Compared to other EU countries, the Blue Card program is most widely used in Germany, that entered the program in 2012. Specialists from China, India, Russia, Ukraine and Syria use the Blue Card to move to Germany to work.
Who is eligible to obtain the Blue Card in Germany?
Germany conducts a careful selection of candidates, which allows only highly qualified workers to be selected. The applicant must meet the following requirements:
- A higher education recognized in Germany;
- A contract with a German employer;
- Annual income exceeding EUR €55,200 (amount revised annually);
- The proposed vacancy should correspond to the profession received in the university.
If any requirement is not met, it is impossible to obtain the visa to Germany.
Step 1: Recognition of your higher education for the Blue Card in Germany
A prerequisite for obtaining the Blue Card is a higher education diploma. It must be recognised in Germany, and there are the following criteria:
- Education was obtained in a state-accredited university;
- It matches the educational programmes and periods of study with those of Germany;
- The profession requires a higher education (some professions do not require it).
You can check whether your diploma is valid in Germany on the Anabin web-site. The database includes all educational institutions worldwide, and the correspondence of their diplomas to German is also indicated.
If your university or profession is not on Anabin’s list, you will need to complete a diploma validation process. At www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de you will find information on what to do and where to apply. You may be advised to seek recognition of your diploma and proof of qualification from one of the authorized organizations.
Step 2: A contract with an employer
To qualify for the Blue Card, a foreigner must first find a job on their own. It is necessary to conclude an employment contract or obtain guarantees from the company where the person wants to get a job.
To facilitate the search, you need to use special resources, where the list of current job vacancies is constantly updated. It is also necessary to deal with potential employers, explaining to them that the Blue Card makes migration easier for both you and them.
You should start with a CV (or Lebenslauf in German). Ideally it should be written in German, but not necessarily. It should include a photo, preferably in business style and with a smile. While the CV can still be provided in English, the cover letter should be written in German (with very few exceptions, when the company is international and the text of the vacancy is in English). The letter usually indicates which vacancy you are applying for, why you match this position, as well as the expected annual salary (gross, i.e. before taxes).
It is worth getting a Job seeker visa to respond to vacancies more quickly. In this case, the candidate can attend the job interviews in person, and it is possible to raise the level of German to the required level. However, when looking for a job, you should remember that the contract should require a specialist’s higher education.
Job portals in Germany:
Monster.de – the most popular search engine for jobs;
Xing.com – a professional social network like LinkedIn, but more popular in Germany than the latter. If you are looking for a job in Germany, be sure to register at Xing.com and fill out your profile as best you can;
LinkedIn.com – there is the highest probability of finding an English-speaking company;
Other sites include:
Step 3: Minimum wage limits
A specialist can qualify for the Blue Card if their annual income exceeds EUR €55,200. However, there is a list of preferential specialties where the minimum amount starts from €43,056. This list includes IT specialists, scientists, mathematicians, engineers, doctors and designers. To obtain the Blue Card, you must send your documents for inspection to the department of the local German Labour department. There they will check if the person is a German resident. If there are no other applicants, the Blue Card will be issued.
Step 4: Checking that the vacancy corresponds to the degree
The position stated in the contract and the specialization in the diploma must be the same. If they don’t match there are no clear criteria in the law, and the decision in each case is made by an official. For example, a physician-therapist may be employed as an assistant doctor in the neurology department, while a machine engineer may be accepted by an assistant engineer. To increase your chances of getting the Blue Card, you can deal with your employer to supplement the contract with duties that relate to your profession.
Applying for a German work visa
First, migrants are issued with a national German visa D for up to six months. Then in Germany a person applies for a residence permit. The Blue Card is valid for up to 4 years, but it is usually issued for the duration of the employment contract. In case of successful employment after 33 or 21 months, the person receives a permanent residence permit, after which the level of bureaucracy when changing jobs significantly reduces.
Required documents:
- Official translation of the diploma into German;
- Verification proof for the diploma;
- CV translated into German;
- Employment contract;
- Employment record book with translation;
- Medical insurance, at least for the first days of your stay;
- Passport size photos for a national German visa type D;
- Other documents upon request of officials.
Important notice
If a person with the Blue Card is fired, they can stay in Germany for up to 3 months. This condition, however, applies if there are sufficient funds for residence. Unemployment allowance is paid only if the employee has been making continuous social security contributions for 12 months.