New EU rules to facilitate employment of highly qualified immigrants in Europe

The European Parliament has adopted the reform of the EU Blue Card to facilitate the employment of highly qualified non-EU nationals and help alleviate labour shortages in key sectors.

The Blue Card Directive, in place since late 2009, defines the conditions of entry and residence that third country nationals (and their family members) must meet to take up highly qualified employment in the member states. The new rules will now have to be approved by the Council before they can enter into force. Member states will then have a two-year period to bring their national legislation in line with the directive.

Under the revised rules, applicants will need to present a work contract or a binding job offer of a minimum of six months as well as evidence of higher qualifications or professional skills. Currently, a 12-month contract or offer is required.

The salary threshold for applicants has been reduced to at least 100 % and not more than 160 % of the average gross annual salary in the member state of employment (from the current 150 % minimum with no upper limit).

Beneficiaries of international protection, such as refugees, will also be able to apply for an EU Blue Card in members states other than the one where they received asylum or another protection status.

Holders of an EU Blue Card will be able to move to another member state after an initial 12-month period in the country that first granted them the Blue Card. They will also benefit from being reunited with family members swiftly through faster reunification procedures and access to the labour market for accompanying family members.

According to Eurostat, previously the scheme has not attracted enough of these much-needed workers, with only 36,806 Blue Cards issued in the EU in 2019. Most of them were issued by Germany.

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Press release