Blaue Karte EU beantragen

§ Section 18b (2) AufenthG

Highly qualified foreign nationals who wish to pursue employment in Germany that is commensurate with their qualifications can obtain an EU Blue Card. In most cases, however, they will then also require a national visa to enter Germany.

Exception: Citizens of EU member states have access to the labor market due to their right to freedom of movement. They can be self-employed or employed in Germany under the right of establishment or freedom of movement for workers. This also applies to other nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals.

You can obtain the EU Blue Card for a maximum of four years when it is first issued. If your employment contract has a duration of less than four years, you will receive the EU Blue Card for the duration of the employment contract plus three months.

Please note: If you want to change your job in the first two years after the EU Blue Card has been issued, you must obtain permission from the immigration authorities.

• Proof of fulfillment of passport and visa requirements
• Proof of minimum salary
• Proof of your university degree or comparable qualification
• Proof of employment or job offer
• Proof that there are no grounds for deportation against you
• Proof that you do not jeopardize or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany

The requirements for the EU Blue Card are

• You fulfill the passport and visa requirements.
• You receive an annual salary of at least 56,800.00 euros (for 2021). For certain shortage occupations (e.g. natural scientists, mathematicians, engineers, human medicine specialists (except dentists) and academic specialists in information and communication technology), a minimum salary of 44,304.00 euros (for 2021) applies.
• There are no grounds for deportation against you.
• Your stay does not jeopardize or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.
• You have
  • a German,
  • a recognized foreign or
  • a foreign university degree comparable to a German university degree or
  • a comparable qualification proven by at least five years of professional experience, insofar as this is stipulated by ordinance of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
• You have a job that corresponds to your qualifications or a specific job offer that corresponds to your qualifications.
• The Federal Employment Agency agrees to the granting of the residence permit (only in cases where approval is required).

The following applies to an extension for a further stay:

• Extension of up to three months: 96 euros,
• Extension of more than three months: 93 euros.

Note: You can only be exempted from the fees in exceptional cases.

As the holder of an EU Blue Card, you can obtain a settlement permitif you

• have been employed for at least 33 months,
• have paid contributions to the statutory pension insurance scheme or another pension scheme with comparable benefits for this period and meet the following additional requirements:
  • Your livelihood is secured.
  • Your stay does not jeopardize or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.
  • You are allowed to pursue gainful employment and have all the necessary permits.
  • You have a basic knowledge of the German language and a basic knowledge of the German legal and social system.
  • They have sufficient living space for themselves and their family.

If you can prove that you have level B1 language skills and meet the other requirements, you can obtain a settlement permit after just 21 months of employment and payment of contributions.

If you require a national visa, you must apply to the German diplomatic mission (embassy, consulate) in your home country in whose district you have your habitual residence or domicile.

Note: An overview of German missions abroad with contact addresses and telephone numbers can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office

The representation of the Federal Republic of Germany involves the responsible immigration authority. In the visa procedure, you must provide information about your place of work in Germany. This enables the authority to check whether the Federal Employment Agency needs to be involved in the employment.

Before your entry visa expires, you must apply for an EU Blue Card at the immigration authority. If you were allowed to enter the country without a visa, you must apply for the EU Blue Card at the immigration authority within three months of entering the country. The foreigners authority in whose district you usually reside is responsible for you (depending on where you live, this may be the district administrator of the district or the mayor of the city in which you live).