Latest news with #EUBlueCard
Time of India
7 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Opportunity Card Germany 2025: बिना Job Offer के Germany में Work करें
वर्षा दुबे Authored by: • वर्षा दुबे Contributed by: | Navbharat Times• 16 Jul 2025, 2:45 pm Opportunity Card Germany 2025: बिना Job Offer के Germany में Work करें | EU Blue Card Requirements
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Skilled workers wanted in Europe: But is the EU's Blue Card attractive enough?
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 of 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? 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 then, 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. Related GenAI job postings rise across Europe: Which countries lead the way? Which career in Europe will reward you with the highest salary? '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. '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. 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). 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'. Related Which countries have the highest and lowest pensions in Europe? Defence sector outpaces overall job market in Europe amid rising security priorities 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. '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. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Skilled workers wanted in Europe: But is the EU's Blue Card attractive enough?
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? 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. Related GenAI job postings rise across Europe: Which countries lead the way? Which career in Europe will reward you with the highest salary? '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. '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. 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). 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'. Related Which countries have the highest and lowest pensions in Europe? Defence sector outpaces overall job market in Europe amid rising security priorities 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. '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
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.
Local Italy
02-07-2025
- Business
- Local Italy
What work visas can you apply for to move to Italy in 2025?
With one of the highest unemployment rates in the EU, Italy is well known for its labour market protectionism, safeguarding as many jobs as possible for Italian and EU workers. For non-EU nationals, that can make getting a work visa one of the main obstacles to starting a life in Italy: but that doesn't mean they're impossible to get. Here are some of the main Italian work visas available to non-EU citizens in 2025. Quota-based work visa (decreto flussi) Under Italy's quota-based visa system, the so-called decreto flussi, a set number of work visas for non-EU citizens are issued every year. In 2025, the government made 181,450 visas available, and recently announced it would release just under 500,000 between 2026 and 2028. That might sound promising, but these permits are allocated to specific industries, with most going to seasonal agricultural and hospitality work, the care sector, and heavy industry jobs. You need a prospective employer to apply on your behalf, and the quota tends to be massively oversubscribed, with spots running out within minutes of the application window opening on what's known as 'click day'. This all means it's very difficult to get a visa through the decreto flussi system, and most Italian immigration lawyers will advise you not to waste time going down this route. Italy's self-employment visa falls under the decreto flussi quota system. Just 730 visas Digital nomad visa Italy launched its long-anticipated digital nomad visa in April 2024, opening up an important new avenue for remote workers. Applicants must have an annual income of at least three times the minimum necessary to pay healthcare taxes in Italy (currently around €25,000), valid health insurance, a three-year college degree or equivalent professional experience, and proof of accommodation in Italy, as well as meeting other conditions. While immigration lawyers have said the requirements appear to be fairly lenient at face value, consulates have the discretion to impose their own additional restrictions, and one successful applicant told The Local that the process was like going 'through hell and back'. The digital nomad visa and all the visas listed below do not fall under the decreto flussi quotas. EU Blue Card Introduced in 2009, the EU Blue Card allows highly-skilled workers from outside the EU to relocate to Italy. To be eligible, you'll need a binding job offer of at least six months' duration from an Italian employer, an undergraduate degree, a minimum salary offer of approximately €33,500, and a professional qualification recognised by Italy. If you've applied for a job advertised by an Italian company that's open to non-EU citizens, this is likely to be the route through which you'll be entering the country. Your future employer will handle the application on your behalf, applying to the interior ministry for a nulla osta (entry clearance) that could take up to 90 days to process. Secondment visas One major exception is an intra-company or intra-corporate transfer (ICT) visa, through which your employer applies to transfer you to an Italy-based office or affiliate. An obvious drawback of this type of permit is that you need to already be working for a company that has strong ties to Italy and is willing to put in an application to send you there, excluding most candidates right off the bat. You'll need to have been at the company for at least three months to qualify. As of 2025, the permit is valid for one year or the duration of the transfer (whichever is shorter), and may be extended to up to three years for managers and specialists and one year for trainees. A new type of ICT visa introduced in 2023 allows non-EU citizens working for an Italian-headquartered company or one of its subsidiaries to apply for a transfer to Italy. There are other exemptions under Article 27 for university professors and researchers, translators and interpreters, foreign correspondents, artists and entertainers. Investor/start-up visas Italy's investment visa, sometimes described as a 'golden visa', gives non-EU citizens the right to relocate to Italy if they make a minimum investment of €250,000 in an Italian start up, €500,000 in an Italian limited company, €1 million in a philanthropic initiative, or €2 million in government bonds. Unlike other Italian visas, the investor visa doesn't require holders to become a full-time Italian resident. It is valid for two years and renewable for a further three. You also don't need to spend the money at the outset; according to Giancarlo Ostetto from the Italian office of Lexidy Law Boutique, 'the Italian investor visa is considered a safe option as you pay the investment three months after you get your visa rather than beforehand." The applicant must be able to demonstrate that they have €50,000 to invest in an "innovative" start-up, or €100,000 to invest in and join an existing Italian start-up.
