EU Blue Card in 2021: who can get what are the benefits

Blue Card of the European Union is a document confirming the right of a foreigner to live and work in one of the EU countries. To a large extent, the blue card is a document that gives an immigrant from non-EU countries the same rights as a residence permit in a European state. However, the blue card is issued exclusively to established specialists in a particular profession. It is important that the profession is in demand and in short supply in the European Union. We are talking about professions that require higher education.

EU Blue Card, to a certain extent, is the European response to the American green card, which grants the right to reside in the United States. However, the green card is issued not only to specialists. The blue card is aimed at attracting highly qualified labor from abroad. To some extent, European migration policy echoes the goals stated by former US President Trump, who called for restricting access to the country for immigrants who require state assistance, and facilitating access for those foreigners who do not need such care. All developed countries are suffering from an influx of migrants who receive state benefits, and sometimes they live off of them all their lives.

If you meet conditions for issuing an EU blue card, it is easier to get this document than a regular residence permit. Terms for the permanent residence acquisition, and sometimes citizenship, are reduced. A foreigner who has a blue card of one of the EU countries for a year and a half can move to another state of the European Union and simply exchange his card for its local counterpart. In this way, the EU attracts migrants who contribute to the economic prosperity of this interstate association.

How to get a blue card?

The European Union is an interstate association operating on the principle of consensus. That is, when making general decisions, the interests of each particular State party are taken into account. Spain, Poland, Germany, Latvia and other EU members have different levels of economic development, different needs for labor and different lists of popular specialties. Therefore, rules for obtaining a blue card in each EU state have their own nuances. A blue card issued in a particular country provides its holder with a full set of rights, only on the territory of the state that issued the document.

Ireland and Denmark refused to participate in the blue card program. The specific rules for obtaining a blue card in the selected country should be specified on the websites of the migration departments of the desired state. Nevertheless, there are also general requirements for an applicant for a blue card of the European Union.

Requirements

There are three main requirements for applicants for the EU Blue Card:

Availability of higher education. It should be understood that not every education received outside of the European Union is recognized in the European Union. The candidate must have completed training for at least 3 years and have a specialist or master’s degree. It should be clarified whether the educational institution that issued the diploma is included in the list of universities whose diplomas are recognized in the European Union. There are few such educational institutions in the CIS, but you should not get upset. There is a process of nostrification of higher education diplomas of non-recognized educational institutions. In the process of nostrification, the diploma holder confirms that his education meets the requirements for his academic degree in the EU. The process of nostrification requires some time and expenses, but after its completion, the document on education will be recognized in the countries of the European Union. In some states, in addition to higher education, it is required to prove the established work experience in the received specialty. In some cases, the experience in a certain specialty can replace the diploma of higher education in it.
The presence of an employer who is ready to hire a foreigner. The search for an employer can be active and passive. It is better to combine these two methods. As a passive way of finding a job, you can post your application form on the websites of the migration agencies of the EU countries. The questionnaires of candidates admitted to such placement are actively viewed by employers. If an employee is found on such a site, you will not need to confirm that the employer was looking for local specialists, but could not find them. An active method of finding an employer involves viewing job ads, responding to suitable ones, conducting an interview and concluding an employment contract. When looking for a job, you can contact international employment agencies. On the basis of the contract, a work visa is issued, and upon arrival in the country, it can be exchanged for a blue card.
The established level of remuneration for the hired foreigner. In each European country, a fixed level of remuneration is established, below which an applicant for a blue card cannot receive. The figures in each country are different, but as a general rule, an applicant for a blue card must receive a salary at least one and a half times higher than the average salary in the country. This salary level must be specified in the employment contract concluded with the employer.

The list of scarce specialists in each EU state has its own. In general, they can count on receiving a blue card:

Employees in the field of education who have the qualification of a teacher or teacher.
Scientists, especially in the field of exact sciences and natural sciences: physicists, mathematicians, ecologists, botanists, zoologists, etc.
IT specialists in a wide range of specialties.
Medical workers who have the qualification of a doctor, in a wide range of specialties. Veterinary doctors are also in demand.
Legal specialists: lawyers, notaries.
Specialists of engineering specialties in all spheres of the economy. Architects are additionally required in construction.

Knowledge of the country’s language is not a selection criterion for obtaining a blue card, that is, you may not know the language. However, a high level of proficiency in the European language, and even better in several languages, significantly increases the chances of obtaining a Blue card.

Requaired documents

To the migration office of the selected country, the applicant for the EU blue card must provide:

Application form-an application for a work visa or other documents legalizing the stay of a foreigner in the country.
A certificate of no criminal record.
A detailed biography.
An employment contract with a local employer. The contract must be detailed and contain information about the position, work responsibilities and salary of the hired specialist.
A diploma of the received education, and, if necessary, a certificate of its nostrification.
A foreign passport that has a validity period exceeding the duration of the concluded employment contract.
Documents confirming the work experience.
Medical insurance policy.
Photo.
Receipt for the payment of state fees. The amounts in each country are different and vary in a wide range. In Cyprus, you need to pay 50, and in the Netherlands 881 euros.

The application review period is 12 weeks. However, often the answer comes earlier, after 8-9 weeks. Positive responses are published on the website of the migration agency. If the immigrant was refused, the employer is informed about this, and he already brings the answer to the blue card applicant.

What does the EU blue card give?

The blue card of the European Union brings its holder a wide range of advantages over ordinary immigrants to the EU. The most important advantages include:

There is no mandatory requirement for knowledge of the local language. In some areas of activity, for example in IT, it may be enough for specialists to speak English. However, if a specialist communicates with the local population at work by the nature of his activity, he will have to learn the language.
Equal working conditions with EU residents. The salary of certified specialists in the EU is high, while the minimum threshold of 1.5 average salaries is usually lower than the average salary in the country for specialists of this profile. That is, it is quite simple to fulfill the conditions for the required amount of remuneration.
At the end of the contract, the specialist can legally stay in the EU and look for a job within 3 months. If the card was issued a year and a half ago or earlier, the specialist can look for work outside the country that issued the document. When moving to another country of the European Union, the blue card will simply be exchanged for a local sample.
Opportunity to take your family with you. At the same time, requirements for education, specialty and language proficiency do not apply to the spouses of the card holder.
Blue card holders can travel freely in Europe. The maximum continuous period of stay in another EU State should not exceed 12 months.
Conditions for obtaining permanent residence are facilitated. After confirming knowledge of the local language, you can get the status of permanent resident in 21 months. Without such confirmation, you can apply for permanent residence in 33 months.