The German EU Blue Card for Highly-Qualified Professionals

The German EU Blue Card is a residence title for highly skilled workers and graduates outside the EU who wish to live and work in Germany. The European Blue Card provides a range of socio-economic benefits to the holder and a path to permanent residence for in-demand workers.

German EU Blue Card-An Overview
The primary aim of the German EU Blue Card aims to make Europe an attractive destination for highly skilled professionals from outside the European Union. All EU member states, except for Denmark and Ireland, issue the EU Blue Card. The program was launched in 2012 to address the growing need for skilled professionals in various industries, such as technology, healthcare, and engineering.

The German EU Blue Card follows a merit-based system that assesses a person’s ability to enter Germany based on their education, work experience, age, and in-demand skills. Since there is no points system in place, you must prove that you have the right skills and qualifications to meet the ongoing demands of Germany’s labor market.

The range of German EU Blue Card benefits make Germany the most-coveted migration destination:

• Great working conditions backed by higher wages
• Free movement within the Schengen area
• Become eligible to receive a range of socio-economic rights (e.g., unemployment benefits)
• Your family members can join you in Germany
• Holders of an EU Blue Card may receive a settlement permit after 33 months in Germany if they have been in highly qualified employment and paid contributions into a pension fund during this period.
• The qualification period is shortened to 21 months for persons with adequate knowledge of German (level B1).

German EU Blue Card Eligibility Requirements
As a third-country national, you will be eligible to secure an EU Blue Card, if:

• You have a valid passport;
• have a valid work contract or binding job offer for highly qualified employment for at least one year;
• The gross annual salary offered should not be less than 53 600 EUR. Lower minimum salary of 41 808 EUR is acceptable if your profession is on the occupation shortage list.
• You have a German degree, a recognized foreign degree, or your foreign education is at par with the German higher education degree.
• For regulated occupations: submit documents proving that all legal requirements related to that profession are met;
• For unregulated occupations: present documents demonstrating that the relevant higher professional qualifications are met.
• The applicant must not pose a security or health threat to Germany.

Minimum Salary Threshold Details
The minimum annual salary requirement for the German EU Blue card depends on your occupation. If your job is classified as “professions of shortage” you may get the Blue Card Germany visa for lower threshold. The thresholds are as follows:

• The minimum salary threshold for the professions of shortage is €43,992 annually.
• The minimum salary threshold for other professions is €56.400 annually.
• The minimum salary requirement is lower for jobs with ‘special interest’ and hence it easier to obtain the German EU Blue Card in this category.

How do I apply for the German EU Blue Card?
To apply for an EU Blue Card, you must do the following:

Step 1: Find a Job and Get a Work Contract
The process of applying for the Germany Blue Card from India starts from getting a job offer or a contractual assignment. You may look for job vacancies on online employment portals, such as:

• Arbeitsagentur.de – Employment Portal of the German Employment Agency
• EURES – The German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy's European Job Mobility Portal
• Euraxess.de – Jobs in Germany
• Academics.com
• Alumniportal-deutschland.org

Step 2: Get a Visa from the German Embassy
Once you have obtained an employment letter, your next step is to apply for a German visa at a German embassy or consulate. This visa enables you to enter Germany, where you must apply for a Germany EU Blue Card at the Ausländerbehörde (Immigration Authority).

You need not to apply for a visa to enter Germany if you come from one of the following countries.

• Australia
• Canada
• Israel
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Northern Ireland
• South Korea
• United Kingdom
• United States of America

Step 3: Register your address in Germany and Get Health Insurance
Upon arriving in Germany, you have two weeks to register your residential ddress at the registration office. The registration process is mandatory by law and if you do not register, you are liable to pay a fine. Additionally, enrol in a German health insurance provider. While applying for the German EU Blue Card, you must submit the registration certificate as well as an insurance certificate.

Step 4: Obtain Your EU Blue Card from the German Immigration Authorities
If you have all of the required documents, you can apply for the Blue Card at the Ausländerbehörde. Remember that you cannot work until your application is approved and your residence card is issued.

What is the processing time of German EU Blue Card?
As per German migration authorities, the maximum processing time for issuing a Blue Card in Germany is 90 days.

How long is my German EU Blue Card Valid?
The EU Blue Card in Germany is valid for up to four years unless your job contract is limited (not indefinite). If your contract is limited, your work visa is valid for the entire duration of your work contract, with additional three months. You may seek a new job or contract during this extension period.

After 33 months of living and working in Germany, you may apply for a German settlement permit. For this, you must prove at least a B1 level of German language knowledge, have a highly-qualified employment, and have paid contributions into a pension fund during this period.

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