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Visa requirements for foreign professionals vary significantly across Europe. Effective November 1, 2023, the German government, under the Skilled Immigration Act, has lowered salary limits for immigrants and broadened opportunities for obtaining a Blue Card EU.
Similar to the U.S. Green Card, the Blue Card serves as a special residence permit for individuals with a university degree seeking to work as qualified professionals in Germany. Eligible applicants must fulfil various conditions, including demonstrating a minimum income specified by their future employment contract in the respective destination country and possessing a university degree relevant to their new position.
Gisma University of Applied Sciences has identified and compared the requirements for foreign professionals in EU countries. Prior to the reduction in minimum income threshold, Germany held the sixth position among 26 countries with the highest limits. Since November 1, 2023, ten regions now require a higher income.
Foreign professionals must earn 43,800 euros in Germany
To qualify for a Blue Card EU in Luxembourg, foreign workers must attain an annual income of 84,780 euros, positioning Luxembourg as the leader in this ranking. It’s crucial to note that both the average income and the cost of living in Luxembourg is ranked among the highest in Europe. Only Denmark and Ireland surpass Luxembourg in higher living costs; however, these two countries do not participate in the Blue Card EU program.
Similarly substantial income requirements are imposed on foreign professionals in Finland, where the threshold is set at 62,508 euros, as well as the Belgian regions of Wallonia and the Brussels metropolitan area, each requiring 60,998 euros. The Netherlands also has a high threshold at 60,096 euros.
The average requirement is 41,222.75 euros
With the new salary limit of 43,800 euros, Germany secures the 11th position out of 26. This places Germany slightly above the European average of 41,222.75 euros. In contrast, examining Bulgaria reveals a more lenient set of requirements, with workers needing only earn to earn an income of 17,735 euros to meet the admission requirement. Similarly, in Latvia, the financial threshold is not significantly higher, standing at 18,216 euros. Croatia occupies the third position with 19,289 euros, followed by Portugal with 21,030 euros, and Hungary at 26,425 euros.
Lower limits for shortage occupations
Additional exemptions extend to designated shortage occupations, characterised by a notable scarcity of skilled workers. This encompasses professions within the fields of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, engineering, and human medicine. In alignment with the adjustments for newcomers in these fields, the requisite income has been lowered from 45,552 euros to 39,682 euros. Comparable simplifications for qualified applicants are also available in other countries. In Latvia and Portugal, highly sought-after workers are only obligated to demonstrate an income of just over 16,000 euros.
Germany is cost-effective for application
In terms of the initial acquisition costs of a Blue Card, Germany stands out as relatively affordable, requiring applicants to pay only 110 euros in administrative fees. Germany shares the fifth position with Hungary in this statistic. Notably, only Slovenia (102 euros), Poland (94.59 euros), Luxembourg (80 euros), and Bulgaria (56.24 euros) boast lower fees.
Significant disparities become evident when examining the cost table’s lower end. For instance, the Spanish government charges the highest fee at 418 euros, closely followed by Finland at 318 euros. Belgium (358 euros), France (324 euros), and Greece (300 euros) round out the top five in terms of the most expensive administrations. “The new Skilled Immigration Act and the associated reduction in the minimum income for the Blue Card EU are definitely a significant step in the right direction. The old limit was above the average gross earnings in Germany – that was neither fair nor realistic. Ultimately, we are in direct competition with our European neighbors. The minimum income limits are understandably high in countries where the cost of living and average income are higher in European comparison.
“It is essential to send as many positive signals as possible to qualified individuals who can envision long-term employment within the EU. Such a decision entails significant effort for professionals and requires a willingness to undergo major changes. Therefore, it is even more crucial that potential applicants are not deterred by unnecessarily high hurdles,” commented Prof. Dr. Ralf Frank, Professor of Organizational Transformation at Gisma University of Applied Sciences.
Find all the results of the study here:
https://www.gisma.com/de/blog/anforderungen-zu-hoch-deutschland-verlangt-im-europavergleich-besonders-hohes-mindesteinkommen-fuer-auslaendische-arbeitskraefte
The Study
The conditions for obtaining a Blue Card EU in different countries were analyzed. Since Ireland and Denmark do not offer a Blue Card, they were excluded from the comparison. The data was obtained from the official websites of respective governments, and all foreign currencies were converted to euros. The cutoff date is September 20, 2023.
Gisma University of Applied Sciences
Gisma University of Applied Sciences is a state-recognized private university. Located on its campus at Jungfernsee in Potsdam, it brings together students and faculty from over 90 nations worldwide. In its twelve programs, the university educates students to become sought-after and high-performing talents for the global business world, focusing on management, leadership, data sciences, AI, and software engineering. Students learn from research-strong lecturers as well as top executives and founders. Particularly in the fields of technology and digitalization, Gisma focuses on training qualified professionals and leaders, enabling them to combine the knowledge areas of technology, engineering, and business in a solution-oriented manner in their professional lives. The university collaborates with a network of globally operating companies from the business and education sectors, such as Zalando, Ebay, and Vattenfall, and is a member of “SAP University Alliances.” Its goal is to provide innovative impulses to the economy and society by preparing students for management practice in a world characterized by constant change and increasing complexity. For this purpose,
Gisma University offers practical training through its “Hyflex Teaching and Learning Model,” incorporating both traditional physical learning places and virtual learning opportunities into its curriculum. All programs at Gisma are state-recognized and evaluated by the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA) and the Accreditation Council. www.gisma.com. Additionally, Gisma is part of GUS Germany GmbH (GGG), a dynamic network of university institutions with more than 15,000 students at locations in Germany, Europe, and beyond:
