Leistungen A-Z

• Forms: can be obtained from your local immigration authority
• Online procedure possible: no
• Written form required: yes
• Personal appearance required: yes

In Germany, the EU Blue Card is the central residence permit for highly qualified specialists with a university degree. It can only be applied for in person at your locally competent immigration authority. Spouses of EU Blue Card holders are also entitled to a residence permit.

You can obtain an EU Blue Card if you have completed a university degree. If you do not have a German university degree, your degree must either be recognised or comparable to a German university school degree. You can recognise or establish comparability before you enter Germany.

You must also submit an employment contract or a binding job offer with a certain minimum salary. The minimum salary is set annually and amounts to EUR 55,200 in 2020. For so-called shortage occupations, in particular:

• natural scientists,
• Mathematicians,
• engineers,
• human physicians and
• IT Professionals

a lower income threshold applies. This amounts to EUR 43,056 in 2020. In these cases, the Federal Employment Agency checks whether the working conditions correspond to those of comparable German employees.

The EU Blue Card is a temporary residence permit. It is granted for a period of four years in the case of permanent employment relationships. If the duration of your employment relationship is less than four years, the EU Blue Card will be issued for the duration of your employment contract plus three months. In the first two years, you will need written permission from the Foreigners' Registration Office to change jobs.

As an EU Blue Card holder, you can obtain a settlement permit if you:

• have been employed for at least 33 months,
• have paid contributions to the statutory pension insurance scheme or to another pension institution with comparable benefits for this period,
• your stay does not endanger or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany,
• have basic knowledge of the German languages and basic knowledge of the German legal and social system,
• are allowed to engage in gainful employment and hold all the necessary permits,
• be able to secure the livelihood for yourself and your family from your income without recourse to public services, and
• have sufficient living space for you and your family.

If you have sufficient knowledge of the German language (level B1), you can obtain the settlement permit after just 21 months.

Exception: As a citizen of an EU country, you have access to the labour market on the basis of your right to free movement. You can exercise self-employment or employment in Germany within the framework of the right of establishment or the free movement of workers. This also applies to citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
 

• there is no interest in expulsion against you
• intended employment must be appropriate to the qualification
• You have:
  • a German,
  • a recognised foreign or
  • a foreign university degree comparable to a German university degree
• You will receive a certain minimum salary:
  • Non-shortage occupations: EUR 55,200 (2020, no priority and comparability check, no approval of the Federal Employment Agency (BA) required)
  • Shortage occupations: EUR 43,056 (2020, working conditions and salary must be comparable to those of corresponding German employees, approval of the BA required):
    • natural scientists,
    • Mathematicians,
    • engineers,
    • human physicians and medical specialists as well as
    • IT Professionals
• You have a job corresponding to your qualifications or a specific job offer corresponding to your qualifications.
   

• when entering with an appropriate visa:
  • valid passport with visa
• if there is a previous residence with a residence permit for another purpose:
  • valid passport
  • Residence permit

Additional:

• current biometric photo
• Original employment contract or binding job offer
• Original certificate of successful completion of higher education
• if available: notification of recognition, comparability of the university degree or a certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB)
• Employment contract or binding job offer
• for regulated professions: your licence to practise medicine (e.g. licence to practise medicine or licence to practise a profession)
• Current registration certificate
• Proof of your health insurance
• Lease

EU Blue Card issuance: EUR 100

As a rule, you must apply for your EU Blue Card in person:

• Make an appointment with the locally responsible immigration authority for your city or municipality
• During the appointment, your proof will be checked and your fingerprints taken for the EU Blue Card.
• If your application is approved, the Foreigners' Registration Office will instruct Bundesdruckerei to produce the EU Blue Card.
• After about six to eight weeks, you can pick up the EU Blue Card at the Foreigners' Registration Office.
• Since the EU Blue Card is linked to an online ID function, you must pick it up in person.
   

• EU Blue Card validity: maximum 4 years
  • If you have a fixed-term employment contract, the EU Blue Card can also be valid for a shorter period of time. Normally, it is then valid for 3 months longer than your employment contract.
• Application for the EU Blue Card: at least 8 weeks before the expiry of your valid visa or residence permit

Competent immigration authority of your city or municipality.

Locally competent immigration authority of your city or municipality.

You can also get free advice on the topics of entry, residence and work from the "Hotline Working and Living in Germany" of the Federal Government's portal for skilled workers from abroad.
Phone: 030 18151111
Service hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• Portal of the Federal Government for skilled workers from abroad

• § 18b paragraph 2 Residence Act (AufenthG)
• § 18c paragraph 2 Residence Act (AufenthG)
• Section 19f (1) and (2) of the Residence Act

The minimum salary limits are announced annually at the end of the year for the following year in the Federal Gazette by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community and also updated on the corresponding websites. As a rule, these minimum salary limits increase every year.

• Information on the EU Blue Card on the website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (german)
• Information on the EU Blue Card on the website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees
• Information from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research on the recognition of foreign professional qualifications
• Information on the evaluation of certificates for foreign higher education qualifications on the website of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs

Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community