What are the requirements for a Blue Card in Germany?
February 6, 2023 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Friedhelm Wagner
Dear lawyer,
my name is Laura Rademacher and I am seeking information about the requirements for a Blue Card in Germany. I am a qualified professional from abroad and have received an attractive job offer in Germany. Now I am facing the challenge of understanding and implementing the necessary steps to apply for a Blue Card.
Currently, I am still in my home country and would like to know the specific requirements I need to meet in order to obtain a Blue Card in Germany. I have already gained experience in my field of expertise and have a university degree recognized in Germany. However, I am unsure if I also need to meet the other criteria for the Blue Card and if there are any particularities I should be aware of.
My biggest concern is that I could encounter problems during the application process for the Blue Card due to unclear information or missing documents. Therefore, it would be very helpful for me if you could provide me with a detailed overview of the requirements for the Blue Card in Germany and suggest possible solutions if I do not yet meet all the requirements.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Laura Rademacher
Dear Mrs. Rademacher,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the requirements for a Blue Card in Germany. I would be happy to provide you with all the relevant information on this topic so that you can prepare optimally for the application process.
The Blue Card is a residence permit for highly qualified professionals from third countries who wish to work in Germany. To apply for a Blue Card, you must meet certain requirements. First and foremost, your university degree must be recognized in Germany. This can be done through the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) or the relevant professional recognition office. Furthermore, you must be able to provide a specific job offer in Germany that matches your qualifications and offers a sufficient salary.
The salary you must earn to qualify for the Blue Card varies depending on the field of work. In general, it is at least 55,200 euros gross per year (as of 2021). For shortage occupations, such as those in the fields of natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, and IT, the minimum salary is 43,056 euros gross per year.
You must also have sufficient knowledge of German to navigate everyday life in Germany. This is typically demonstrated through a language proficiency test at level B1. However, there are exceptions for certain professions where German is not mandatory.
If you meet all of these requirements, you can apply for a Blue Card at the relevant Foreigners' Registration Office. Your documents will be reviewed there, and ideally, you will receive your Blue Card within a few weeks.
If you do not yet meet all the requirements, there may be alternative ways to work in Germany. In this case, it may be helpful to seek advice from an experienced lawyer specializing in immigration law to discuss individual solutions.
I hope this information is helpful to you and wish you success in applying for your Blue Card.
Best regards,
Friedhelm Wagner
Lawyer specializing in immigration law
