The European Union (EU) Blue Card

Skilled workers from non-EU countries who want to work in EU countries and meet the relevant educational, professional and employment requirements can apply for an EU Blue Card if they have secured employment or have a binding job offer in an EU Member State.

The EU Blue Card is designed to help EU Member States attract highly qualified workers from outside the EU. The requirements can vary between Member States, so applicants should check the specific requirements of the country in which they intend to work.

Is the UK considered part of the EU countries for the purpose of the EU Blue Card?

No. The UK is not part of the EU Blue Card scheme.

The UK has its own immigration routes for skilled workers, including the Skilled Worker visa.

The EU Blue Card currently applies in 25 of the 27 EU Member States. It does not apply in Denmark or Ireland, which have their own immigration arrangements for highly qualified workers.

What are the benefits of an EU Blue Card?

Holders of an EU Blue Card can benefit from:

• The right to live and work in the EU Member State that issued the card, subject to the relevant conditions.
• Equal treatment with nationals of the host country in areas including working conditions, professional education and training, recognition of qualifications, social security and access to goods and services.
• More favourable family reunification rights, with family members able to access employment subject to the applicable rules.
• The ability to travel to other EU Member States for up to 90 days in a 180-day period, subject to the relevant conditions.
• The ability, after 12 months of legal residence as an EU Blue Card holder, to move to another participating EU Member State for highly qualified employment under simplified mobility rules.
• More favourable rules for obtaining EU long-term resident status, as periods of residence in different Member States can be taken into account subject to the applicable conditions.

Who can qualify for an EU Blue Card?

Highly qualified workers from non-EU countries can apply for an EU Blue Card if they meet the requirements of the relevant Member State.

Generally, applicants must:

• Have the necessary higher professional qualifications or, where permitted, relevant higher professional skills.
• Have an employment contract or binding job offer for highly qualified employment for at least six months.
• Meet the salary threshold set by the relevant EU Member State. Under the revised EU Blue Card framework, the threshold is generally between 1 and 1.6 times the average gross annual salary in the Member State concerned.
• Have the necessary travel documents and, where required, a visa.
• Have health insurance for themselves and any accompanying family members.
• Meet any additional requirements applicable to regulated professions.

The revised EU Blue Card rules also allow professional experience to be recognised as equivalent to higher education qualifications in certain circumstances, including for specific information and communication technology occupations.

Applicants cannot generally use the EU Blue Card for self-employed work, although Member States may allow limited self-employed activity alongside highly qualified employment under their national rules.

How can individuals apply for an EU Blue Card?

The application process will depend on the EU Member State in which the applicant intends to work.

Applicants will generally need to provide evidence of their employment or job offer, qualifications or relevant professional experience, salary, travel documents and health insurance. Depending on the applicant’s nationality and the country concerned, a visa may also be required.

The application process and documentary requirements can differ between Member States, so applicants should check the specific requirements for the country in which they intend to work.

How can applicants find work that would qualify for an EU Blue Card?

Applicants are free to search for suitable employment through recruitment websites and platforms in the country where they wish to work.

Applicants can also look for work in the EU through EURES, the European Job Mobility Portal. Job searches can be filtered to find employment in particular sectors and locations.

What is the processing time for an EU Blue Card application?

The processing time for an EU Blue Card application can vary depending on the EU Member State processing the application.

Applicants should therefore check the relevant national requirements and allow sufficient time for their application to be processed.

How long is an EU Blue Card valid for?

Under the revised EU Blue Card rules, Member States must set a standard period of validity of at least 24 months. Where an employment contract covers a shorter period, the Blue Card must generally be valid for at least the duration of the contract plus three months, subject to the applicable maximum period. The card can be renewed where the relevant requirements continue to be met.

Can EU Blue Card holders change employment?

Yes. The rules on changing employment have been made more flexible.

During the first 12 months of legal employment, a Member State may require a change of employer to be notified to the relevant authorities and may carry out checks to confirm that the requirements for the EU Blue Card continue to be met.

After the first 12 months, Member States may generally require notification of a change of employer or other change affecting the admission criteria, subject to their national rules.

What happens if the employment comes to an end?

EU Blue Card holders have protections if they become unemployed.

Under the revised EU Blue Card framework, an EU Blue Card should not generally be withdrawn solely because the holder becomes unemployed. Where the holder has held the Blue Card for less than two years, withdrawal or non-renewal may arise where unemployment exceeds three months. Where the holder has held the Blue Card for at least two years, the relevant period is generally six months, although Member States may allow longer periods.

The specific rules and procedures will depend on the Member State concerned.

How can we help you?

If you are considering applying for an EU Blue Card, our specialist Immigration Team can advise you on the requirements applicable to your chosen EU country, the documents needed to support an application and the application process.