The EU Blue Card is a work and residence permit designed for highly skilled non-EU citizens seeking employment in an EU member state. To qualify for an EU Blue Card, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
1. Higher Professional Qualifications: Applicants must demonstrate that they possess advanced professional qualifications, typically through a university degree or equivalent professional experience.
2. Employment Status: The applicant must be employed or have a job offer for a position within an EU country. The job must align with the applicant’s qualifications and be at a level suitable for highly skilled workers.
3. Minimum Salary Threshold: The gross annual salary offered must be at least 1.5 times the average national salary of the country in which the applicant wishes to work. Certain sectors or positions might have a lower threshold, but this is dependent on the country’s specific rules.
4. Work Contract Requirements: Applicants must present a valid work contract or a binding job offer from an employer within the EU. This contract must be valid for at least one year.
5. Travel and Health Documents: Necessary travel documentation, such as a valid passport and proof of health insurance, must be provided at the time of application.
6. Regulated Professions: If the applicant's profession is regulated in the country of employment, they must prove that they meet the legal requirements to practice that profession.
Applications for the EU Blue Card must be submitted to the relevant authorities in the EU country where the applicant intends to work. Each country may have additional specific requirements or processes that applicants must follow.