Landungsbrücken

Residence card for highly qualified people

Issuance of an EU Blue Card for highly qualified foreigners for employment that is appropriate to their qualifications. The EU Blue Card is issued for four years if the employment contract is open-ended or has been concluded for a period of at least four...

Issuance of an EU Blue Card for highly qualified foreigners for employment that is appropriate to their qualifications.

The EU Blue Card is issued for four years if the employment contract is open-ended or has been concluded for a period of at least four years. In the case of shorter employment contracts, the EU Blue Card is issued for the duration of the employment relationship plus three months.

In the first two years of employment, before changing jobs, permission must be obtained from the relevant location for foreign affairs.

Citizens of a non-EU country can apply for the EU Blue Card (residence permit for highly qualified employment) for the purpose of taking up highly qualified employment in Germany.

Important notes

Prerequisites

A citizen of a non-EU country can apply for an EU Blue Card if they:

  • has a German, a recognized foreign or a foreign university degree comparable to a German university degree and
  • can show an employment contract with a gross annual salary of at least EUR 58,400 (EUR 4,866.67 per month), in so-called shortage occupations (scientists, mathematicians, engineers, doctors and IT specialists) of EUR 45,552 (EUR 3,796 per month).


If the minimum annual income of currently EUR 56,400 is exceeded, there is neither a priority check (check whether German or foreign workers with priority are available for this job) nor a comparability check of the working conditions.

If only the lower minimum income limit of currently EUR 43,992/year is reached in the shortage occupations, (only) a comparability test of the working conditions is required.

In the online database of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB), a query can be made as to whether the foreign university degree is recognized in Germany, see www.anabin.kmk.org .
If the database does not contain any meaningful information, applicants are obliged to apply to the ZAB (Central Office for Foreign Education) for an individual assessment of their qualifications, which is subject to a fee, and to submit this.

Documents required

  • Valid passport
  • 1 current biometric passport photo 35mm x 45mm, light background
  • University certificate - possibly together with an assessment of the ZAB
  • Employment contract or specific job offer
  • Health insurance
  • Job description form - Only if approval from the Federal Employment Agency is required
  • Professional license - only if required

Please note

The EU Blue Card can be issued for jobs in shortage occupations (natural scientists, mathematicians, architects, spatial, urban and transport planners, designers, engineers, engineers, general practitioners, specialists and academic specialists in information and communication technology University degree is available - generally only after approval by the Federal Employment Agency.

Procedure & Fees

Fees

Depending on the period of validity. Up to one year 100 EUR, over one year 110 EUR. Extension up to 3 months 96 EUR. Extension of more than 3 months EUR 93.

Legal notes

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