Applying for an EU Blue Card

If you have a university degree, a comparable level of education or an IT profession, you can obtain an EU Blue Card to work in Germany. Depending on the case, a certain minimum salary is mandatory.
The EU Blue Card has several advantages compared with a residence permit for the purpose of employment. For example, it enables you to obtain the right of permanent residence more quickly.

  • The EU Blue Card is valid for a maximum of 4 years.
  • If you have a fixed-term employment contract, the EU Blue Card can also be valid for a shorter time. Normally it also lasts 3 months longer than your employment contract.
  • An EU Blue Card is issued for the commencement of a specific job. After one year of employment at this job, any employment is allowed without the need to inform the immigration authorities or to change the EU Blue Card.
Procedure:
1. Carry out the online application “Applying for an EU Blue Card”
  • Please have all the necessary documents ready for this in PDF format if possible. However, you can also still photograph and upload the documents during the application process using your smartphone or tablet.
  • Before you can send off the application, you need to pay the service fee.
  • At the end you will receive a PDF document to confirm your application. This document will certify that your current residence title (national D visa or residence permit) remains valid in the federal territory beyond the previous validity date. (This does not apply if you hold a Schengen visa (C visa) for a short-term stay).
  • Please therefore make sure to save this document and print a copy if possible.
  • Note: Do your spouse and child live with you in Berlin and need a residence permit? Then please do not submit a separate application or book an appointment for them. Simply enter your family members in the spaces provided in the online application. The State Immigration Office will contact you regarding residence permits for your family members.
2. Once you have carried out the online application “Applying for an EU Blue Card”, we will check it and then contact you as soon as possible. Where necessary, we will request further documents.

3. If your application is considered to be successful, you will be given an appointment for an in-person interview. Please bring the originals of all the necessary documents with you to this appointment.

You can also access this service online

Online processing

Prerequisites

  • University degree
    • You have a degree from a German university or
    • a degree from a foreign university which is recognised in Germany, or
    • a different degree from a foreign university which is comparable to a German degree.
    You can check the “anabin” database to see whether your foreign degree is recognised. You will find a link to this database in the “More information” section.
    If your degree is not evaluated in this database, you can have a certificate assessment carried out specially for your degree. This will incur additional costs. You can find more about certificate assessment in the “More information” section.
  • or equivalent education through tertiary education programme
    • It is also sufficient to have successfully completed a tertiary education programme that is equivalent to completion of a university degree.
    • The requisite duration of the tertiary education programme is at least three years.
    • The equivalence of the qualification must have been established by the competent German authority. To find out more, visit the Federal Ministry of Education's information portal regarding "Recognition in Germany" (see the section "More information").
  • or employment in the field of information and communication technology
    • An academic or comparable education is not required for managers and specialists in the field of information and communication technology.
    • Occupations are favoured if they are from group 133 or 25 of the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08) (see list of shortage occupations in the “More information” section).
    • The skills, knowledge and abilities required for this profession must have been acquired in at least three years of professional experience in the last seven years.
  • Employment
    You already have an employment contract or a concrete offer. The employment relationship must have a minimum duration of 6 months.
  • Employment in Germany
    An employment relationship in Germany must be established. In addition, the employer must have a place of business in Germany.
  • Minimum salary
    You can only acquire the EU Blue Card if you earn enough. How much you need to earn depends on your profession and when you completed your qualifications. The minimum salary limits change every calendar year. The following applies to 2024:
    • If you work in a shortage occupation, you need to earn EUR 3,420.15 gross per month or more. This equates to EUR 41.041,80 per year. Shortage occupations are specific occupations for which there are not enough workers in Germany. These professions at present are such as: Scientists in natural science disciplines, mathematicians, architects, interior, urban and traffic planners, designers, engineers, scientific engineers, physicians, those with qualifications in information and communications technology. In the section "More information" you will find a complete list of the shortage occupations for which an EU Blue Card can be issued.
    • This minimum salary is also valid (regardless of profession) if the university degree or equivalent tertiary education programme was successfully completed no more than three years before applying for the EU Blue Card.
    • You do not work in a shortage occupation or completed your qualifications more than three years ago? Then you must earn EUR 3,775.00 gross per month or more.
    • Note: Success bonuses and other fully variable special payments are not taken into account.
  • Possibly: Approval of the German Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit)
    You will require the approval of the Federal Employment Agency if you earn less than EUR 3,775.00 gross per month (value for 2024).
  • Depending on the profession: Occupation practice permit
    For some jobs you need a special permit, for example for human medicine. If you do not know whether you need this special permit, please ask your employer.
  • Adequate health insurance
    You have health insurance in Germany, either in the statutory health insurance system or a comparable private health insurance.
    Foreign health insurance is not sufficient. For more information, please read the leaflet.
  • Main residence in Berlin
    You live in Berlin. A second residence in Berlin is not sufficient.
  • For the online application: Consent to the electronic payment process
    The following methods of payment are available to you:
    • Credit card (Visa, Mastercard)
    • Paypal

Documents required

  • Application for an EU Blue Card
    only possible online
    • You will receive a PDF document to confirm your application. This document will certify that your current residence title (national D visa or residence permit) remains valid in the federal territory beyond the previous validity date. (This does not apply if you hold a Schengen visa (C visa) for a short-term stay).
    • Please therefore make sure to save this document and print a copy if possible.
  • Valid passport or passport substitute
  • Your employment contract or job offer
  • University or university college qualification
  • Proof of your residence
    for example by
    • Certificate of registration at the main residence (Melde-Bestätigung) or
    • lease and written confirmation of occupancy from the landlord (Wohnungsgeber-Bestätigung)
  • Lease or proof of home ownership
  • Rental cost / expenses for property
    e.g. a current account statement
  • Proof of your health insurance
    • for statutory health insurance: electronic health card with photo or an up-to-date confirmation of health insurance
    • for private health insurance: certificate from the insurance company that states the type, scope and duration of the insurance. Please tell your insurance company that you need the certificate for a residence permit for the purpose of employment.
  • Form "Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis" (filled out and signed by your employer)
  • If necessary: Occupation practice permit
  • If necessary: Zeugnisbewertung
    If your foreign degree is not evaluated in the “anabin” database, please submit a certificate assessment to the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).
  • If you do not have a university degree: curriculum vitae and other diplomas and certificates
  • In the case of qualifications obtained through tertiary education programme:* certificate of equivalence with a university degree
    Please upload the document in the online application if possible. Otherwise you will need to submit it later during the assessment process.
  • 1 current biometric photo (only upon personal visit with an appointment)
    35mm x 45mm, frontal shot with neutral facial expression and closed mouth, looking straight into the camera, light background
  • Your previous residence title (national D visa or residence permit)
  • Proof of your online application for an EU Blue Card
    When submitting the online request form, you will be shown a PDF. Please bring the PDF to your appointment (printed out or in digital form on your smartphone).
  • Appointment confirmation
    You have received an appointment by email after submitting your online request form. Please bring this appointment invitation with you to the appointment (printed out or in digital form on your smartphone).

Forms

Fees

The fee must be paid before you send off the online application (by credit card or PayPal).

  • 100.00 euro
For Turkish nationals:
  • 22.80 euro: up to the age of 24
  • 37.00 euro: as from the age of 24
A refund is not possible in the event that the application is withdrawn if we have already begun to process the application (by examining the documents you sent or sending you an appointment for an in-person interview).

Legal basis

Average time to process request

  • If your application is considered to be successful, you will be given an appointment for an in-person interview.
  • After an appointment, it typically takes 3-4 weeks until the EU Blue Card is issued as an electronic residence title.

More information

Notes on responsibility

This service can only be taken advantage of in the Berlin Immigration Office (Landesamt für Einwanderung – LEA) at Keplerstrasse.

Your point of contact

Do it online

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