Latest news with #BlueCards
Euronews
04-07-2025
- Business
- Euronews
EU Blue Card: Where are skilled workers most welcome in Europe?
In 2023, 4.3 million people moved to the EU from non-EU countries. Another 1.5 million moved between EU countries. While the EU works to control illegal migration, some countries actively seek highly-skilled workers. The EU Blue Card is one the mechanisms for attracting highly qualified workers from outside the EU. In 2023, around 89,000 non-EU professionals were granted a Blue Card, with the vast majority issued by Germany. This number has been rising in recent years according to Eurostat. The European Commission introduced several updates to make the Blue Card more attractive to third-country nationals and employers. However, experts and scholars remain cautious about whether the Blue Card alone is enough to attract top talent. So, which EU countries issue the most Blue Cards? Is it good enough to attract talent? And how do experts explain the large differences between them? EU Blue Card numbers on the rise The number of EU Blue Cards issued by Member States has risen sharply in recent years—from 20,979 in 2016 to 89,037 in 2023—marking more than a fourfold increase, or over 300% growth in seven years. 'It was a relatively unknown residence permit for highly qualified workers from outside the EU with a high salary,' Tesseltje de Lange, Professor of European Migration Law at Radboud University, told Euronews Business. In 2016, the European Commission launched a recast of the Directive in hopes of abolishing national schemes and to offer workers more of the benefits of intra-EU mobility. 'Since, the permit has become more known, which partly explains the steady increase.' she added. She also noted that many EU countries face significant labour market shortages, and in some cases, the Blue Card is used as a tool to attract international talent—helping explain the increase in its use. Germany leads EU Blue Card surge with 78% share 'The main reason for the rise is the number of Blue Cards issued by Germany,' Dr Almina Besic from Johannes Kepler University Linz, Associate Professor Dženeta Karabegović from University of Salzburg, and Prof Andreas Diedrich from University of Gothenburg, told Euronews Business. They explained that Germany is facing labour shortages across multiple sectors, with some sectors particularly affected, and the Blue Card plays a central role in the labour migration policy in Germany. According to Eurostat, Germany issued the most EU Blue Cards in 2023—69,353, accounting for 78% of the total. It was followed by Poland with 7,402 (8%) and France with 3,912 (4%). Lithuania ranked fourth with 1,710 cards, while Austria also exceeded 1,000, issuing 1,135 cards. Most EU countries rely on national work permit schemes 'Germany has positioned the Blue Card as the main instrument for skilled labour migration and does not have a 'parallel national scheme' like other member states,' Besic, Karabegović and Diedrich said. They emphasized that other member states rely on national schemes, based on the discretion and right to set limits to admission volumes. This helps explain why Germany accounts for nearly four out of five EU Blue Cards issued. Who receives the EU Blue Cards? In 2023, Indian citizens received the highest number of Blue Cards (21,228 or 24%), followed by citizens of Russia (9,488 or 11%), Turkey (5,803 or 7%), and Belarus (5,294 or 6%). Other notable recipients included nationals from Iraq (3,990), Egypt (2,529), Pakistan (2,408), Syria (1,810), and the UK (1,074). Conditions to apply for the EU Blue Card There are several conditions to apply for a Blue Card. The most important is having 'a valid work contract or a binding job offer for highly qualified employment for at least 6 months in the Member State'. Why isn't the EU Blue Card more widely used? The Blue Card Directive was implemented by Member States in 2011, though it does not apply in Denmark and Ireland. In 2016, the European Commission launched a recast of the Directive, aiming to implement a more unified system by phasing out national schemes. A key reform is the reduction of the salary threshold to 1.0 times the average gross national salary (and no higher than 1.6 times), with member states allowed to lower it further to 0.8 for shortage occupations—a long-standing concern for both employers and migrants. Still, many countries continue to prefer national schemes. Besic, Karabegović and Diedrich pointed out that member states are not required to abolish parallel national systems, making the Blue Card harder to access in many cases—and therefore less appealing to both employers and third-country nationals. No fast track in Blue Card 'In the Netherlands for instance, the national scheme does not require higher qualifications and has a lower salary threshold, making it more attractive for businesses and their workers to use,' Tesseltje de Lange said. She added that the Dutch recognised sponsorship system allows decisions within two weeks, while in Spain, national permits are also reportedly issued in under two weeks. The Blue Card does not require Member States to offer such fast-track procedures, which may also explain why it remains unpopular. She recommended that the European Commission list more shortage occupations in the Annex of the Directive and align the procedures for recognition of qualifications, which sometimes take 6 to 9 months, to increase the attractiveness of the Blue Card.
Euronews
22-05-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Blue Cards: Which EU country offers the highest minimum salary?
The latest report on Blue Cards shows that Germany welcomes the most workers from outside the EU among the bloc's member states. Berlin issued around 69,000 of these permits, or 78% of the EU's total of 89,000. Poland comes in second place with 7,000, followed by France at 4,000, says Eurostat. The Blue Card is considered a golden ticket for highly skilled professionals from non-EU countries. Denmark and Ireland are the only countries that don't issue these permits at all. This special visa also guarantees a minimum annual gross salary, even in countries without a statutory minimum wage, such as Italy, Sweden, Austria and Finland. Thresholds vary widely. From a maximum of around €68,000 in the Netherlands to just over €16,000 in Bulgaria. Also, the EU Blue Card directive proposes that the employer pay the cardholder a salary that's at least 1.5 times the average of the respective country. It's called the "rule of thumb." Figures for each country are indexed yearly. Indians lead the pack with 21,000 cards - almost a quarter of the total (24%), followed by Russians (9,000 or 11%), Turks (6,000 or 7%) and Belarusians (5,000 or 6%). Qualifying for a Blue Card is relatively straightforward. It requires either a university degree or three years of relevant work experience in the field related to the application. Blue Cards might also be issued after a cycle of studies attended in the EU. The good news is, there are no language requirements. The card also allows to travel freely within the Schengen Area, if the permit is issued by a Schengen country (Cyprus is the only exception among Blue Card countries). Blue Cards aren't the only visas granting work and stay to non-EU workers. In 2023, EU countries granted almost 11,000 "intra-corporate transfer permits," allowing high-skilled citizens of third countries to move to EU branches of international companies. The Netherlands issued a quarter (2,700) of them, followed by Germany and Hungary (both 1,900 or 18%), France (1,500 or 14%) and Spain (1,100 or 10%). Most recipients were Indians (3,900 or 36% of all permits), Chinese (1,600 or 14%) and South Koreans (1,300 or 12%). German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has travelled to Lithuania for the formal inauguration of a German brigade stationed there to bolster NATO's eastern flank. Merz was welcomed on Thursday by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys. The inauguration of the 45th Armoured Brigade is set to take place in Vilnius' central square, with more than 1,000 Lithuanian and German troops expected to attend. The aim of this new unit, which consists of 4,800 troops and 200 civilian personnel, is to strengthen NATO's presence in the region in light of the threat posed by Russia. It is hoped that the stationing of German troops in Lithuania will discourage potential Russian aggression and provide added protection to the Baltic states. The brigade, which will include infantry and tank battalions, should be fully operational by 2027, according to Lithuania. Around 700 German military personnel are already serving there. The unit's posting abroad is part of a German security policy initiative known as the 'Zeitenwende' (Turning Point), which was announced by former Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the outbreak of Russia's full-scale invasion. Although Germany has in recent decades participated in worldwide military operations, this move marks Germany's most significant military deployment since World War II. Merz's first visit to Lithuania as chancellor also includes a meeting with President Gitanas Nausėda. Their talks are expected to cover Lithuanian-German bilateral relations, defence cooperation, support for Ukraine and key issues on the EU's agenda.
Local Germany
16-05-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
Why does Germany issue by far the most EU Blue Cards to skilled workers?
Considered the European version of the US Green Card, the Blue Card was established in 2009 and reformed in 2021 to make it more attractive for highly qualified individuals. To obtain a Blue Card , non-EU citizens need a university degree or an equivalent qualification, have a job offer and a salary meeting the threshold set by the EU country of expected residence. Besides the right to work and reside in a given EU country, the Blue Card holders can also visit another EU member state for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Blue Card holders have equal working conditions to national citizens. In case they lose the job, they can remain three months in the country to look for another one and claim social security benefits. The EU Blue Card can be obtained in 25 EU countries, but not in Denmark and Ireland, which have opted out. In 2023, EU member states issued around 89,000 Blue Cards, according to the latest data issued by the EU statistical office, Eurostat. Germany alone issued some 69,000, 78 per cent of the total and 6,000 more than in 2022. READ ALSO: What you need to earn to get an EU Blue Card in Germany in 2025 Poland followed, with 7,000 Blue Cards issued (8 per cent of the total and 2,400 more than in 2022). France was the third country by the number of permits given out, with around 4,000 issued (4 per cent). Austria issued 1,135, more than doubling the 501 of 2022. In comparison, Italy issued 747 Blue Cards (compared to 572 in 2022), Spain 370 (58 in 2022) and Sweden 106 (83 in 2022). German MEP Damian Boeselager, from the transnational pro-European party Volt, told The Local that 'Germany is one of the few countries that are actually promoting the EU Blue Card and has therefore seen a generally higher adoption, even if still rather limited in absolute numbers.' Advertisement As a reference, Germany issued about 177,000 work visas in 2023, and it is estimated to have some 400,000 open positions for skilled workers. In 2023, Germany also started to implement the Skilled Immigration Act to make it easier for qualified professionals from outside the EU to move to the country, including an expansion of the use of the EU Blue Card. Two Blue Cards for foreign skilled workers are on a table at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees in Bavaria. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Daniel Karmann Although the new German government announced restrictions to immigration, Boeselager says that 'the current take-up of the Blue Card will likely remain on a similar level, unless Germany changes something about the current rules.' 'So far, the new German government has not targeted highly qualified labour migrants in its rhetoric,' he added. READ ALSO: Which German jobs have a lower salary threshold for an EU Blue Card? Spain also eased rules in 2023, abolishing the requirement for employers to conduct a labour market test before sponsoring Blue Card employees, allowing six-month (instead of 12-month) contracts, reducing the salary threshold, and extending the validity of Blue Cards from 1 to 3 years. Sweden introduced new Blue Card rules on 1 January 2025 to attract highly skilled workers. These include lower salary requirement and contract length (from one year to six months), the possibility for people to change to another highly skilled job without applying for a new Blue Card, and a simpler process for those with a Blue Card issued in another EU country to obtain a new one in Sweden. Advertisement The revised EU directive entered into force on 27 November 2021 and EU member states had until 18 November 2023 to adapt the national legislation. As a result, the number of Blue Cards might increase in the future. In 2023, the most common nationalities of recipients were India (21,000), Russia (9,000), Türkiye (6,000) and Belarus (5,000). READ ALSO: Blue Card jobs, residence permits and prefixes - 6 essential articles for life in Germany
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
My partner and I moved from Chicago to Berlin because we were bored. We weren't expecting such a big culture shock.
Stuck at home in 2020, my partner and I talked about moving abroad. He started looking for a job in Berlin, and within three weeks, he had a job offer. We've been in Germany for years and, at first, we experienced culture shock. It took me 15 years and one month to move abroad. For the longest time, I had wanted to learn more about life around the world, yet I was overwhelmed by the idea of immigrating. There was so much to consider — 193 countries to choose from, languages to learn, and logistics to manage. I spent my 20s pining for a European lifestyle, even promising my cat that he would someday be a Parisian swinging his paw over some balcony ledge above the cobblestone alley. I learned Spanish, then French, and then I backpacked Europe for three weeks on a budget to visit the major cities I thought I might prefer. I labored over possibilities and preparations while taking absolutely no action. Fast-forward to 2020, when the pandemic hit. My partner of two years and I had no choice but to sit inside and talk about the future. The "what ifs" poured out. What if we moved abroad in the next year? What if we tried Germany since they issue 72% of the EU's Blue Cards (equivalent to US Green Cards)? What if my partner, who was an office worker while I was a startup founder, changed his LinkedIn profile to "searching for a job in Berlin"? And that's how it all happened. Within a week, my partner was invited to an interview. The next week, he had a second interview. The week after that, he received the job offer. Suddenly we were in Chicago applying for visas to let us move abroad while all international borders were closed. Then we were packing up the apartment we had moved into only a month before and saying goodbye to our friends and family over Zoom. On Inauguration Day 2021, we got on a plane headed toward Berlin. We haven't looked back. We landed in a temporary furnished apartment, where we spent our first three months getting oriented and organized. That provided a place to feel safe while we began rebuilding our lives and belongings. My partner began his job, I shifted my consulting calendar to Central European Time, and we began apartment hunting. Looking back, we struck gold with our apartment: We were first in line at a newly completed building and got our pick of apartments. We later moved to an even better apartment in the same building while simultaneously lowering our cost of living because of rent control laws. That compared with today's six-month average hunt and the cost of new rental contracts having doubled. This month, four years into our adventure, we adopted a cat. Welcoming him underscored that this new city is now truly home. The culture shock of moving from Chicago to Berlin has been, at times, hysterical. We had to get used to nudity fast — the world-renowned spas don't allow clothing inside the saunas. In summer one may happen upon a nude sunbather in the park. When I went for my first OB-GYN appointment, I was not offered a smock. We were also met with the incredible friction of German techno-bureaucracy. I was completely unprepared for the urgent need to have access to a fax machine in the 2020s. Paper is still king, including in money, and my partner (to whom I am married) is unable to pick up my packages from the drop-off center without a power of attorney signed by me. I counted my lucky stars that we were from a state that has driving reciprocity with Germany. Unlike in the US, one must also carry a separate ID card — a driver's license is only a driver's license. It must stay in its lane. Techno can be heard everywhere at all hours of the day. Locals love that I am originally from Detroit, the sister techno-city to Berlin. I internally cheered for the stout man dancing on a moving e-scooter down the main road with a Bluetooth speaker strapped to his belt. This city has also wrapped us in welcome. The universal healthcare system has relieved me of what used to be unknown ailments. I'm considering getting my doctorate just because it's free (aside from the 200-euro admin fee). It's been such a relief to no longer own a car — when I need one, I find one to rent on an app, usually parked right on my street. Berlin is well-known for its expansive green spaces. It's been a pleasure to find that they're the primary gathering places in the city. Even in winter, one can find barbecues and birthday parties congregating in the parks. All the work I did to prepare was unnecessary. I didn't speak a lick of German before we moved. I didn't go after a student visa. Packing to move abroad felt like moving apartments — keep some, give some, store some. Getting on the plane to move abroad could have easily just been for a vacation. Those parts felt simple. The 15-year anticipation was what was hard. Read the original article on Business Insider
