EU Blue Card (2024)

FAQs

What is the EU Blue Card? ›

German: Blaue Karte EU. The EU Blue Card is a residence title for academics outside the EU who wish to work in an EU Member State. To obtain an EU Blue Card, applicants are required to have a university degree and a work contract which meets the minimum gross salary requirement.

To be eligible for a Blue Card, you must have a valid job offer with a salary that's 1.5 times above the country's average. Successful applicants can include their dependents and travel freely between EU countries.

Though both are types of residence permits offered by Germany, there are some major differences between the two: The Germany PR is a permanent residence permit with unlimited validity, while the Germany Blue card is valid only for four years and is subject to renewal.

Non-EU migrants who plan to carry out an activity that requires a higher education qualification, may obtain a temporary residence- and work permit for highly qualified professionals: the EU Blue Card. You must hold a university or college diploma from an educational programme that lasted three years or more.

The reduced salary criterion is higher for the European Blue Card in comparison to the criterion for highly skilled migrants. Your employer does not need to be a recognised sponsor in order to apply for a European Blue Card. For a highly skilled migrant application, this is mandatory.

However, incidents that are serious but not in the territory of second yellow cards (resulting in a red card) or a player who shows dissent on the field could be issued a blue card. This will result in the player serving a 10-minute suspension and will return to the field post serving punishment.

You or your employer must submit an application for an EU Blue Card to the competent national authorities in the country where you wish to work. Depending on the rules in that country, you may have to pay an application fee.

EU Mobility: Blue Card holders from other EU countries can come to Germany for a maximum stay of 90 days and engage in business activities related to their employment without needing a visa or work permit. If they wish to stay longer, they need to apply for a German blue card.

Blue-Card holders and their family members are allowed absences of less than 12 months without affecting the Blue Card's validity.

Can Blue Card holders bring parents? ›

In addition, from 1 March 2024, EU Blue Card holders will be able to bring their parents and parents-in-law to Germany when the EU Blue Card is issued to them for the first time.

In Europe, countries that give residence permits easily are Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, Montenegro and Malta. You can easily obtain residency in the Americas in Antigua and Barbuda, Mexico, Belize, and Nicaragua.

To be eligible for an EU Blue Card, your gross yearly income must be at least the amount stipulated by the Member State. For instance, in 2020, the minimum wage in Spain was €33,908, which is equivalent to 1.5 times the average yearly gross compensation for the designated occupation.

If one-third of the national parliaments raise an objection the European Commission must review the proposal. This is commonly referred to as the 'yellow card' as the Commission is given pause and has to decide on whether it withdraws the proposal or whether it will maintain or amend the proposal.

You'll need proof of European Union or European Economic Area citizenship, a valid visa, a residence permit from your home country, and a clean criminal record. You'll also need proof of income and health insurance.

Validity: Blue Card valid up to four years, renewable; Green Card valid for 10 years, renewable. Permissions: Blue Card allows holders and families to live, work and travel in participating EU states; Green Card allows holder to live, work and travel in the US.

The EU Blue Card is a special residence permit issued to highly qualified foreign workers, provided that they have a job contract or a binding job offer and are the holders of a residence permit for work reasons. Highly-skilled workers fall outside the quota system.

Now, FIFA has introduced the blue card or a “sin-bin” rule which will give players a ten minute suspension from a game every time they are carded. Initially, players were given either a yellow or a red card for fouls.