Even if we can sometimes blame the EU for creating complexity in administrative matters, it also creates opportunities in others. If you do not have a contract or job offer in place, you can apply for a German Employment VISA for jobseekers. The approval process can take as little as a week or several months if you need approval from the Federal Employment Agency. The card has also made work after study in Germany a pain-free process. If you leave a comment on our site you may opt-in to saving your name, email address and website in cookies. The Requirements for an EU Blue card are significant and it’s certainly not a quick or easy solution to residency. During your stay, you need to apply for the German EU Blue Card before being able to take up employment. Bring these documents: * only required for “shortage occupation” applicants. Once approved, your EU Blue Card for Germany is valid for up to four years, unless you have a limited job contract. Mortgages and EU Blue Cards. How much will it cost? Local federal Employment Agencies have their own guidelines on local economic conditions. I recommend you filter by vocational sector and review similar items to make sure you have the right one. The EU Blue Card Scheme was introduced to make Europe a more welcoming destination for students and professionals from outside the European Union. January 10, 2020. Information on the equivalence and recognition of foreign degrees is available at www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de. NOTE: The required term of minimum one year is no longer communicated by German authorities, new proposed blue card rules indicate a minimum employment contract term of six months. Free brochure:’Security right from the start’ Siemens-Betriebskrankenkasse Health Insurance Germany, Health Insurance In Germany – Private and Public Insurance Options in 2021, Private Health Insurance in Germany (Private Krankenversicherung – PKV). German, as you know, is a grammar-heavy language, requiring painstaking attention to detail from its speakers. University or Masters Degree: Depending on the type of job, a minimum of a University degree is required. Your alternative is the normal work visa, which isn’t as strict about financial and education requirements, but also provides less benefits. EU Blue Card. In exchange, you get to enjoy a privileged status during the visa process and special benefits if you’re approved. Also, after 2 years you are no longer tied to the initial contract and can change to any “highly-qualified employment” instead. A valid identity card or passport is sufficient. If you have a work contract in place prior to moving, you can apply for the Blue Card straight away. If you have a higher education degree and able to get a well-paying job in Germany, the EU Blue Card is the best option. You can find all the necessary information for this process on the information portal of the German government for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications. Applicant inside Europe or outside can apply for Germany EU Blue Card. Broken down, this translates to €4,733 per month. However, it is important to note that this time will not be taken into consideration when applying for a permanent residence permit. It provides an overview of the most recent situation and developments on seasonal workers in terms of legislation and policy in Germany. You have an employment contract or a binding job offer. Alternatively, you can also speak to an immigration specialist. It does not impact the editorial line of this blog. A reduced minimum annual gross salary of 43,05… Monthly gross income 4.600 € (2019: 4.467 €). This is also applicable to your family members. It expires after 1 day. It’s usually 12 months, but sometimes can be more if you happen to leave because you serve Germany’s interests, in the case of humanitarian campaigns for example. The blue card scheme is aimed to attract skilled workers to Germany and provides an easier way to get a long-term residence permit for in-demand workers. Hey Bastian, I am currently living in Airbnb in Hannover. Your visa has been revoked by the German authorities or if you have been deported from the country, in case of criminal behavior for example. These options do not have such strict financial and education requirements, but also provides fewer benefits. Starting a business: the overview you were looking for. This means that inexpensive areas it is advised to earn 1,5 to 2 times the minimum requirements outlined for obtaining the Blue Card. By the end of 2018, 51,130 people residing in Germany had a Blue Card, with 55 per cent of them also having a permanent residency status. So the blue card is a card for citizens from non-EU-states. All documents also require certified copies. There are governmental Institutions and other 3rd party portals where you can find suitable jobs: Alternatively, you can place an advert yourself. They might not have any experience hiring from abroad, but they should still do their research. PLEASE NOTE:For certain occupations with particularly high demand an annual salary of at least EUR 39.624 (date: 2017) i… Specific rules: In Germany, the EU Blue Card is issued for a maximum period of four years. Highly qualified skilled workers and academics from non-EU-states can apply for the EU blue card as a simple and limited work permit. Since January 1st, 2009, Germany made health insurance compulsory for everyone. Attracting and Protecting Seasonal Workers from Third Countries: download pdf, 518KB, These are requirements in order to apply for an EU Blue Card in Germany: A degree (bachelor, master or PhD) obtained from a German or foreign university. Since I don’t have a ahnmeldung right now and it will take some time to find an apartment in Berlin. Step 3: Wait. It is important to note the duration of stay for each individual VISA and obtain your German EU Blue Card prior to the expiry of your VISA. You can obtain either an employment VISA, Visit VISA, Student VISA or any other VISA which describes your purpose of stay prior to arriving in Germany. The national EMN study describes the recruitment and working conditions of seasonal workers in Germany. From there, you can find something more permanent. If you hold an EU Blue Card issued by an EU country other than Germany, you are only able to apply for the German EU Blue Card after 18 months of being issued your current EU Blue Card. If you are prepared to spend a bit more to facilitate your transition and the visa renewal, you might want to use a service like Wunderflats for a few months. What is the Blue Card Germany application process? Background: Salary thresholds for EU Blue Cards in Germany are based on the assessment ceiling of the German pension scheme. You qualify if you have a German higher education qualification or a higher education degree that is recognized in Germany or comparable to local degrees. Your visa has reached expiration date, and it hasn’t been renewed. You can also find more information in the application process. If your contract is indefinite or longer than four (4) years, you can renew the German EU Blue Card. Solution: Employers should check through the job market entry requirements (Zulassung zum Arbeitsmarkt) before offering a contract and may need to adjust your job description and/or salary to meet the requirements. With the EU Blue Card Germany provides an easier path to the long-term residence permit for in-demand specialists. employment VISA for qualified professionals, How To Apply for Visa as Freelancer in Germany – Comprehensive Guide, Income Tax Return and Refunds in Germany 2020, The Anmeldung – How to Register Your Address in Germany. In Germany, it is required to register your address with the local district office (Bürgeramt). The German EU Blue Card allows qualified third-country nationals to move to Germany on a contract basis. If you already have a work contract and qualify, you can apply for the German EU Blue Card straight away. The EU Blue Card has several advantages compared with a residence permit for the purpose of employment. That’s because each local Federal Employment Agency has its own guidelines based on the law and local economic conditions. In the worse case, if you are unable to find a replacement job within the deadline, you may have to leave the country. Yes, you can stay for up to 1 year in a non-EU country during the validity of your Blue Card. EU Blue Card is a so-called mimic form of USA Green Card, but here in Europe, you need to have 1.5 more wages threshold of a local German. If you leave the country indefinitely. You are considered a threat to public security or health, A national or EU-worker could fill the position. If your German language skills are certified at B1 or higher, you qualify for a permanent residence permit after only 21 months. Germany has the highest number of employed engineering workers and the second highest share of engineering workers among all employees in the European Union. Opposed to the regular work VISA, the German EU Blue Card has some specific requirements that you need to fulfill before it is granted. The VISA application fee for the blue card is €140. In addition, you need to have a job contract lined up with an annual gross income that exceeds €56.800/year. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. What are the most common rejection causes? Database of the Central Office for Foreign Education 1. you have a concrete job offer or an employment contract for high-qualification employment with a minimum annual salary of EUR 50.800 (date: 2017). If the employment contract is of shorter duration, the EU Blue Card shall be issued for or extended to the duration of the contract plus three months. These cookies will last for one year. EU Blue Card - Germany is introduced as an immigration card at par with US Green Card to attract skilled professionals from different parts of the world. Some posts contain affiliate links that may generate revenue. A certain minimum salary is necessary for this. I know, easier said than done. If all prerequisites are fulfilled, the foreigner first receives a visa for a period of 3-6 months after successful application at the diplomatic mission in his country of origin. A shortage occupation currently refers to positions in the natural science, mathematics, architecture, urban and traffic planners, designers, engineers, medical and IT fields with a full list provided by the EU (see groups 21, 221, and 25). Login cookies last for two days, and screen options cookies last for a year. There may be several reasons why your application has been rejected. © 2021 - Settle in Berlin. Germany industry has traditionally put a strong emphasis on science and technology. This is targeted at well educated immigrants and aims to make Germany more attractive. Countries requiring no EU blue card and VISA upon entering Germany are: Citizens of the below countries are required to apply for a VISA at the nearest Embassy in your home country prior to arrival. Another problem can arise if your employer didn’t make sure in advance that they can hire foreign workers. Annual gross income 55.200 € (2019: 53.600 €) bzw. In order to obtain the German EU Blue Card, it is necessary to have a work contract or a binding job offer prior to applying. Let’s say you’re a software developer, that means you filter for “natural science, geography, computer science” and “computer science and other ICT occupations”. Applicant must have a master degree or graduation degree (4 years’ degree); in other words, applicant must have 16 years’ education in order to apply for Germany EU blue card. The alternative to a German EU Blue Card is a regular employment VISA for qualified professionals or a VISA for jobseekers if you have not found a job yet. If you are from one of these countries you can get a work permit without applying for the German Blue Card. The card came into effect from August 1, 2012 for Indian citizens. Do you know what alternatives do I have to apply extension of my residence permit? If you want to go the self-help crowd sourced way, you can also turn to this Facebook group: Problems and Challenges with Ausländerbehorde and Einbürgerungsamt (Berlin). No matter the reason they gave you, there is usually an appeal process. If you are from one of the below countries, you can enter Germany without a VISA and stay for up to 3 months. Get your German language skills certified at a B1 or higher level and you could qualify for that permanent residence permit after just 21 months. But, if you’re a member of these countries, you don’t need to apply for an entry visa and can stay for up to 90 days while applying: Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand and the United States of America. The largest numbers of job vacancies in engineering are the Hamburg and Stuttgart areas as … In a nutshell, eligibility = recognized higher education degree + well paid job or shortage occupation job offer. For example, it enables you to obtain the right of permanent residence more quickly. If you can’t meet that financial minimum, you still qualify if your annual gross income is at least €44.304/year and you are employed in a so-called “shortage occupation”. Once you have successfully obtained a German EU Blue Card, your family will also be eligible to live and work in Germany under a regular work VISA, but with fewer restrictions. Health Insurance In Germany – Private and Public Insurance Options in... You have not met the eligibility requirements, Your application contains missing, incorrect or false details, Your employer in Germany is not able to hire foreign workers or has been found guilty of employing irregular immigrants (they should check the job market entry requirements (. 23 Apr. This seems to be related to the job market entry requirements as well, as the Federal Employment Agency wants to make sure you’re earning enough for this profession compared to regional/national standards. You can apply for this equivalency certificate at ZAB. The required documents for a successful application are: Depending on your situation, you may have to submit additional or translated documents other than the ones mentioned above. This has especially been designed to attract highly qualified professionals from non-EU countries. If you have a limited contract, your work VISA is valid for the duration of your work contract plus an additional 3 months. For more general questions, you can also call a dedicated hotline setup by in cooperation with many different administrations. That’s why it’s considered the “golden ticket” for migrating to Europe! This VISA grants you a 6-month period to find work in Germany and start your German EU Blue Card application once the requirements have been met. This is true across all visa types, but especially with the EU Blue Card Germany’s government officials will want to see every document related to your work and educational background! Thresholds (minimum salary) for the EU Blue Card are redefined every year. Your salary is too low for local conditions. This helps you find various options, the competent authority, as well as a pdf that explains the process for recognition. Some salient features of the card are: It ensures equal salary and working conditions for cardholders To qualify for the Blue Card an applicant must have a university or college degree and an employment contract with a German company that pays a salary of at least €55,200 per year (2020). They’ll be able to help you with the next steps of your blue card Germany application. The goal is to ensure that your employer isn’t purposefully paying you less because you are a foreigner, called “loan-dumping”. The appeal must be submitted within the deadline and for more complex situations it is advised to talk to an immigration lawyer. Check that your salary meets local conditions and national standards for the type of work you will be doing. The whole move in itself may be stressful, however, one of the largest challenges is that you will be arriving in an unkown location, in which you have to start a new life in. The granting of an EU Blue Card requires that: 1. you have a German, a recognised foreign or a foreign university or college degree equivalent to a German university or college degree 1. In that case your work visa is valid for the length of your job contract, plus three months. Those do not need a Blue Card to live and work in Germany. In order to successfully apply for a Germany EU Blue Card, you must submit several documents. In this post, we laid out all the information you need to get started. Currently 21% of engineering workers are older than 55 and many companies face severe replacement problems. The EU Blue card, what is it and who is it for? For general questions, you can call a dedicated hotline to help out with your application. Find an apartment, register your new address, and open a bank account. If your degree/s is from a foreign university then you need an equivalency certificate. The agency will review whether everything checks out with your position, employer, and working conditions. When it comes to the positions in areas with work shortages the salary requirements are also rising. Welcome Center Germany © 2019 affiliated with Welcome Center Malta, German EU Blue Card Requirements and Application Process 2020. Your local German Foreigners Authority must approve of any job changes taking place within the first two years of employment. For the EU Blue Card Germany requires that you apply in-person. Blue Card EU for Germany The EU Blue Card is a new residence title for specific purposes, used in Germany since 2012. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser. Anmeldung : Residence registration – simply explained. After 33 months of living in Germany under the EU Blue Card, you can qualify for a permanent residence permit. You will be given a limited amount of time to find a new job fulfilling the requirements. The application process is dependant on which country you are from and if you are already living in Germany. The EU Blue Card Germany enables university graduates (or comparable qualification) from non-EU countries to receive a residence title for the purpose of employment. the EU blue card for Germany is one of them. They can answer your questions in English. For certain occupations that suffer from shortages of skilled labor the salary level is €43,056 per year (2020). The annual salary required in order to qualify for the German EU Blue card is dependant on your occupation. The major requirements for the EU Blue Card of Germany … It’s a fast process to book and a guaranteed Anmeldung too. The minimum amount a person can earn and still be eligible for an EU Blue Card is rising from €55,200 to €56,800. In 2017, 84.5 per cent of all EU-issued Blue Cards EU were issued by Germany, followed by France with 4.3 per cent, Luxembourg with 2.8 per cent, Poland with 1.9 per cent and Italy with 1.2 per cent. This cookie includes no personal data and simply indicates the post ID of the article you just edited. The second means it is not recognized and the third means further review is needed. The EU Blue Card. It’s plain. You can of course decide to talk to immigration specialist. Opposed to the regular work VISA, the German EU Blue Card has some specific requirements that you need to fulfill before it is granted. General requirements. Learn how your comment data is processed. Your German employer will act as a sponsor for your Blue Card application. Solution: Talk to your employer and get some legal help to argue your case. If you find yours, check if it has a “H+”, “H-“, or “H+/-“ status. In case your employer has a valid reason to let you go, it is important to notify the competent immigration authority as soon as possible. Always consult with the German authorities to make sure they are aware of your extended leave and if necessary, obtain an additional certificate to facilitate re-entry. 3. As of February 2020, the thresholds are as follows: Figures vary a bit from year to year, but it can be assumed, based on previous years, that the minimum salary requirements do not deviate much from previous years. These figures increase every year and were recently announced for 2020. Unless you already live in Germany, you’ll probably need a temporary visa for entry, such as a work visa, job search visa, or a visa for the purpose of visiting a language class. For members of EU- states generosity is valid concerning their stay. The application needs to be sent to the responsible foreign department. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. That’s a big improvement on the usual conditions for permanent residency and one of the biggest benefits! Solution: Make sure all your documents check out. Good luck with it all! This website is using cookies to collect anonymous information about your session. Good luck with your application and let me know in the comments if you have questions, if it’s unclear or needs more details. As a result, a lot of banks do not lend to EU Blue Card holders and those who do insist certain requirements are met. Citizens of an EU country or any country part of the EEA, such as Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein or Switzerland, do not need to apply for a German Blue Card. If you get a job classified as “professions of shortage” you may qualify for the lower threshold. Trending Topics. Once you have acquired your residence permit in Germany, it’s also useful to be aware of how it can be terminated. You can check here how we handle your data, PHPSESSID, gdpr[allowed_cookies], gdpr[consent_types] Google Analytics, Rent a flat in Berlin – It all starts here. These figures are the requirements for positions without work shortages. Which events could cause the termination of blue card permit? While EU Blue Card holders can get a mortgage, the two things are slightly incompatible; a mortgage is a long-term investment but an EU Blue Card is only valid for a maximum of 4 years. If you are not in Germany you can apply for an EU Blue Card in the German embassy in your country. If you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie will be saved in your browser. Blue Card holders in shortage occupations must be paid at least EUR 43,056 per year (up from EUR 41,808 in 2019). After 33 months living in Germany, you can qualify for a permanent residence permit. Stick to the full truth and state everything as clearly as possible. Step 2: Make an appointment with the Foreign Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde) about 6-8 weeks before the end of your temporary visa. When holding the EU Blue Card, you can apply for a settlement permit after having worked in Germany for 33 months. The required documents for your VISA can be obtained from the nearest German Embassy in your home country. After you have been holding an EU Blue Card for 18 months minimum, you can move to another European Union Member State (except Great Britain, Ireland and Denmark) and apply for the EU Blue Card within a month. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. When you apply for the EU Blue Card Germany will want proof that you have the right qualifications and permits to work in your profession. EU Blue Card for Germany The EU Blue Card is a relatively new type of residency permit, which permits non-EU workers to gain residency without a visa It is aimed at highly skilled workers. The EU Blue Card is similar to the Temporary Residence Permit, but it targets a specific group of people and has longer validity. It's helping to track performance and user behavior on the website to improve on it. So, if you have a higher education degree and can secure a well-paying job contract in Germany, this is your best bet. If you have an account and you log in to this site, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. The EU blue card for Germany is a residence title for specific purposes; it provides an evidence for the legal stay of a citizen from a non-EU-country in an EU- member state for the purpose of working. When it comes to the EU Blue card scheme, Germany stands alone for its astonishing.....[Read More] 1 Comment . If it’s only a case of missing documents, ask if you can submit those later. If the application is granted, the residence authority will inform the applicant. The EU Blue Card helps highly-qualified third-country nationals to migrate to Germany permanently. You can’t apply for the German EU Blue Card if you are in Germany under a tourist, medical or any other VISA which does not have the purpose of employment. The EU- regulations concerning the blue card will be valid in Germany as a part of the German law from the 1… Hey Shyam. The most frequent reasons why are as follows: In case your German EU Blue Card application has been denied, there is an appeal process where you can correct any remarks for the denial. As mentioned by the German residence act, this is how it can happen: The most common reason that any application process in Germany gets delayed or results in a rejection is missing or faulty documents. The processing time for your German EU Blue Card can take anything from one (1) week and up to three (3) months, depending on if you require special approvals from the Federal Employment Agency. Some articles have said you need to be earning 1,5 times the national average salary (or more ), while most other sources are vaguer. Have a work contract or a job offer for highly qualified employment for at least one year. But once that’s done and you’ve started your new job, it’s time to apply for the EU Blue Card for Germany. Have at least 5 years of experience in your field. For the EU Blue Card Germany requires that you apply in-person. Unless you already live in Germany, you’ll probably need a temporary visa for entry, such as a work visa, job search visa, or a visa for the purpose of visiting a language class. What is SCHUFA: all about the German credit rating. If you select "Remember Me", your login will persist for two weeks. The renewal fee is €100 as of January 2020. The right electricity provider for your home, Finding a doctor that speaks your language, Applying for parental benefits – Elterngeld, can change to any “highly-qualified employment”, positions in the natural science, mathematics, architecture, urban and traffic planners, designers, engineers, medical and IT fields, information portal of the German government for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications, the database of the Central Office for Foreign Education Affairs (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen, ZaB), Certificate of Equivalence for Foreign Vocational Qualifications, (Gleichwertigkeitsbescheid or Anerkennungsbescheid), for the purpose of visiting a language class, you don’t need to apply for an entry visa, Foreign Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde), “Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels” (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit), “Antrag auf Erlaubnis einer Beschäftigung” (Application to perform an Occupation)*, Stellenbeschreibung (position description from your employer), Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord confirmation), Problems and Challenges with Ausländerbehorde and Einbürgerungsamt (Berlin), job market entry requirements (Zulassung zum Arbeitsmarkt), seems to be related to the job market entry requirements, Proof of professional qualifications (originals + copy of each), including the statement from the ZaB if needed, Occupational practice permits (if required).