EU Blue Card for Germany – Requirements, Documents, and Rights

The EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU) is a combined residence and work permit designed for non-EU citizens who hold a university degree and have secured a job that matches their qualification. For physicians, dentists, and pharmacists with a recognized diploma, the Blue Card is the most common and most advantageous legal basis for working in Germany. The rules were significantly relaxed by the reform introduced in November 2023.

Requirements

• A university degree recognized in Germany or obtained in Germany; for regulated professions (physicians), a professional license is also required – either an Approbation or a Berufserlaubnis.
• An employment contract or a binding job offer for a minimum of six months.
• An annual gross salary of at least €50,700 (2026), or €45,934.20 for shortage occupations – which include physicians – and for graduates who completed their degree within the last three years; the lower threshold also requires approval from the Federal Employment Agency. These figures are updated every 1 January (2025: €48,300 / €43,759.80), so always check the current amounts.
• Non-EU citizenship and no grounds for refusal (e.g., criminal conviction).

German language proficiency is not a requirement for the Blue Card itself; for physicians, it is required as part of the recognition process (B2 level plus the Fachsprachprüfung), and for other professions it may be required by the employer.

Required Documents

• Signed employment contract or job offer showing the corresponding gross salary, plus a copy;
• The "Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis" form completed by the employer, including a job description confirming that a university degree is required for the position;
• University degree, translation, and copy – or the recognition decision and professional license;
• Valid passport and two biometric photographs;
• Proof of health insurance;
• Completed national visa application (via the VIDEX portal) and a fee of €75; upon arrival in Germany, a further fee of approximately €100 is charged for issuing the card.

The application is submitted at the German embassy in your home country. Once you arrive in Germany, the Blue Card itself is issued by the competent foreigners' authority (Ausländerbehörde).

Duration

The Blue Card is issued for the duration of the employment contract plus three months, up to a maximum of four years, with the possibility of renewal. After 27 months of employment under the Blue Card with contributions to the pension insurance scheme, permanent residency (Niederlassungserlaubnis) can be applied for – or after just 21 months if the holder has German language skills at B1 level.

Rights of the Blue Card Holder

• Free travel within the Schengen Area.
• The same employment rights as German workers – including the same taxes and social security contributions.
• After 12 months, the option to move to another EU country that issues the Blue Card, through a simplified procedure.
• Change of employer: during the first 12 months, notification to the foreigners' authority is required; after that, the change is unrestricted.
• The right to attend an integration course in German.

Family Rights

• A spouse and minor children (under 18) may accompany the Blue Card holder upon arrival – the family reunification application is submitted at the same embassy appointment.
• The spouse of a Blue Card holder does not need to demonstrate German language proficiency in order to obtain a visa.
• The spouse immediately receives unrestricted work authorization, with no limitations on employer or profession.
• Family members are entitled to attend integration courses; the costs are largely covered by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).

For more information on documents required for family reunification, see our article Family Reunification in Germany, and for details on the physician diploma recognition process, visit our Anerkennung guide.

Sources: Federal Ministry of the Interior, make-it-in-germany.com, belgrad.diplo.de.

Are you a physician planning to move to Germany? We support you every step of the way – from diploma recognition and the Fachsprachprüfung to your employment contract and Blue Card. See how we work.