The EU Blue Card (Section 18b (2) on the Residence Act - AufenthG) is a special residence title for foreign academics seeking qualified employment in Germany.

To find out whether you require a visa to enter Germany, see Who Needs a Visa?

What are the requirements to receive an EU Blue Card?

• You have a German degree, a recognised foreign higher education degree or you have a foreign higher education degree that is comparable to a German one. Information on equivalence and recognition of foreign higher education degrees can be found in the Recognition section.
• You already have a concrete job offer from a company in Germany.
• The position must be appropriate for someone with your qualifications (higher education degree).
• The position in Germany must be remunerated with a gross annual income of at least €58,400 (as of 2023). A gross annual salary of at least €45,552 (as of 2023) is required for employees in the fields of mathematics, IT, natural sciences, engineering and human medicine. In such cases, the Federal Employment Agency (BA) must approve your request for employment.   

Do you meet these requirements? Then you can move on by taking a look at the procedure for the entry and visa process.

Do you not meet the requirements for the EU Blue Card? No need to fret; you can apply for a work visa for qualified professionals according to Section 18b (1) on the Residence Act - AufenthG.

The EU Blue Card is issued for the duration of your work contract, including three additional months, and is limited to a four-year period. Extending the validity of the EU Blue Card is an option, if certain requirements are fulfilled. Your local German Foreigners' Authority must approve of any job changes taking place within the first two years of employment.

After 33 months, holders of the EU Blue Card may obtain a settlement permit. In some cases, a settlement permit can already be issued after 21 months. For this, you need to be able to provide proof of the required language skills at a minimum level of B1 in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Would you like to live in Germany with your family? Holders of the EU Blue Card are free to do that. Everything you need to keep in mind, in addition to the corresponding requirements, can be found in the Family Life in Germany section.