EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU) at the location Foreigners Office (Ausländerbehörde) Berlin, location Keplerstr.

EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU)

Issue of an EU Blue Card for highly qualified foreign nationals to engage in an occupation befitting their qualifications.

The EU Blue Card is issued for a period of four years if the employment contract is permanent or, in the case of a temporary employment contract, lasts for at least four years. In the case of shorter employment contracts, the EU Blue Card is issued for the duration of the employment plus three months.

For the first two years of employment, approval from the Foreigners’ Registration Office must be obtained before any change of job.

Prerequisites

• Possession of a qualification from a German Hochschule, an accredited foreign university or university college qualification, or a foreign university or university college qualification comparable to a German Hochschule qualification
  It is possible to submit a query to the online database of the Central Office for Foreign Education Affairs (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen, ZAB) to determine if the foreign university or university college qualification is recognised in Germany (see under 'More information').
  
  If the database does not contain any relevant information, applicants are required to apply to the ZAB to have their qualification specifically evaluated against payment of a fee and to present their qualification certificate to the ZAB (see under 'More information').
• Qualified employment with a minimum gross salary of EUR 52,000 per annum or, in shortage occupations, a gross salary of EUR 40,560 per annum
  Annual gross income of at least EUR 52,000 (or gross income of EUR 4,333 each month) must be earned from the qualified employment.
  
  In certain shortage occupations, annual gross income of EUR 40,560 (or gross income EUR 3,380 each month) is sufficient.
  
  These professions at present are: Scientists in natural science disciplines, mathematicians, architects, interior, urban and traffic planners, designers, engineers, scientific engineers, physicians (except dentists) and those with academic qualifications in information and communications technology.
• Approval of the German Federal Employment Agency
  When engaging in employment
  
  

  • with an annual gross income of at least EUR 52,000 (or gross income of EUR 4,333 monthly) or,
  • in shortage occupations, an annual gross income of EUR 40,560 (or gross income of EUR 3,380 monthly), and when in possession of a German university or university college qualification,
  
  

  no approval is required from the German Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit).
  
  However, when
  
  

  • holding a foreign university or university college qualification and
  • engaging in employment in a shortage occupation,
  
  

  the Federal Employment Agency must provide approval.
• Occupation practice permit
  If a licence is required to practice a profession (e.g. physician, engineer), evidence of this licence or evidence that the licence will be issued must be presented before the EU Blue Card can be issued.
• Main residence in Berlin
• A personal interview is required
  The interview should, if possible, take place by appointment.

Documents required

• Valid passport
• 1 current biometric photo
  35mm x 45mm, frontal shot with neutral facial expression and closed mouth, looking straight into the camera, light background
• University or university college qualification
  Original and copy; together with evaluation / statement of the ZAB if applicable (see 'Prerequisites')
• employment or concrete job offer
  Original and copy
• The form "Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels" (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit)
  A residence permit may only be issued upon formal request. Only required for first-time application.
• The form "Antrag auf Erlaubnis einer Beschäftigung" (completed)
  Only when approval is required from the German Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit)
• The form "Stellenbeschreibung" (filled in by the employer)
  Only when approval is required from the German Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit)
• Occupation practice permit
  Only if required (see 'Prerequisites')
• Health insurance
  Proof of a secure livelihood must also include sufficient health insurance. Those with statutory health insurance are sufficiently insured. Those with private health insurance must consider the type and extent of their health insurance. For more information, please read the leaflet "Information on adequate health insurance".
• Proof of main residence in Berlin
  • Certificate of registration at the main residence or
  • lease and written confirmation of occupancy from the landlord

Forms

• the form “Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit) - in German, English, French, Italian
• the form "Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels" (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit) - in German, Greek, Turkish, Serbo-Croatian
• the form "Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels" (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit) - in German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian
• form “Antrag auf Erlaubnis einer Beschäftigung" (Application for an employment permit)
• form "Stellenbeschreibung" (Job description)
• Information on adequate health insurance

Fees

Legal basis

• section 19a Aufenthaltsgesetz - AufenthG

Average time to process request

More information

• Information portal of the German government for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications
• online database of the Central Office for Foreign Education Affairs (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen, ZAB)
• Qualification evaluations
• Certificate of registration at the main residence (Meldebestätigung)
• Example: confirmation of occupancy from the landlord