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EU Countries Announce Changes in EU Blue Card Salary

European Union Member States declared an increase in minimum EU Blue Card Salary 

EU member states have published new minimum wages required by EU employers to pay third country residents for their services. These same countries have implemented the EU Blue Card directive – and the threshold salaries have risen again. It means the foreign workers holding EU Blue card will be able to enjoy more earnings.

Germany, the main employer of third-country nationals for both shortage and non-shortage occupations has the increased the minimum wage requirement for applications and renewals for the first time as under:

  • Shortage occupations                   from  €43,056 to  €44,304 annual salary
  • Non-shortage occupations            from  €55,200 to  €56,800 annual salary

EU Blue Card is a so-called mimic form of USA Green Card, but here in Europe, you need to have 1.5 more wages threshold of a local German. This has especially been designed to attract highly qualified professionals from non-EU countries.

Relevant authorities in every member nation have asked employers to comply with the necessities for non-EU citizens to use the Blue Card scheme, starting January 1, 2021. The new earnings necessities affect those applying for the first time or renewing their EU Blue Card from 1 January. That’s according to a group of corporate immigration partners (CIPs), immigration attorneys, and legal professionals.

EU Blue Card Details and Requirements

All EU states offer EU Blue cards except Ireland and Denmark major requirements for the EU Blue Card of Germany are:

  • German or recognized foreign or comparable foreign university degree
  • An employment contract or a binding job offer (no restriction of having a job from shortage occupation list)

When it comes to the EU Blue card scheme, Germany stands alone for its astonishing benefits. Started back in 2012, the EU Blue Card visa has brought many highly qualified professionals to Germany. According to the latest statistics, alone Germany has issued so far 76,000 Blue Card visas. Indian has enjoyed it the most with one-fourth of the total followed by Chinese with 10%.

BEST FEATURES

Blue Card program is a merit-based system; interpreting a person with ‘merits’ as one who received adequate education or, through professional experience possesses sought-after skills. Though this program covers many features the best is that it is a non-points-based program to apply for. So you don’t need to worry about specific points lacking even if you have performed well in other CV credentials. The other best feature is that you can apply through two basic streams: with a high qualification or through professional work experience (ideally more than 5 years) with associate degree etc.

BENEFITS

  • Working and salary conditions equal to EU nationals
  • Freedom of association
  • Permanent residence perspective (it even gets you the citizenship)
  • Favorable conditions for family reunification
  • Free movement within the Schengen area
  • Entitlement to a series of socio-economic rights (e.g. unemployment benefit)

WHO CAN APPLY FOR EU BLUE CARD?

Luckily, there are no strict requirements for applying for this program. However, the following are the basic requirements:

  • You hold non-EU citizenship
  • You are educated or professionally experienced
  • You have an employment contract or binding employment offer (the salary threshold is really important)

IS PERMANENT SETTLEMENT IN EUROPE POSSIBLE THROUGH EU BLUE CARD?

Yes, you surely can. Each country has its own scenario for the application of PR or citizenship. But there is no doubt that through the EU blue card stream, you can get PR in a faster way. For example, if you pass 22 months in Germany on an EU Blue card, and have also had German-language B1 level cleared, you can apply for PR. If on the other hand, you don’t have German language proficiency, you can still apply for PR after having worked in Germany on an EU blue card for 33 months.

HOW TO APPLY FOR JOBS IN EUROPE

There are many job portals online that help you find a really good job in all European countries. But the best one right now is EURES. This is an online job portal basically designed for the nationals and citizens of all EU countries, but people from all over the world can also find here jobs, create a CV online, and contact employers. Click here to open the EURES JOB PORTAL.

How to apply for the EU Blue Card?

Once you get a job in the labor market of a country in Europe, you will have to apply in that country for a visa. We will give you here an example of Germany to apply for the visa. Having all required documentation met, you can apply for the EU Blue Card in the local German embassy or consulate. Many embassies work on the basis of a prior appointment. So contact visa sections of the embassies for the appointment (online appointment system available in most countries). There are 227 German missions abroad that could be reached here.

If you are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, and the United States of America, you can enter Germany on a visa-free basis and within three months can apply for a Blue Card subject to having a job contract.

You are given 3 months of initial visa that is converted into the EU Blue Card by registering yourself into ‘Ausländerbehörde’. At the time of application, you may need to present certain types of documents to satisfy the visa offer in order to get the visa. Which are: