Germany EU Blue Card
The Germany EU Blue Card is a residence title granted to non-EU nationals to legally live and work as a qualified professional in Germany. The privilege of Germany EU Blue Card was designed to attract skilled professionals with strong qualifications with the motive of living and working in Germany easier.
Germany over the years, has faced a shortage of skilled professionals and in order to suffice the needs in the German labour market, Germany has accepted non-EU skilled professionals to be a part of their economy, by granting them the right to work in Germany and this can be achieved through several pathways, such as:
Germany job opportunities pathway
❖ Germany Work Visa
❖ Germany EU Blue Card
Benefits of the Germany EU Blue Card
The Germany EU Blue Card brings forth some of the benefits to every applicant, such as:
1. Easier Pathway to Permanent Residency- one of the major benefits that rules out for Germany EU Blue card is that it provides easier pathways for permanent residency as EU Blue card holders can apply for permanent residency after 27 months when they prove German language skills at level A1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Similarly, after 21 months at level B1.
2. Family Sponsorship- Germany EU Blue card benefits the longing families of the cardholders as they can sponsor their families, dependent children to stay with them in Germany.
3. Relaxed Work Rules for Spouses- spouses of the EU Blue card holder can work without restrictions in Germany.
4. Freedom to Move- EU Blue card holders enjoy the benefit of freedom to move or work in any of the countries in the European Union for a certain period.
5. Access to several other benefits- EU Blue card holders enjoy several other benefits, such as public healthcare, education, and social security benefits.
Look Who is Eligible for the Germany EU Blue Card?
To qualify for Germany EU Blue Card, the applicant must be a highly skilled individual with the following requirements such as:
❖ The applicant must have an educational qualification equivalent to the German academic qualification
❖ The applicant must have a valid job offer from a company or employer in Germany
❖ The applicant’s job offer must be valid for at least six months
❖ The applicant’s job profile must match the skills and academic qualifications related to the occupation
❖ The applicant must have an average annual salary of at latest € 48,300.
❖ Applicants applying under the profession listed under the Germany Shortage Occupation List, the applicant is eligible with an average annual salary of € 43759.80.
Professions listed on the Shortage Occupations List in Germany
Some of the professions listed on the Shortage Occupation List:
❖ Manufacturing, mining, construction and distribution managers
❖ Information and communications technology service managers
❖ Professional services managers, such as childcare services, health services and education managers
❖ Academic STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) professionals
❖ Academic professionals in architecture, spatial planning and transport planning
❖ Medical doctors
❖ Veterinarians
❖ Dentists
❖ Pharmacists
❖ Academic and comparable nursing and midwifery professionals
❖ School and out-of-school teachers and educators
Essential Documents Required for the German EU Blue Card
There is a list of essential documents required during the application process for the Germany EU Blue Card such as:
1. Application Form
2. Valid Passport
3. Passport size photographs
4. Proof of a work contract in Germany
5. Declaration of employment signed by the German Employer
6. Proof of income threshold withstanding the requirement
7. Proof of educational qualifications
8. Proof of recognition of the foreign university, including one of the following:
a. A printout or screenshot from the Anabin database showing that your university is recognized (status H+).
b. A Statement of Comparability issued by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB), if your university is not listed or not recognized in the Anabin database.
9. Proof of accommodation in Germany
10. Proof of health insurance
Application Fee for Germany EU Blue Card
Applicants applying Germany EU Blue Card are required to submit the application fee as:
FEE Type | Amount | When to Pay |
National Visa (Type D) Application | € 75 | At the embassy /consulate |
EU Blue Card Residence Card | € 100 | After arrival in Germany |
Processing Time for Germany EU Blue Card
The processing time for Germany EU Blue Card is approximately 6 weeks or more, depending on the country of residence and overload of applications.
How To Apply
How to Apply Germany EU Blue Card
Germany EU Blue Card, a privilege bestowed upon qualified skilled professionals can follow these steps and become permanent residents of Germany without much hustle. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the Germany visa application process:
1. Complete the Application Form
In the beginning of the application process, applications are required to fill in the online application form. The application form that is required is the Visa D also known as long term visa used by the applicants for the work, study or family purposes.
Applicants are required to take a print of the submitted application form and save it till the appointment with the consulate or embassy takes place.
2. Prepare all Essential Documents
The next step after completion of the online application form is to gather all the essential documents such as passport, educational credentials, proof of funds, and health insurance.
3. Schedule an appointment at the Embassy / Consulate
After looking up for all the essential documents, applicants are required to schedule an appointment at the Embassy or Consulate.
4. Attend the Visa Interview
Applicants, after scheduling an appointment with the consulate or embassy, are required to attend an interview in- person along with all the essential documents. The interview session consists of duration of stay, purpose behind immigration and some general questions about the applicant.The documents must be submitted during the interview session at the embassy or consulate.
5. Update Biometric Information
During the visa appointment, applicants are required to submit biometric information.
6. Pay the Visa Application Fee
After submitting Biometric information, applicants can now submit the application fee. The mode of payment (either online at the time of application or in-person at the time of interview) depends upon the country of residence of the applicant.
7. Get the Visa
Once the application is completed, applicants are required to wait for 10-15 business days for the decision about visa application. If the applicants receive a positive response, they can travel to Germany without any restrictions. Whereas, if received a negative response, the letter enlists the reason for the negative response.
The Germany EU Blue Card serves as a trail towards a brighter future for skilled professionals seeking rewarding career prospects in Germany. It not only opens doors to advanced employment opportunities but also provides long-term career stability.