The EU Blue Card

What the EU Blue Card is

The EU Blue Card is a combined work and residence permit for highly qualified non-EU nationals. It is based on an EU directive, revised in 2021, that all EU countries apply except Denmark, which runs its own national schemes.

You generally need:

• a university degree of at least three years, or in some countries and occupations, equivalent professional experience (for IT specialists, often three years in the last seven)
• a job offer or contract of at least six months
• a salary at or above the national threshold
• recognition of your qualification if the profession is regulated (for example medicine)

Why it is worth having

• Family: spouses and children can join you, and spouses can usually work.
• Mobility: after 12 months, you can move to another EU country with simplified procedures.
• Permanent residence: several countries offer faster permanent residence to Blue Card holders. In Germany, it can be as fast as 21 months with B1 German.
• Job changes: after the first period, changing employers becomes easier.

2026 salary thresholds compared

Country	Standard threshold	Lower threshold (where available)
Germany	€50,700 a year	€45,934.20 for shortage occupations, recent graduates and experienced IT specialists
Netherlands	€5,942 a month	€4,754 a month for recent graduates
France	€59,373 a year	none
Belgium	Brussels €4,748 a month; Flanders €63,586 a year; Wallonia €68,815 a year	Wallonia €55,052 for juniors
Spain	€39,269.92 a year	€31,415.94 in specific cases
Sweden	SEK 53,625 a month	none

Thresholds change every January in most countries. Check the official source before applying.

Blue Card or national permit?

The Blue Card is not always the best option.

• In the Netherlands, the highly skilled migrant scheme has no degree requirement and lower thresholds for under-30s, so most employers use it instead.
• In Spain, the threshold is one of the lowest in Western Europe, and decisions for qualified people are usually quick.
• In France, the Blue Card threshold is high; graduates of French institutions may prefer the Talent "qualified employee" route.
• In Germany, the Blue Card is usually the best route for graduates who meet the threshold.

Applying from India

1. Get a job offer that meets the threshold.
2. Check whether your degree needs a statement of comparability (Germany) or recognition.
3. Apply for the national visa at the embassy or consulate, or let your employer start the process where the country allows it.
4. Collect the Blue Card from the immigration authority after arrival.

Quick answers