What is the Blue Card?
All information about the definition and benefits of the Blue Card
Here you learn ...
what the EU Blue Card is (definition)
the advantages of the Blue Card
the legal basis of the EU Blue Card
Statistics on the issuing of the Blue Card in Germany
1. Definition and legal effect of the EU Blue Card
The EU Blue Card is a residence permit and visa that allows you to stay and work in Germany . The Blue Card was created specifically for highly qualified foreigners and is regulated in Section 18g of the Residence Act . However, since November 18, 2023 (EU Blue Card reform 2023), the Blue Card can no longer only be issued to academic professionals (i.e. foreigners with a recognized university degree), but also to other well-qualified foreigners (especially IT specialists (Section 18g Paragraph 2 of the Residence Act).
Approximately 70% of foreign academics and 57% of skilled workers have an EU Blue Card (see BAMF monitoring of educational and employment migration ). The Blue Card is rhetorically based on the US “Green Card” and is based on a European Union directive (Directive 2009/50/EC). Nevertheless, there are significant differences between the EU Blue Card and the Green Card, as the EU Blue Card is not a permanent residence permit.
Although the EU Blue Card was created by the European Union and is based on European law, it does not allow you to work in the entire European Union , but only in the state in which it was issued. However, the Blue Card can be recognized in other European countries (so-called short-term and long-term mobility with the Blue Card, see §§ 18h, 18i AufenthG ).
Germany is the country that issues the most Blue Cards in the entire European Union. Many of the Blue Card holders also stay in Germany permanently (see the press release from the Federal Statistical Office on the EU Blue Card ). Most Blue Card holders live in Bavaria or Munich, Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia (Frankfurt am Main). Berlin in particular has a particularly high number of Blue Card holders in relation to the proportion of city dwellers. The Berlin immigration authority (State Office for Immigration (LEA)) has therefore created its own department for applying for residence permits ( Departments B1, B2, B3 ). Of the Blue Cards issued in Germany, most were issued to Indian nationals . In 2021, for example, 27.5% of Blue Cards were issued to Indians. Almost 50% of Blue Card holders successfully apply for a settlement permit and can thus stay in Germany indefinitely. If you would like to apply for a settlement permit with the EU Blue Card, you can use our VISAGUARD guide to settlement permits for skilled workers .
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2. Benefits of the Blue Card
Compared to other residence permits, the Blue Card has numerous advantages, which is why it is very popular among foreigners. The main advantages of the EU Blue Card are the following:
Settlement permit / permanent residence permit after just 21 months with B1 language level or after 27 months with A1 language level (see Section 18c Paragraph 2 of the Residence Act ),
naturalization is possible without applying for a settlement permit (if the required residence periods have been reached, see Section 10 StAG ),
even if you quit your job, the Blue Card will remain valid for an additional three months (see Section 18, Paragraph 4 of the Residence Act ),
family reunification is possible without German language skills and the spouse is allowed to work without restrictions (see § 30 para. 1 sentence 2 no. 5 AufenthG ),
the foreigner can stay abroad for 12 months instead of 6 months without the Blue Card expiring (see Section 51 Paragraph 10 of the Residence Act ),
Since the reform of November 18, 2023, it is no longer necessary to apply for a change of employer with the EU Blue Card, but only to inform the immigration authorities (see Section 18g Paragraph 4 of the Residence Act ),
the EU Blue Card can also be recognized in other countries of the European Union (see §§ 18h, 18i AufenthG ),
prioritized processing and preference in the administrative procedure (e.g. at the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB)).
There are many different small and only partially relevant advantages of the Blue Card, especially in other European countries. However, these advantages are usually very case-specific and are therefore not listed here.
If you have any further questions about the benefits of the Blue Card in individual cases, you can consult a VISAGUARD-certified immigration lawyer .
Further Information
