The EU Blue Card is the top-grade visa option for skilled professionals who want to live and work in Europe. Here are the rules you need to know to apply and hire through this route.
18 August 2025 | By Alex Schulte
The EU Blue Card is Europe’s answer to the American Green Card. It’s a work and residence permit that lets highly skilled workers from outside the EU live and work in 25 of the 27 European member states. The idea is simple: attract top talent to fill skill gaps and boost Europe’s economy.
If you’re a business looking to hire international talent, or a professional who wants to work in Europe, the Blue Card offers huge advantages. Access to multiple countries. Faster permanent residency. Easier family reunification than most other permits.
But each of the 25 countries has its own rules, salary requirements, and application processes.
This guide breaks down what you need to know about the EU Blue Card
- Who qualifies
- What the benefits are
- How to apply – for businesses and jobseekers alike.
Here’s how to know whether this is the right way for your business to hire skilled talent – or the best option for your career in Europe.
A Brief History of the EU Blue Card
The “EU Blue Card” was first proposed in October 2007 as an EU-wide residence permit for high-skilled professionals designed to rival the US Green Card.
The scheme began in 2009 through a legal instrument, the EU Blue Card Directive (2009/50/EC). This was required to be transposed into law by 2011. But initial uptake was slow. Countries were sluggish in transposing the directive into their own rulebooks. High salary thresholds and strong competition from existing national permits also diluted the Card’s appeal in its early years.
Some countries, such as France, already had a similar-style visa – the “Passeport Talent”, so the EU Blue Card took a second stage. The Netherlands, meanwhile, already had the long-standing Highly Skilled Migrant (kennismigrant) scheme, and that remained the preferred channel.
As a result, only 30,352 cards were issued in its first three years of operation (2012-2015), across all participating EU member states, with Germany accounting for approximately 26,200 of these permits.
The EU Blue Card in 2025
Between 2016 and 2021, the EU Commission fixed the design of the EU Blue Card. The 2021 revision of the Blue Card Directive lowered thresholds, broadened qualification routes, and offered improved mobility.
Since then, several European countries have introduced major reforms to their Blue Card processes. Greece, Estonia, Italy, and Slovakia simplified application procedures to address labour shortages.
The most recent data suggests that these efforts have borne fruit, with a surge in Blue Card utilisation. In 2023, EU countries issued 89,000 Blue Cards, an 8.8% increase on 2022, as a result of post-pandemic labour shortages and the “war on talent” for IT professionals.
What is the EU Blue Card?
Definition: The EU Blue Card is a work and residence permit that grants highly-qualified workers from outside the European Union the legal right to live and work in one of the 25 participating EU member states.
The EU considers it a “merit-based” system as opposed to a “points-based” one: “either you have the skills or you don’t.”
Purpose: The EU Blue Card was established to attract and retain highly qualified third-country nationals, bolster the EU’s economy, and help fill critical skills shortages. Indeed, it’s an effective retention tool. Blue Card holders in Germany report greater levels of cultural integration than other business visa holders.
Think of it as a competitive tool in the global “war for talent“. European governments know they need to attract top professionals who might otherwise consider migrating to the United States through its renowned Green Card system.
Who is eligible?
To qualify for an EU Blue Card, candidates must be highly qualified professionals from outside the EEA, sought after by a European company.
- Job Offer/Employment Contract: From an EU firm for a position lasting a minimum of six months.
- Demonstrated Abilities: Proven by either a university degree or level of experience in some industries, such as IT.
- Salary Thresholds: Must meet or exceed thresholds stipulated by the Host Country.
Remember: The qualifications must match the position.
Crucial Differences for Shortage Occupations
In some cases, Member States have made it easier for professionals in shortage sectors to qualify.
- Experience: IT specialists can be granted an EU Blue Card based on professional experience. In Germany and Hungary, IT candidates must demonstrate three years of relevant experience in the last seven years if they meet the salary thresholds.
- Reduce Salary Thresholds: In Germany, STEM professionals can qualify for a reduced salary threshold. Meanwhile, in Cyprus, maritime and pharmaceutical professionals qualify for a reduced salary threshold.
Benefits of the EU Blue Card
The EU’s Blue Card was designed to look attractive – a golden ticket to a vast supranational body. Given the breadth of its offer, it’s the only real global rival to the American Green Card.
1. Intra-EU Mobility
One of the biggest advantages of the EU Blue Card over national work permits is that it offers access to the European Union, not just one Member State.
- Travel: Blue Card holders can travel to other Member States for up to 3 months.
- Employment: Blue Card holders can seek employment in a second EU country after 12 months, without being subject to another labour market test.
2. Fast-Track Permanent Residency
EU Blue Card holders receive permanent residency within the EU faster than those on other routes, after just five years of continuous legal residence within the European Union.
Example: Germany
A Blue Card holder with basic German language skills (A1 level) can apply for a permanent residence permit – or Niederlassungserlaubnis – after 33 months of highly qualified employment with pension contributions.
This period is further reduced to a mere 21 months if the applicant can demonstrate sufficient German language skills (B1 level).
3. Family Reunification
EU Blue Card holders find it easier to bring family members and spouses than those with national work permits.
- Instant Residence: Spouses receive a residence permit and immediate access to the labour market.
- Language Exemption: Spouses are exempt from language proficiency requirements.
Remember: In many cases, the residence permits for family members can be issued with the primary applicant’s EU Blue Card.
4. Flexibility
The EU Blue Card is more flexible than the vast majority of other work permits because it isn’t ‘tied’ to the employer.
- Freedom: Holders can switch jobs without applying for a new Blue Card.
- Grace Period: Holders have between three and six months to find new work, depending on whether they’ve resided in Germany for more than two years, or potentially lose their Blue Card.
- Obligations: Holders must notify the authorities of a job change, but the authorities can suspend or reject the request within 30 days if the new position doesn’t meet the requirements.
Remember: After more than one year, EU Blue Card holders aren’t required to notify the authorities, who lose the power to reject changes – even if the new position is lower than the threshold.
EU Blue Card Requirements
1. Minimum Salary Thresholds
The scheme is intended to cater exclusively for highly skilled and highly paid professionals. The holder must meet a minimum salary requirement – usually 1.5 times the average national salary
This is not a fixed, EU-wide figure, but a dynamic threshold annually adjusted by each participating member state.
- Netherlands: €4,551 for recent graduates, €5,668 for everyone else.
- France: €4,486.
- Germany: €4,025, but €3,646 for shortage occupations.
Remember: Many countries operate a two-tiered system, with a lower salary threshold for professions in which there is a significant labour shortage.
2. Employment Contract and Job Offer
Applicants require a valid work or a binding job offer for highly qualified employment for at least six months.
- Contract: Must detail the job title, work responsibilities, weekly work hours, and salary.
- Professional Alignment: Must be a suitable match for the applicant’s qualifications, whether those qualifications are a university degree or an equivalent level of professional experience.
3. Essential Documents
- Travel Document: Such as a passport.
- Proof of Qualifications: A diploma or certificate. For regulated professions, a professional license may be required.
- Professional Recognition: In Germany, foreign qualifications must be recognised through online databases, such as Anabin, or by obtaining a Statement of Comparability from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).
- Health Insurance: Mandatory. In Romania, for instance, applicants must secure private travel insurance to enter before they are covered under their employer’s plan.
- Signed Declaration of Employment: A completed and signed “Declaration of Employment” form from the employer is also a standard requirement, as it provides authorities with the necessary details to assess the job offer against the program’s criteria.
How to Apply for an EU Blue Card
The scheme has different application steps for individual job seekers and businesses.
For Employees
It’s a two-stage process.
Applicants must apply for a national visa at a consulate or diplomatic mission in the country of their origin.
Once in the country, they must proceed to the local immigration office to apply for the physical EU Blue Card.
Visa-exempt Countries: Applicants from visa-exempt countries, such as the UK, Australia, the USA, South Korea and Japan, may apply directly for the EU Blue Card at a local immigration office during their stay.
For Employers
The employer is responsible for providing a binding employment contract and often a signed “Declaration of employment relationship” form that details the job conditions.
In some cases, the employer may apply on behalf of the employee. This is typical when an application is submitted electronically through a national immigration portal, such as Hungary’s “Enter Hungary” platform.
The employer may also be obligated to notify authorities within a certain period if the employment relationship is terminated prematurely.
A notable advantage of the EU Blue Card, especially when compared to other national permits like the Dutch Highly Skilled Migrant permit, is that the employer is not required to be a government-recognised sponsor to hire a Blue Card holder.
A List of EU Blue Card Countries
25 out of 27 member states have implemented the EU Blue Card scheme, including:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
Opt-Outs: Denmark and Ireland.
EU Blue Cards vs National Work Permits
The EU Blue Card is a residence permit for highly skilled professionals with a pan-European scope. A national work permit is tied to a specific job and employer, and a change of employment may require a new permit application or an extensive review.
Comparison Table
| Factor | EU Blue Card | German Work Visa |
| Type of Permit | Residence Permit | Work Permit |
| Who Can Apply | Highly skilled non-EU nationals | Non-EU citizens looking for work |
| Eligibility | University degree or equivalent experience | Degree recognised in Germany, job contract |
| Mobility | Travel and work within EU under certain conditions | Country-specific, no automatic EU mobility |
| PR Pathway | Faster path to permanent residency (21/33 months) | Slower path to permanent residency (3-5 years) |
| Family Reunification | Simplified process, spouse gains work access without a language test | Yes, but with more complex requirements |
| Validity | Up to 4 years | Varies based on contract and visa type |
Important Considerations for Employers
The EU Blue Card offers a less bureaucratic route for employers, as they typically don’t need to apply for a sponsorship license. In other EU member states, such as Germany, employers aren’t even subject to a labour market test.
However, it only makes sense if the individual is genuinely highly skilled – and can prove it – owing to the higher salary thresholds involved.
In short, apply for an EU Blue Card if the candidate is worth the high salary, and apply for a work permit in all other cases.
The EU Blue Card vs the Schengen Visa
The EU Blue Card is a long-term residence permit for work, conferring holders with the right to work and live in the EU. In contrast, the Schengen Visa is a short-term travel visa that doesn’t give holders the right to work, but only to attend business meetings and conferences.
Centuro Global: Your EU Blue Card Partners
The EU Blue Card opens doors across Europe for skilled workers and the companies that want to hire them. But the paperwork and compliance requirements remain arduous. You’re dealing with different rules in 25 countries, changing salary thresholds, visa applications, and ongoing reporting requirements.
Getting it wrong can mean delays, rejections, or compliance issues that nobody wants to deal with. Most HR teams and immigration lawyers already have full plates without adding the complexity of tracking requirements across multiple European countries.
That’s where Centuro Global’s AI-powered Travel Compliance Assistant comes in.
Don’t waste precious working hours researching requirements and worrying about missed deadlines. Just input some basic details for an instant, personalised assessment of your immigration compliance strategy – for any country on earth.
Frequently Asked Questions About the EU Blue Card
Can I bring my family with me?
Yes. Spouses are entitled to a residence permit and immediate access to the labour market, often without language proficiency.
How long is the card valid?
The EU Blue Card is valid for a maximum of four years. If the employment contract is for a shorter duration, the card is issued for the length of the contract plus an additional three months.
Can I change jobs?
Yes. During the first 12 months, you must notify the relevant authorities of a job change, and they have the right to review it. After 12 months, you can change jobs without needing to inform the authorities.
What if I lose my job?
The EU Blue Card provides a grace period to find a new job. If you have held the card for less than two years, you have three months. If you have held it for more than two years, this period is extended to six months.
How long can I stay abroad?
You can stay outside the country that issued the EU Blue Card for up to 12 consecutive months without your permit expiring. For former EU Blue Card holders who have obtained permanent residency, this period is extended to up to 24 months.
