True to its tradition as country of innovation and creative engineering, Germany transformed itself as a new heaven for skilled foreign workers – I call them economy miracle makers by introducing an attractive “Blue Card Visa”, following other developed nations. This opens up new vistas for brilliant young workers, highly qualified or experienced to come to Germany, known over the centuries as a perfection- oriented nation for manufacturing of machines, cars, music, art and culture. It has to open up its market to invite the best young brains who now rule the world. Let us learn the details of the promising new visa category to enable our youngsters to adorn the creative thrones of the above great nation. All information culled out or shortened to make it easily understandable with reference at the end, as usual.
Now into the details of the BLUE CARD.
What is a blue card?
The EU Blue Card (Section 18g of the Residence Act [AufenthG] ) is a special residence title for foreign academics and people with comparable qualifications who want to take up qualified employment in Germany.
What is EU Blue card requirements?
Presume I have a German academic qualification or a foreign academic qualification that is comparable to a German academic qualification, then it is fine.
Alternately, If I do not have a traditional academic degree, then I must demonstrate that I have a tertiary-level qualification that took at least three years to complete in order to obtain an EU Blue Card.
In Germany, this qualification must correspond to at least level 6 of the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 2011) or level 6 of the European Qualifications Framework.
Can I have some examples?
Examples of such training qualifications include “Master craftsman training / Master craftswoman training” as well as non-academic vocational qualifications in educator professions. Information on the equivalence and recognition of foreign academic qualifications can be found in the “Recognition” section of the web site.
If I have a job offer from Germany, then how do I gain?
You already have a specific job offer from a company in Germany. The job offer must meet the following conditions:
The period of employment must be at least six months.
The job must match your qualification (academic degree). If a licence to practise (regulated professions) is required, this must be in place or in prospect at the time of the visa application. Profession like a physician involves a long procedure to get licensing credentials and rarely good doctors from other countries come there for blue card. Germany must change with times if it wants to offer medical services to a large population.
Your job in Germany must enable you to earn a gross annual salary of at least €48,300 (as of 2025).
Some of the bottleneck professions with a salary level of minimum €43,759.80 (as of 2025) do get the coveted blue card.
What are the bottleneck industries?
Information and communications technology service managers
Professional services managers, such as childcare services, health services and education managers
Academic STEM professionals
Academic professionals in architecture, spatial planning and transport planning
Medical doctors
Veterinarians
Dentists
Pharmacists
Academic and comparable nursing and midwifery professionals
School and out-of-school teachers and educator
In fact, for one who is seriously interested to know the full list,
It can be found in Group 132, 133, 134; Group 21 21. Science and engineering professionals, as found under Group 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, and 216; Group 221, 222, 226, and 226.
Group 23 including 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, and Group 25 with 251 and 252.
I counted a total of 71 professions which badly need specialists to meet the demands of experts under blue card professions.
This badly indicates that Germany has woken up to need to have experts in various lines of excellence if it has to meet the requirements of 21st century.
Let me deal with EU Blue card for young professionals.
“The following applies to new entrants to the labour market: If you obtained your last degree or equivalent qualification less than three years ago, you can also obtain an EU Blue Card if your job offer includes a gross annual salary of at least €43,759.80 (as of 2025). This applies to entry-level jobs in all professions. The approval of the Federal Employment Agency is also required for the visa procedure.” (An obvious quote from the official web site)
What about the blue card for IT professionals without a college degree?
They need three years of professional experience at university level out of the last 7 years with a job offer of at least €43,759.80 (as of 2025).
Let me draw the procedure as laid down in the official web site to get the prestigious blue card.
The prescribed qualification of a college degree with German equivalence and salary expectations from a German employer has been given in earlier paras.
Now
Please consider: as rule, approval of the Federal Employment Agency (BA) will be obtained during the visa procedure (exception: EU Blue Card holders with a minimum annual gross salary of €48,300).
Make an appointment at the German embassy.
Then, ▫ Prepare the required documents: e.g. employment contract, passport, proof of recognized academic qualification, proof of work experience (if need be), visa application form. Please consider: as rule, approval of the Federal Employment Agency (BA) will be obtained during the visa procedure (exception: EU Blue Card holders with a minimum annual gross salary of €48,300).
Please consider: on their websites, the German embassies and consulates provide information about possible waiting times for appointments and any additional documents that may be required. Please inform yourself of whether you have the option of accelerating the entry process via the fast-track procedure for skilled workers with the help of your employer.
The next step.
Apply for a visa at the country of residence.
▫ Bring documents in their entirety. ▫ Fees: €75 (in local currency). ▫ Issuance of entry visa for qualified employment. ▫ Book plane ticket / plan journey to Germany. Please consider: processing times may strongly vary depending on the mission abroad and processing workload. Please find further information on the website of the competent embassy.
ENTER GERMANY
Issuance of entry visa for qualified employment. ▫ Book plane ticket / plan journey to Germany. Please consider: processing times may strongly vary depending on the mission abroad and processing workload. Please find further information on the website of the competent embassy. Please consider: in order for an entry visa to be issued, proof of valid health insurance coverage must be presented. After entering Germany, new health insurance must be taken out.
Apply for residence permit in Germany
▫ Register your home address in Germany at the Residents’ Registration Office. ▫ Book an appointment at the competent foreigner’s authority. ▫ Ask the foreigners authority for a list of the required documents and start the preparation. ▫ Apply for the EU Blue Card (Section 18g of the Residence Act [AufenthG]). ▫ Fees may add up to €100 (Sections 45 ff. of the Residence Ordinance [AufenthV].
Please consider: the application for the EU Blue Card must be submitted before the entry visa expires.
Now a note of caution.
This overview is a simplified representation of the visa procedure. The steps described are solely for the purpose of clarifying the application procedure for residence permits. Further details on the visa application procedure and information on important points of contact can be found at www.make-it-in-germany.com.
The above pointwise prescription from the web site of the official German authorities just gives a bird view of the current requirements. Needless to stress that very recently, after the failure of the current economic/educational/vocational situation in Germany, the authorities reluctantly changed the rules and be mentally prepared that the authorities will cooperate and if they behave like olden times, please show the required patience since Germany is in acute shortage of excellent professionals to compete, create, and complement the current economic scenario.
Though working in Germany is a privilege, it still needs the best talents from other parts of the world.
Now an interesting question.
What opportunities do the blue card offer to its holders?
The EU Blue Card is issued for the duration of your employment contract, plus an additional three months, and is valid for a maximum of four years. It is possible to extend the validity of this residence title in Germany if certain conditions are met.
After 27 months, EU Blue Card holders can obtain a settlement permit if they can prove that they have German language skills at level A1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). If language level B1 can be demonstrated, the settlement permit can be issued after only 21 months.
If you want your family to join you, it permissible and the required procedure to obtain the same is required to be followed.
If the spouse is not member of EU and a visa has to be obtained.
To apply for a visa for your spouse to join you, you will generally need to provide your passport and a wedding certificate or proof of a registered or civil partnership. Please do ask the German Embassy responsible what other documents need to be submitted.
Spouses arriving in Germany must register their new address at the Einwohnermeldeamt (Residents’ Registration Office) and then apply in person for a temporary residence permit for spouses joining their partners. Once a residence title has been granted, your spouse is immediately entitled to take up any kind of employment in Germany.
Changing jobs with a blue German card
Are you an EU Blue Card holder looking to change your employer in Germany? This is easy. You will be able to start your new job with a valid EU Blue Card.
However, if you change jobs within the first year of employment, you must notify your local foreigners authority of your new job. The foreigner’s authority will check whether you still meet the conditions for the EU Blue Card in your new job. If this is not the case, you may be granted another type of residence permit, such as a work and residence permit for qualified professionals.
How does one find the jobs in Germany?
From the heading “Find the job that suits you”, one can find the job title, skills or company name, federal state, and sector.
I found a large number of jobs (444) under It specialist and similar ones can be found in other sectors like Physicians, engineers (1460), scientists (89), transport (865) etc.
General observations
It is a must to know German language rather than English as the medium of communication, writing, drafting etc. Any EU state will observe the rules strictly and since the introduction of blue card visa has been given priority to increase the number of foreign experts/professionals, it is essential to have an aptitude to learn the country, its culture and well- established customs over the centuries for transition purposes.
Conclusion
In a world where millions chase American H 1B visas and get disappointed, Germany has taken a new leaf in its history, getting its blue card visa for foreign professionals popularized and enlarge its population.
Please do not forget that German Sanskrit scholar the respected Friedrich Max Müller, was a prominent philologist and Orientalist known for his work in comparative mythology, religion, and particularly, Sanskrit philology. In India, he did research in Sanskrit, brought many old texts into printing and his works serve as the reference point for thousands of Indian/foreign scholars who study India.
Please try and merge with the German culture by obtaining the prestigious Blue Card visa for a brighter future.
Reference
German official web site
https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/types/eu-blue-card
Caution
Please refer the web site for full information, approach the local German embassy for the latest advice/guidance and get a correct visa to start a new life in Germany. My article just kindles your curiosity.
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