EU Blue Card

The EU Blue Card is a new kind of residence permit for qualified foreigners who want to work in Germany.

The EU Blue Card is issued if the foreigner possesses either

• a German higher education degree, a legally recognized foreign degree or a foreign degree equivalent to a German one, or,
• in some cases, an equivalent qualification proven by at least five years of professional experience,

and the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) has approved the employment respectively no approval is necessary. The gross income has to be at least two thirds of the contribution assessment ceiling of the German state pension, or, for jobs in mathematics, informatics, sciences, and engineering, only 52 percent of the contribution assessment ceiling.

On the first issue, the EU Blue Card is only valid for a maximum of 4 years. If the employment is shorter than 4 years, the Blue Card will be issued for the time of the employment plus 3 months.

An extension is possible under the same conditions.

Required documents

• Visa
  valid for employment except USA, Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland or entry with an EU Blue Card, that was issued by another member of the European Union at least 18 months before

• Tenancy agreement
  and copy

• Proof that living expenses are covered
  and copy

• Employment contract
  and copy

• Proof of health insurance
  and copy

• Passport
  and copy

• Photo
  new, biometrical

• Proof of university degree
  copy and German translation