34","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T11:39:34","slug":"eu-blue-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goldenvisasolutions.com\/en\/eu-blue-card","title":{"rendered":"What Is the EU Blue Card? Requirements and Application Process"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The EU Blue Card is a prestigious residence system created to make it easier for highly qualified foreign professionals to move to Europe; its 2021 reform relaxed the salary thresholds and degree requirements. The first step is to get an official employment contract of at least six months from an employer in an EU country, matching your qualifications and the current minimum salary thresholds. Next, you obtain a visa through the consulate with your recognised degree and the required documents, and after entering the country you apply to the local authorities (such as the Ausl\u00e4nderbeh\u00f6rde in Germany) to convert your visa into an EU Blue Card. Below we explain how the system works.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Summary<\/h2>

The EU Blue Card is a residence system that lets highly qualified professionals work in Europe (except Ireland and Denmark). You need an employment contract of at least 6 months, a university degree (or 3 years of experience for IT) and a salary above the threshold set by each country (in Germany, where most applications are made: \u20ac50,700 for standard occupations and \u20ac45,934.20 gross for shortage occupations and recent graduates). The process ends with a type D visa from the consulate and collecting the card from the local authorities in the destination country.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What Is the EU Blue Card?<\/h2>

The EU Blue Card was first proposed by the European Commission in 2007. Its legal basis was Council Directive 2009\/50\/EC of 25 May 2009 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of highly qualified employment.<\/p>

The EU Blue Card is a residence system that gives qualified professionals from outside the European Union the right to work and live in the EU. Its main aim is to make it easier for highly skilled workers such as engineers, doctors, researchers and software developers to move to Europe, strengthening Europe\u2019s global competitiveness and filling skills gaps in member states. It is valid in all EU countries except Denmark and Ireland, and Germany is by far the most active user of the system.<\/p>

To make the program more attractive, especially for tech workers, the European Commission prepared a major reform. The new Directive (EU) 2021\/1883 was adopted on 20 October 2021, and EU countries updated their immigration laws accordingly. The reform lowered salary thresholds, cut the minimum contract length from 12 to 6 months, relaxed the degree requirement and made moving to a second EU country and family reunification much easier.<\/p>

Who Can Get an EU Blue Card?<\/h2>

The EU Blue Card is granted to highly qualified non-EU professionals with a valid job offer from a company in an EU country (except Denmark and Ireland). The priority occupations with the biggest skills shortages in Europe include:<\/p>