Which countries issue the EU Blue Card? Comparison of programs and conditions for obtaining

The European Council adopted the EU Blue Card Directive in May 2009. Since then, the program has been constantly developing in order to attract more highly qualified specialists to the European Union. In this article, we will look at the current conditions for obtaining an EU Blue Card, the rights of its holders and recent changes in the program.

What is the EU Blue Card? 

The EU Blue Card is a residence permit for qualified professionals from non—EU countries, allowing them to work and live in an EU country. It simplifies procedures and improves the legal status of those who are already in the EU.

In which countries can I get an EU Blue Card? 

The EU Blue Card is available in 25 EU member states. Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom (after Brexit) are not participating in this program. The EFTA countries (Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Switzerland) also do not issue an EU Blue Card.

What does the EU Blue Card provide? 

The EU Blue Card provides a number of significant advantages over standard national employment permits:

• The opportunity to live and work in the country that issued the card EU from 1 to 4 years with the option of further extension.
• Ensuring equality with citizens EU working conditions and pay.
• Freedom of movement on the territory of the European Union.
• The right to stay in other countries EU for up to 3 months within a six-month period.
• The possibility of moving to another state EU for highly qualified work after 1.5 years of residence in the first country.
• The right to move family members to the host country.
• The possibility of obtaining permanent residence after 33 months of work or 21 months with language proficiency at the B1 level.
• The right to return to his native country or third countries for up to a year without loss of status.

How do I get an EU Blue Card? Conditions for submitting an application 

To apply for an EU Blue Card, the candidate must meet the following requirements:

• Confirmation of high professional competence (diploma of higher education or at least 5 years of relevant work experience).
• Availability of an employment contract (the program does not apply to individual entrepreneurs).
• Annual earnings should exceed the minimum established in the country (usually 1.5 times higher than the average annual salary before taxation, or 1.2 times for scarce specialties).
• A valid contract or an official job offer in the country EU for at least 1 year.
• Availability of necessary travel documents and medical insurance for the applicant and his family.
• Compliance with legal requirements for regulated professions.
• There is no threat to public order, safety or health of the host country.

An application for an EU Blue Card can be submitted personally by the candidate or his employer to the relevant authorities of the country of intended employment. The decision on the application must be made within 90 days from the date of its registration.
The standard application fee is 140 euros, and the extension fee is 100 euros, but these amounts may vary depending on the specific country.

Recent changes to the EU Blue Card program 

In 2024, a number of EU countries upgraded the rules for obtaining a Blue Card:

Greece (from June 2024):

• Permission to apply for visa-free entry or a short-term Schengen visa.
• Cancellation of the mandatory pre-check.
• Introduction of new tariffs: 300 euros for initial registration, 450 euros for extension.

Estonia (from April 2024):

• The possibility of submitting applications for persons with 5 years of experience without presenting educational documents.
• Mitigation of requirements for the duration of the job offer and the period of employment.
• Extending the allowable unemployment period to 3 months for cardholders up to 2 years and up to 6 months for holders over 2 years.
• Optimization of the employer change process without analyzing the labor market.

Italy:

• Implementation of an online application system for employers.
• Setting the minimum wage threshold at 24.790 euros.
• The unification of the card issuance and renewal fee is 100 euros.

Slovakia (from July 15, 2024):

• Expanding the criteria for the recognition of professional experience.
• An increase in the validity period of the card to 5 years.
• Reduction of minimum wage requirements to 1.2 of the national average.

Sweden (planned innovations):

• The intention is to lower the minimum wage threshold to 1.25 average monthly (from approximately 5,200 to 4,300 euros).
• Plans to simplify the transition from a national residence permit to an EU Blue Card.
• Development of a simplified procedure for obtaining a Swedish Blue Card for cardholders of other EU countries.

These innovations are aimed at attracting more qualified specialists to the country The EU and the optimization of the process of obtaining a Blue Card.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Blue Card EC

Which countries have the EU Blue Card program?

The program is valid in all European Union countries except Denmark and Ireland. The UK is also not participating in the post-Brexit program.

How much does it cost to get an EU Blue Card?

The cost of registration varies depending on the specific country. To illustrate: in Greece, the initial payment is 300 euros, and the extension will cost 450 euros. Italy has a single tariff of 100 euros for both issuing and renewing the card.

Is it possible to change an employer with an EU Blue Card?

Yes, such a possibility is provided, but the procedure may differ in different countries. For example, Estonia significantly simplified this process in 2024 by eliminating the need for additional checks when changing jobs.

How long has the application for the EU Blue Card been considered?

A decision on the application must be made within 90 days from the date of its registration.

Can I apply for an EU Blue Card while already in an EU country?

This is possible in some countries. For example, since 2024, Greece has allowed people who entered under a visa-free regime or with a short-term Schengen visa to apply.

What should I do if I lose my job with an EU Blue Card?

In case of job loss, a three-month period is provided to find a new place of employment. If no new job is found during this period, there is a risk of cancellation of the EU Blue Card.

Author

Yulia Yanukovych Editor-in-Chief

I am responsible for the work of the editorial office. I write expert interviews and guides.

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