Working In Austria: German Blue Card Opportunities

The EU Blue Card is a residence and work permit for third-country nationals who want to live and work in Austria for longer than six months. It is a good option for those who want to work in Austria and already have a binding job offer from an Austrian company. The job offer must be for a minimum of six months and the salary must be at least €47,855 per year. The card is valid for two years and is also available to those who are entitled to asylum or subsidiary protection in Austria.

If you have held an EU Blue Card in another EU member state for at least 12 months, you can travel to Germany without a visa for work and stay there under certain conditions.

Requirements for a German Blue Card

The German EU Blue Card is a residence and work permit for non-EU nationals who want to work in Germany in skilled positions. Here are the requirements for obtaining a German Blue Card:

Academic and Professional Qualifications

To be eligible for a German Blue Card, you must have a higher education degree from a German university or a university recognized by Germany. Certain professions, such as health, law, teaching, and engineering, are regulated, so you must have your degree recognized by the relevant authority for your profession. This can be done through the "Recognition in Germany" portal.

Job Offer

You must have a concrete job offer from a German employer that matches your qualifications. The period of employment must be for at least six months, and the job offer must include a gross annual salary of at least €45,300 (as of 2024). If you are employed in a "bottleneck profession", such as management or academic STEM, you can obtain a Blue Card with a lower gross annual salary of at least €41,041.80.

Salary

Your salary must be at least 1.5 times the national average, which is €45,300 per year as of 2024. If your salary is lower than €41,041.80 per year, you must seek approval from the German Federal Employment Agency.

Documents

To apply for a German Blue Card, you will need to submit various documents, including your valid passport, a recent biometric picture, your employment contract, an application form for a residence permit, and proof of health insurance. If your profession requires a license to practise, you will also need to provide an occupation practice permit.

Visa

If you live outside the EU, you will generally need to obtain a visa for gainful employment from the competent German diplomatic mission before entering Germany. After entering the country, you must apply to the local immigration authority for the EU Blue Card.

Family Members

If you plan to bring your immediate family members to Germany, they can join you with a German family reunion visa. They will be able to enjoy the same healthcare, education, and social benefits as you and can pursue education and work in any occupation.

Application process for a German Blue Card

The German EU Blue Card is a residence and work permit for non-EU nationals with a university education who will work in skilled positions in Germany. To be eligible, you must have a job offer with a salary that is higher than the national average.

Step 1: Check Eligibility

Before starting the application process, ensure that you meet the following criteria:

• You have a German academic qualification or a foreign academic qualification that is comparable to a German academic qualification.
• You have a specific job offer from a company in Germany for at least six months.
• Your job offer matches your qualifications.
• Your salary will be at least €45,300 per year (as of 2024). If you work in a profession considered "in shortage", this minimum salary may be lowered to €41,041.80 per year (as of 2024).

Step 2: Collect Required Documents

The following documents are typically required for the German Blue Card application:

• Valid passport.
• Recent biometric picture (35mm x 45mm).
• Employment contract.
• Application form for a residence permit.
• Declaration on the employment relationship, if required.
• Residence registration in Germany.
• University or college degree.
• Recognition of your degree by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB), if needed.
• Proof of health insurance.
• Occupation practice permit, if required for your occupation.

Step 3: Submit Application

You can submit your German Blue Card application at the German embassy or consulate in your home country. If there is no German embassy in your country, you may need to travel to a neighbouring country for the application. The application process typically includes:

• Setting up a visa appointment.
• Collecting and submitting the required documents.
• Submitting the visa application and paying the associated fee.
• Attending an interview, if required.

Step 4: Wait for Decision

The decision on your visa application can take between one to three months. If your visa application is successful, you will receive a visa that allows you to enter Germany.

Step 5: Register Your Residence and Obtain German Health Insurance

Once you arrive in Germany, you will need to register your residence, obtain German health insurance, and open a bank account.

Step 6: Submit Blue Card Application

After settling your residence, banking, and health insurance, you can submit your German Blue Card application at the Ausländerbehörde (German Foreigner's Authority). The processing time for the Blue Card application is typically between five to six weeks.

Step 7: Start Working

Once you have received your German Blue Card, you can start working for your German employer.

Austrian work permits

The EU Blue Card is a residence and work permit for third-country nationals who want to live and work in Austria for longer than six months. It is a valid form of identification and includes the name, date of birth, nationality, photo, expiry date, and name of the employer of the holder.

The EU Blue Card is not valid indefinitely. It is issued for a maximum period of two years and binds the holder to a specific employer. To be eligible, you must have completed a university programme lasting at least three years or have gained at least three years of relevant job experience in the IT industry within the last seven years. Additionally, you must have a binding job offer from a company in Austria with a gross annual salary of at least €47,855 in 2024.

If you are already an EU Blue Card holder in another EU member state, you can travel to Austria visa-free for work under certain conditions. However, you will still need to submit an application for an EU Blue Card in Austria.

After holding an EU Blue Card and working in a job that matches your qualifications for at least 21 months during the previous 24 months, you may apply for a Red-White-Red Card Plus. This entitles you to fixed-term settlement and unrestricted employment, meaning you can change employers without applying for a new permit.

German work permits

In Germany, all persons who wish to seek employment must obtain a residence permit in the form of a visa. German work visas are available to qualified foreigners, and they allow their holders to enter and work in Germany for up to two years, with the possibility of extending the visa and later applying for an EU Blue Card or other residence permits.

There are several types of long-stay visas available for those seeking to work in Germany. These include:

• Employment: If you already have a job offer in Germany.
• Self-Employment: If you wish to establish a business in Germany or work as a freelancer.
• Working as a Freelancer: For independent professionals aiming to work in Germany.
• Jobseeker: If you wish to look for a job while in Germany.
• Working Holiday Visa: For youngsters of several countries that have signed a Working Holiday Visa agreement with Germany.
• Opportunity Card: If you don't have a job offer, this card allows you to live in Germany for up to a year to look for work, with options for part-time or trial jobs.

The categories eligible to apply for a German Employment Visa are:

• Highly qualified foreigners, including researchers with special technical knowledge and teaching or scientific personnel in prominent positions.
• Intra-corporate transferees.
• Third-world country nationals with a university degree or a non-academic vocational qualification, provided there is a shortage of skilled workers in the profession, they have a concrete job offer, and their education is recognised as equivalent to a German degree.

The step-by-step application process for a German Work Visa is as follows:

• Get a job offer in Germany.
• Check if you need a visa for long stays.
• Find out where you need to submit your visa application.
• Collect all the required documents according to the instructions.
• Make an appointment for a visa interview.
• Pay the German Employment Work Visa fee.
• Attend the interview.
• Wait for a response on your visa application.

Required documents for a German Employment Visa include:

• Two fully completed application forms.
• Two passport photographs.
• A valid national passport.
• Proof of residence.
• Health insurance.
• An employment contract or binding job offer with details of gross annual salary and a detailed description of the employment in Germany.
• Approval by the Federal Employment Agency (if applicable).
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Proof of Qualification (diplomas, certificates, etc.).
• A personal employment visa cover letter explaining the exact purpose and duration of the stay.
• Proof of a clean criminal record.
• Proof of paid visa fee.
• Declaration of Accuracy of Information.

You should apply for a German Employment Visa at the representative body of Germany in your country of residence responsible for visa admission. This could be a Visa Application Centre, a German embassy or consulate in a neighbouring country, or the embassy or consulate of another country located in your country of residence to which Germany has outsourced visa admissions.

The EU Blue Card is a combined residence and work permit targeting well-qualified third-country nationals who want to reside and work in Austria for longer than six months. It is based on the European Blue Card Directive and is valid for up to two years, binding the holder to a specific employer.

To be eligible for an EU Blue Card, you must have:

• Completed a course of study at a university or other tertiary educational institution with a minimum duration of three years (exceptions are made for IT professionals, who need only to prove at least three years of relevant professional experience).
• Received a binding job offer for at least six months in Austria, with a salary that meets the legally stipulated minimum.
• Passed a labour market test showing that there are no equally qualified workers registered as job seekers for the position.

The EU Blue Card does not require a points system, and it allows holders to work self-employed in addition to their main employment. It also enables family immigration and provides advantages for those applying for a Long-Term Resident EU permit after residing in Austria for five years.

Can I work in Austria with a German Blue Card?

The EU Blue Card is a residence and work permit for third-country nationals who want to work in Austria for longer than six months. It is not clear whether holding a German EU Blue Card would allow you to work in Austria. However, if you have held an EU Blue Card in any EU member state for at least 12 months, you can travel to Germany visa-free for work and stay there under certain conditions.

To obtain an EU Blue Card in Austria, you must have completed a course of study at a university or other tertiary educational institution with a minimum duration of three years. Alternatively, for jobs in the IT sector, proof of at least three years of relevant professional experience is sufficient if this experience was gained within the seven years prior to the submission of the application. You must also have a binding job offer for at least six months in Austria, earning at least the average gross annual income of full-time employees (in 2024, this was €47,855).

The EU Blue Card is issued in the form of a check card and includes the name, date of birth, nationality, photo, validity period, and name of the company where the individual will be employed. It is valid for 24 months and entitles you to fixed-term settlement and employment with a specific employer. It is possible to work self-employed if this additional employment is subsidiary to your main employment and all other legal requirements are fulfilled.

If you have held an EU Blue Card for two years, you may apply for a Red-White-Red Card Plus, provided you were employed in accordance with the eligibility criteria for at least 21 months during the preceding 24 months. The Red-White-Red Card Plus entitles you to fixed-term settlement and unlimited labour market access (not limited to a specific employer).

Frequently asked questions