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Steps to obtain the EU Blue Card for Czech Republic

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The Blue Card (Modrá karta) is a real opportunity to get an official job in Czech Republic. It has many advantages in comparison with alternative employment options: a work card (Zaměstnanecká karta), it that has quite serious limitations; or a work permit (Povolení k zaměstnání), it has no future prospects.

Who can legally qualify for the Blue Card in Czech Republic:

  • Citizens of non-EU countries.
  • Those who have completed  higher education and the corresponding diploma. The minimal term of study is 3 years.
  • Those who have concluded an employment contract for a long term (at least one year).
  • The minimum wage fixed in the contract must be a minimum of CZK 47,828 (about US$2166 or €1831) per month.
  • The vacancy which is the basis for employment must be placed in a special state register.

It is possible to get the Blue Card in the Czech Republic only if all these conditions are met.

The Czech Republic is committed to making the Blue Card process as simple as possible. However, a few steps should be taken:

1. Find an appropriate job

The Blue Card is applicable to positions for which no suitable candidate can be found in the Czech Republic or in the EU.

Czech law not only regulates professional areas for Modrá karta, but also approves each of the potential vacancies. Simply put, the employer is obliged to approve all available jobs at the Employment Agency. And only if the Czech citizens do not apply for a position within 30 days, it is transferred to a special register.

Positions are listed at uradprace.cz website in the main list of vacancies suitable for Blue Card candidates. There you will find detailed information about each vacancy. 

2. Contact the future employer

The application for the Blue Card should be accompanied by a signed employment contract. Contact your employer and negotiate the terms and conditions. The employer’s contact details must be indicated next to the vacancy.  

3. File an application

The application for the Blue Card should be submitted at the respective representative office of the Czech Republic. The application form is provided at uradprace.cz.

In your application, you must provide the number and description of your vacancy. You will find the number in the job register or your employer will give you one.

Documents required for a Blue Card application:

  • A valid passport (known as “foreign passport” in the ex-USSR countries), the expiration must be at least 90 days longer than the validity period of the Blue Card;
  • 2 passport-sized photos of yours;
  • Documents confirming the high professional qualifications required for the selected position. Submit original or officially certified copies along with officially certified translation of these documents into Czech. You must also provide a certificate of recognition of your higher education in the Czech Republic;
  • Document confirming the accommodation during your stay in the territory;
  • An employment contract for a position requiring high qualifications valid for at least one year;
  • If your position is a regulated one, you must also provide proof of compliance with the working conditions.

You may also be required to provide:

  • A medical certificate that you don’t have any serious diseases;
  • A Certificate of good conduct.

The application fee is CZK 2500 (about €96 or US$113).

Attention:

In order to work as a medical professional, specialists who have not obtained a professional qualification in another EU member state must pass the qualification exam successfully. The employer will provide more detailed information. It can also be found on the Ministry of Health website: www.mzcr.cz. 

4. Come to the Czech Republic

You will be notified within 2 months if your Blue Card application has been approved. If so, the representative office will issue you a visa for a period longer than 90 days which is enough to obtain the Blue Card.

Before a visa is issued, you will be asked to show proof of health insurance.

Upon arrival in the Czech Republic within 3 working days from the date of entry you should:

  • Receive the Blue Card at a predetermined office of the Migration Service. You will pay a fee of CZK 2500 (about €96 or US$113) for issuance of the Blue Card;
  • You then have to register with the Alien Police Inspectorate at your place of residence. When registering, submit a housing security document.

While the Blue Card is being processed, you will receive a special certificate. With this document, you can start carrying out your work.

Steps to obtain the EU Blue Card for Germany

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How to move to Berlin or other citie in Germany?

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:

Toytowngermany.com

Germany.jobs.com

Jobsabroad.com/Germany.cfm

JobinFrankfurt.com

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;

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.