March 18th 2015 Germany This leaflet is issued by Apply.eu – Helping you further! The “EU Blue Card” is a single residence- and work permit. The permit is linked to the holder, not the job. Eligibility Are you a non-EU citizen? Yes: Are you in possession of a university degree? Yes: Will your annual salary be EUR 48,400 or more? Yes: Result: A work permit may be granted to you in the form of the EU Blue Card. No: Do you have a university degree in a MINT profession (mathematics / information technology / natural sciences/ technology) or as physician and job pays EUR 37,752 a year or more? Yes: Result: A work permit may be granted to you in the form of the EU Blue Card No: Did you acquire your university degree at a German university or did you graduate from a German school abroad? Yes: Result: A work permit may be granted No: Result: A work permit may be generally granted if the job is adequate to a university degree. Federal Employment Agency (ZAV department) must approve. No, I do not have a university degree: Have you completed a qualified vocational training programme of at least two years’ duration? Yes: Did you complete your vocational training in Germany? Yes: Result: A work permit may be granted No: Result: A work permit can in principle be issued to you if you practise a profession which is classified as a shortage occupation in Germany. No: Result: A work permit can generally not be granted. Source: Arbeidsagentur.de Disclaimer: No rights or claims can be derived from any statement or recommendation mentioned on this document. Issuer is not responsible for any errors and omissions stated in this document or any consequences there may be from acting upon any statement in this document. 1 March 18th 2015 Issuance Sometimes the blue card may be issued directly by the German mission abroad, E.g. German consulate in India. Commonly, one requests an employment visa with the German consulate, travels to Germany and request the EU Blue Card (the work- and residence permit) with the regional foreigners office (München, berlin, Cologne, hamburg) before the visa expires. Nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand and the United States do not require an employment visa to enter Germany. Duration of validity EU Blue Card law says the blue card is issued for a term of at least one year and a job contract corresponding to a minimum of such a term. However, no proof was found that this minimum job contract term is also utilized by Germany. The EU blue card Germany is issued for the maximum term of four yours of the employment contract, plus an extra three months. The term can be extended. Changing jobs In the first two years employment, authorization needs to be acquired from the immigration services to change jobs. In case of unemployment, the blue card remains valid for three months enabling the holder to find a new job. The EU Blue Card holder shall communicate the beginning of the period of unemployment to the competent authorities of the Member State of residence, in accordance with the relevant national procedures. Recognition of qualifications Diploma recognition is required for regulated professions, e.g. doctors, lawyers, and it is required if your qualification is non-Academic. Alternatively, it is the employer who may require a recognition procedure. Guide to recognition in Germany. Key advantages of blue card Germany to holder: - - Permanent residency after 33 months. If you can prove that your acquired language skills comply with level B1 of the Common European Reference Framework for Languages (CEFR), you can obtain your permanent residence permit after just 21 months. Immediate family reunification: spouse and siblings (under 18) may join. Spouse has access to labour market. Stay in non-EU countries for up to 12 consecutive months without your blue card expiring. This provision also includes family members. Sources: http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/working/five-steps-to-working-in-germany/visaapplication/http://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Meldungen/DE/2012/20120801-blaue-karte-eu.html Nationale Kontaktstelle (Blaue Karte EU) Frankenstraße 210 90461 Nürnberg Telefon: +49 911 943-4726 Blaue-Karte@bamf.bund.de Disclaimer: No rights or claims can be derived from any statement or recommendation mentioned on this document. Issuer is not responsible for any errors and omissions stated in this document or any consequences there may be from acting upon any statement in this document. 2