Working Permit

The EU Blue Card is a temporary residence permit for living and working in Germany

Who can apply for a EU Blue Card?
Nationals from all over the world – unless they are EU-nationals or citizens of Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Norway. Those do not need a Blue Card to live and work in Germany.

General requirements

Applicants for the EU Blue Card need:

• a German university degree or
• a degree comparable to a German university degree or
• an acknowledged foreign diploma
• an annual gross income of 45.300 euros. A lower limit of 41.041,80 euros applies to occupations where there is a skills shortage (such as natural scientists, mathematicians, engineers, physicians, and highly qualified IT professions)

Your salary must meet the threshold regardless of your working time model. Part-time positions are not calculated on a pro rata basis.
The income limits are valid for the year 2024 and are adjusted annually.

Visa application

Most non-EU nationals will need to get a visa before coming to Germany.
For a visa you must contact your local German embassy or consulate. The German Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) provides more information about who needs a visa and how to apply for a visa.

For a visa application you have to submit a foreign-employment form ("Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis"), completed by your prospective employer. 

After your Arrival: Residence Registration

Within one week of your arrival in Munich you need to register your address at the Residence Registration Office (called „Bürgerbüro“). You will receive a written confirmation of registration. This proof of registration is often required by other institutions or authorities.

EU Blue Card application

You need to apply in person with the following documents:

• completed application
• valid passport
• a recent biometric passport photograph (photo booth available at our offices)
• university degree or diploma (with a certified German translation and in some cases a formal acknowledgement)
• for applicants with a foreign university: a binding job offer. Your employer needs to fill out the form called „Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis (PDF, 970 KB)“.
• for applicants with a German university degree
• a work contract

Please note, that in some cases additional documents may be required.

If your EU Blue Card expires and you want to renew it, you need to submit the above mentioned documents plus a current proof of income (salary slips of the past three months) and a current proof of employment stating the type and duration of employment.

Validity period:

A EU Blue Card can be issued for a maximum term of four years.
If the job term is less than four years, it will be issued to cover the work contract period plus three months.

Please note: The Blue Card will expire if you leave Germany for more than 12 months. The same applies to your family members if their residence permit is tied to your Blue Card.

Fee:

100 euros

Change of Employer:

The EU Blue Card is tied to your employer. You need the Foreigners Office's permission if you want to change to a new employer within the first two years of your stay.

You can apply online for a change of employer.

This residence permit authorizes the holder to take up self-employed work

No permit is required for

• EU nationals, citizens of Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland or Switzerland and their family members
• holders of a residence permit which expressly allows to engage in gainful activities

A permit may be granted if the business activity

• meets special regional demands or coincides with overriding economic interests or is expected to have positive effects on the economy
• has a solid financial basis (sufficient owner's equity or a loan commitment)

Visa application
Most non-EU nationals will need to get a visa before coming to Germany.
For a visa you must contact your local German embassy or consulate. The German Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) provides more information about who needs a visa and how to apply for a visa.

After your arrival: Residence Registration
Within one week of your arrival in Munich you need to register your address at the Residence Registration Office (called "Bürgerbüro"). You will receive a written confirmation of registration. This proof of registration is often required by other institutions or authorities.

Residence permit for self-employed work
You need to apply in person with the following documents:

• completed application form
• valid passport
• a recent biometric passport photograph (photo booth available at our offices)
• detailed outline of your business idea
• details and time frame regarding the number of jobs and training positions to be created
• description how your business idea may contribute to innovation and research (where applicable)
• detailed curriculum vitae
  (please enclose diplomas, certificates and other evidence of your qualifications. Foreign documents require a certified German translation. In some cases a formal acknowledgement of your qualification is required.)
• references and description of your entrepreneurial experience
• documentation of the intended capital input, where necessary the amount of owner's equity (bank statements, confirmation of your bank) and the amount of borrowing (loan commitment)

Please note that in some cases additional documents may be required.

Holders of a settlement permit are entitled to permanent residence in Germany. While most residence titles are initially issued on a temporary basis (like the EU Blue Card), highly qualified professionals may be granted a permanent-residence status directly upon their arrival.

Non-EU nationals who are highly qualified professionals can apply for a settlement permit (a permanent right to reside and work in Germany) if they meet the following requirements:

• applicants are likely to integrate into their host country's way of life
• they have sufficient means of subsistence

Highly qualified persons are in particular:

• scientists with special technical knowledge
• high-ranking teaching personnel
• high-ranking scientific personnel

Visa application

Most non-EU nationals will need to get a visa before coming to Germany.
For a visa you must contact your local German embassy or consulate. The German Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) provides more information about who needs a visa and how to apply for a visa.

For a visa application you have to submit a foreign-employment form, completed by your prospective employer.

After your arrival: Residence Registration

Within one week of your arrival in Munich you need to register your address at the Residence Registration Office (called „Bürgerbüro“). You will receive a written confirmation of registration. This proof of registration is often required by other institutions or authorities.

Settlement permit application

You need to apply in person with the following documents:

• completed application form
• valid passport
• a recent biometric passport photograph (photo booth available at our offices)
• university degree or diploma (with a certified German translation and in some cases a formal acknowledgement) otherwise your employer needs to fill out the form called „Ausländerbeschäftigung“.
• a work contract
• evidence of special qualifications (for example scientific awards, international reputation, references of scientific institution or organisation, outstanding publications)
• proof of current expenses relating to housing:
  for tenants: rental contract specifying the size and monthly costs of your accommodation (including heating and additional charges)

for home owners: contract of purchase, documentation of monthly interest payments and maintenance fees

In some cases additional documents may be required.

Fee:

147 euros