EU Blue Card: unlocking opportunities
The EU Blue Card, governed by the Directive 2009/50/EC and updated through Directive 2021/1883, serves as a work and residence permit specifically for highly qualified non-EU/EEA nationals. Created to attract skilled talent to fill labour shortages within the EU, the Blue Card framework facilitates a streamlined, attractive path for qualified third-country nationals to live and work in EU Member States. Applicants must present a valid work contract, or a binding job offer of at least one year’s duration in the relevant Member State, ensuring alignment with the high-skill employment criteria.
The directive offers extensive socio-economic rights to Blue Card holders, including comprehensive residence rights and potential pathways to long-term residency and mobility within the EU. Although the directive is mandatory for all EU member states, implementation can vary significantly based on each country’s labour market needs and immigration policies. While some Member States have integrated the Blue Card framework robustly to attract skilled workers, others apply it selectively, reflecting national priorities and demand in specific high-skill sectors. 25 out of the 27 member states have incorporated, to some extent, the directive, excluding Denmark and Ireland.
The 2021 recast has introduced new data requirements for Member States, applicable from the 2024 reference year, to enhance tracking and reporting on the impact and uptake of the Blue Card system across the EU.
In 2023, a record 89,037 EU Blue Cards were issued to non-EU citizens, reflecting an 587% increase from 2013 (12,964 in 2013 and 89,037 in 2023). Germany accounted for the majority of these, issuing 69,353 cards, or 78% of the total. Other significant issuers included Poland (7,402 cards), France (3,912), and Lithuania (1,710). In contrast, some countries had notably low issuance rates, with Greece, Portugal, and Estonia each issuing fewer than 30 cards, and Cyprus issuing none. These variations highlight the diversity in implementation and uptake across EU Member States.
