National Visa - Updated Requirements For Blue Card 2023
The following group of applicants is affected by this update:
- Applicants for Employment Visa

There are different types of employment categories in Germany. The EU Blue Card according to Sec. 18b (2) AufenthG (German Residence Act) is a special residence permit for foreign academics seeking qualified employment in Germany. Please see our checklist here

To be eligible for a Blue Card, applicants have to fulfil certain requirements:
1.) A recognised / comparable foreign higher education degree ( for more information please visit www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de/html/en/index.php )
2.) A detailed job offer in Germany which is appropriate for their qualification
3.) A salary that corresponds to a gross annual income of at least 56,400 euros (as of 2022). For employees in the fields of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, engineering and human medicine (STEM), a gross annual salary of at least 43,992 euros (as of 2022) is required. In the last cases, the Federal Employment Agency must approve the application for employment.

The Blue Card holder enjoys more rights in comparison to other employment categories: for example, their spouses do not need to provide a German A1 certificate and their residence permit in Germany will be extended more easily.
However, from 2023 the required salary will increase.

Please check your employment contract!
Due to the recent changes, you you may not be meeting the Blue Card requirements anymore.

This could be relevant if your family members want to join you. If you do not fulfil the above mentioned salary requirements, your spouse will have to provide a German A1 certificate.

For more information on the EU Blue Card please visit: www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/types/eu-blue-card

Please note that this information does not pertain to Schengen visa applications.

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