EU Blue Card Requirements For Highly Qualified Workers 

Are you a highly qualified worker from India? Do you want to live and work in any EU member state? Then, you can apply for the EU Blue Card. The only condition is that you must meet the requirements. The EU Blue Card is available for highly skilled workers outside the EU, and allows you to stay for up to 4 years in an EU member state. Eventually, a Blue Card can even become a pathway for permanent residency in any member state. In this blog, we have covered the advantages of the EU Blue Card and its requirements, including salary requirements, in detail.

Requirements for EU Blue Card: An Introduction

An EU Blue Card is both a work permit and a residence permit. In simple terms, it means you can work and live in the EU. It is issued to highly skilled professionals outside the EU, including Indian nationals. If you have the necessary professional qualifications, skills, and an employment contract or a binding job offer with the required salary, you can apply for this. The requirements can be divided into 3 categories:

1. Eligibility Requirements (basic entry requirements)
2. Documentation Requirements (documents to be submitted)
3. Financial Requirements (the minimum salary you need, health insurance)

Which Countries Give the EU Blue Card?

Twenty-five of the 27 EU member states issue the Blue Card. The excluded countries are Ireland and Denmark. The 25 countries for which you can meet the requirements for the Blue Card and get the same are provided below:

1. Germany
2. France (including French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and La Réunion)
3. The Netherlands (excluding Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius)
4. Italy
5. Belgium
6. Sweden
7. Spain (including the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands)
8. Austria
9. Finland
10. Portugal (including the Azores and Madeira)
11. Greece
12. Hungary
13. Poland
14. Czech Republic
15. Bulgaria
16. Lithuania
17. Latvia
18. Slovakia
19. Romania
20. Estonia
21. Cyprus
22. Luxembourg
23. Malta
24. Ireland
25. Croatia

Eligibility Requirements for an EU Blue Card 

To apply for the EU Blue card, you must meet the basic requirements. Only if you meet these conditions are you eligible to apply. The requirements can vary depending on the country you are applying from. However, the general conditions are presented below:

1. You must have a work contract or a binding job offer for a highly qualified job. 
2. The job offer must be for at least 6 months.
3. Must be offered the minimum salary for the job. The salary must be equal to, but not higher than, 1.6 times the average annual salary of the country concerned.
4. Present documents to prove that you meet the qualifications for the job.
5. If the profession is regulated, prove that you meet the legal requirements
6. Proof that you have applied for a sickness insurance 
7. Assure that the job is real, and you are employed
8. Must have a passport, apply for a visa, and a valid residence permit (if required)
9. Must have arranged accommodation in the member state
10.  You must not have a criminal record or pose a threat to the public policy of the member state.

Documentation Requirements for an EU Blue Card

The documents for an EU Blue Card vary depending on the country. However, the general documents required for an application are presented below:

Document	Description
Valid Passport	Must be valid for at least the duration of the intended stay. Copies of all relevant pages may also be required.
Completed Application Form	The official EU Blue Card application form, filled out and signed. Each country may have its own version.
Passport Photos	Recent biometric passport-sized photographs that meet EU specifications.
Employment Contract or Job Offer	Proof of a job in an EU member state that meets the minimum salary threshold and is for at least one year.
Proof of Qualifications	University degree or equivalent professional qualifications relevant to the job. Must often be recognized or comparable in the host country.
CV or Resume	A detailed professional history highlighting education and work experience.
Proof of Health Insurance	Evidence of valid health coverage for the applicant and any accompanying family members.
Proof of Salary / Income	Employer statement or pay slips confirming that the offered salary meets the EU Blue Card minimum threshold.
Application Fee Payment	Receipt showing payment of the required processing fee.
Accommodation Proof	Evidence of a place to live in the host country (may vary by member state).

Also Read: UK Skilled Worker Visa 2025: Step-by-Step Guide & Latest Salary Changes

Financial Requirements for an EU Blue Card

The financial requirements vary depending on the member country. The main expenses incurred are the salary and health insurance. Besides these expenses, you must ensure that you have sufficient funds to support any dependents who are travelling with you.  Below, we have explained the salary and health insurance amount, as they are the main expenses.

EU Blue Card Salary Requirements 

As mentioned earlier, the salary varies. The salary you need can vary depending on the minimum salary requirement to work in a country. You must ensure that your job offers you a basic salary. Here we have provided the minimum salary requirements for some of the popular countries. Note: the table below showcases a general salary and a reduced salary. The reduced salary is for recent graduates or for those who are taking up jobs where there is skill shortage in the country.

Rank (Highest to Lowest)	Country	General Salary Threshold (EUR)	Reduced / Shortage Occupation Threshold (EUR)
1	Netherlands	68,256	54,612 (Recent Graduates)
2	Belgium (Flanders)	66,738	53,390 (Recent Graduates/Specialists)
3	Belgium (Brussels)	66,240	Lower threshold not explicitly found for Blue Card
4	Luxembourg	63,408	One standard threshold
5	France	59,373	41,386 (Medical/Pharmacy)
6	Sweden	58,423	One standard threshold
7	Austria	51,500	Lower threshold varies
8	Germany	48,300	43,759.80 (Shortage Occupations/New Graduates)
9	Finland	45,924	One standard threshold
10	Spain	42,977	34,381 (Shortage Occupations/New Graduates)

Health Insurance Requirements 

Obtaining Health Insurance is mandatory for a Blue Card. This is to ensure that you can take care of yourself and won’t rely on public funds. Irrespective of the country you are applying to, you need travel insurance. The estimated monthly cost for the same is provided below;

Country	Mandatory Insurance System	Estimated Monthly Cost (EUR)	How It Works
Germany	Public (Statutory)	450 – 700+	Employer and employee share the cost; the extra rate varies by insurer.
Netherlands	Private/Public	150 – 170	Basic insurance is mandatory; the employer usually pays part of the income-based contribution.
France	Public (Sécurité Sociale)	Included in Social Contributions	Health coverage comes from social security contributions; no separate premium.
Belgium	Public (Mutualité/Mutuelle)	100 – 150	Monthly fee goes to health fund; optional private plans available.
Sweden	Public (Tax-Funded)	0	Healthcare is financed through taxes, and patients pay only small fees for medical visits and services.
Luxembourg	Public (CNS)	Included in Social Contributions	Funded by salary contributions split between employer and employee; no separate premium.

How To Get a Blue Card from India?

You can get an EU Blue Card as an Indian citizen. In fact, according to the European Union, Indian citizens were granted the most Blue Cards in 2021! You can apply for a Blue Card to stay in any member country. However, do know that you will have to stay in the main country for 1 year and work there. Only then are you permitted to travel to other countries. The general application process is as follows:

1. First, ensure you meet the requirements for the EU Blue Card 
2. Gather the necessary documents and apply for a long-term visa
3. Attend the visa interview, pay the application fee, and wait for visa processing
4. You will be informed about the status of your application
5. Thereafter, go to the destination country and Blue Card residence permit at the local immigration office. This must be done during the first week itself.
6. You will get a decision within 90 days.
7. Get your EU blue card. Once you are a blue card holder, you can reunite with your family and bring them to an EU member state.

To learn more about EU Blue Card, watch this video:

EU Blue Card Validity

The exact duration of the EU Blue Card Dependents is totally up to the host country’s rules. In general, you are granted a Blue Card for 4 years. For example, in Germany. Netherlands, and even France. To understand the validity period better, you can go through the following table:

Duration Type	Standard Duration	Condition
Maximum Validity	4 years	Standard maximum duration for initial card or renewal.
Contract-Linked Validity	Contract Duration + 3 months	For fixed-term contracts shorter than the maximum, the card covers the contract plus 3 months.
Minimum Employment	6 months	The initial job contract must be for at least six months to qualify.

Also Read: Denmark Skilled Worker Visa: Types, Conditions, Documents & Application Process

The EU Blue Card is worth applying for. After all, if you get a Blue Card and you become unemployed, you are given 6 months to look for another job! You do not have to immediately leave the country. Those with EU cards and bring their family with them and even work in other EU member countries. To apply for a Blue Card, ensure that you meet the requirements. That is, you must meet the eligibility criteria, have the necessary documents, and the required salary to apply for this permit.

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