Continued EU Blue Card News Archive
2022
- DEC192023 Salary increase for Blue Card Germany
Employment contracts based on the EU Blue Card will bolster a salary of at least 58,400 euro. Salaries for shortage professions are set to rise as well.
- DEC1Blue Card holders in Germany can now apply for citizenship after only five years
In order to make Germany more attractive to foreign workers, an application for citizenship can now be filed much sooner and dual citizenship is to be fully supported.
- NOV16French level of unemployment is the lowest in 14 years
Unemployment fell from 9.5% in 2017 –Macron to take office - to 7.3% in Q3 2022.
- OCT28Austria allows for easier change of employer for EU Blue Card Holders
Those who have held an Austrian EU Blue Card for at least 12 months can change employers immediately upon filing EU Blue Card application related to the new employment.
- OCT5Salaries in the Netherlands significantly increased in September
Salary agreements included an average pay rise of almost 5%, the highest number since the 1970s.
- SEP15Hospitality and travel industry jobs have seen the biggest rise in the EU overall
EU economy grew by a seasonally adjusted 4% year on year in the second quarter of 2022.
- SEP1Requirements for employment in the Netherlands become more moderate
Highly Skilled Migrants from specific countries are allowed to work temporarily in the Netherlands while blue card application is in progress. The IND has to allow this explicitly in writing.
- AUG11EU Member States transpose the ‘transparent and predictable working conditions’ directive into law
Maximum length of probationary periods to six months; parallel employment made easier.
- JUL18Labour shortages in Europe offer trade unions valuable opportunity
Salaries are set to rise across the board because of the extensive nature of the labour shortages.
- JUN13The Blue Card Network platform is available in the Ukrainian language
Ukrainians are encouraged to learn about the great opportunities the EU Blue Card offers.
- MAY24Large number of apprenticeships left vacant in Germany
Recent data shows that tens of thousands of apprenticeships remained vacant during 2021.
- MAY3The employment rate in the European Union climbed back above 2019 levels
The share of employed Europeans has risen to 73.1% in 2021, up from 71.7% in 2020.
- APR14EU Blue Card to become easier available to persons with refugee status
Germany to allow refugees, who already hold a residence permit for temporary protection can later apply for an EU Blue Card, provided they meets the requirements.
- MAR16France unemployment hits 13-year low
France's unemployment rate fell in the final quarter of 2021 to the lowest level since 2008.
- MAR1The EU Blue Card is an EU work- and residence permit
Important to know: the Blue Card is available to all citizens of non-European Economic Area countries. It is designed to promote legal migration to the European Union.
- FEB10The minimum salary requirement for EU Blue Card Germany, for all professional categories, has not increased for 2022
By stabilizing the salary threshold EU countries make it more attractive for employers to elect foreign-born professionals.
- JAN4Poland saw an impressive increase in Blue Cards issued in 'pandemic' year 2020
According to Eurostat, the European Commission’s statistics office, the number of first issued Polish Blue Cards increased by 7% in 2020.
2021
- DEC8EU Blue Card Network Ambassador Program
Learn more about the incentive program that was launched to meet Europe’s increasing demand for skilled workers.
- NOV9EU economic output is seen reaching pre-COVID levels earlier than expected
Hospitality and tourism were battered by lockdowns and travel bans during the pandemic, but are now bouncing back.
- OCT19Poland's economy to expand by nearly 5% in 2021, says Prime Minister
'Additional budget revenues will reach approximately 17 billion Euro' Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters. Poland saw a 7% increase in granted EU Blue Cards in 2020 compared to 2019.
- SEP7Immigration is essential to Europe’s future
Statistics office Eurostat projects that by 2100, the EU’s population has fallen by 30 million.
- AUG10Europe leaves austerity behind with job-driven recovery
National recovery plans are expected to create at least 800,000 jobs by 2022 in the EU.
- JUL14The legal right to disconnect could become the norm in Europe
The right to disconnect says an employee should not be expected to respond to work communications outside of working hours.
- JUN16EU Parliament Approves Blue Card Reforms
More flexible admission conditions, enhanced rights and the possibility to move and work more easily between EU Member States.
- MAY26New EU Pact on Migration and Asylum features an improved EU Blue Card Scheme
More flexible admission conditions, enhanced rights and the possibility to move and work more easily between EU Member States.
- MAY12The EU economy expands and recovers strongly
Economic growth for the EU bloc is predicted to be 4.4% in 2022.
- APR23A record 28,000 EU Blue Cards issued by Germany in 2019APR6Romania was the fastest growing EU economy in 4Q2020
The GDP lagged by only 1.8% in Q4 compared to the same quarter in 2019.
MAR8EU Progress towards an improvement of EU Blue Card DirectiveThe aim is to better attract highly qualified and skilled third-country workers needed by the EU economy.
FEB2Expand your competencies with online coursesWatch lectures taught by world-class professors, learn at your own pace and reinforce concepts through interactive exercises.
JAN19You can travel to the European Union for employmentEmployment is considered essential by all EU countries.
2020
- DEC10Citizenship by Descent is a little known way to acquire a second passport
People who have ancestors born on EU territory may qualify for this program.
- NOV24On December 31, at 11 pm, freedom of movement in the UK for all EU citizens ends
Without an EU passport, UK citizens will have to follow the rules of travel that apply to all other third-country citizens.
- OCT22All EU countries issued more Blue Cards in 2019
Notably the Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic and France issued over 50% more than 2018.
- OCT22All EU countries issued more Blue Cards in 2019
Notably the Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic and France issued over 50% more than 2018.
- OCT1Holding an EU Blue Card is a solid path to EU citizenship
The common route to citizenship is called naturalization. Learn about the different ways to obtain an EU Passport.
- SEP7EU eyes legal action over Cyprus's 'golden passport'
EU commissioner for justice calls for changes to citizenship-through-investment scheme.
- AUG17Information on essential travel to Europe
Highly qualified third-country workers are considered essential and allowed to travel to the EU.
- JUL30Number of issued Blue Card reaches new high in 2019
The positive trend of steadily rising EU Blue Card grants continues, says BAMF Vice President Schumacher.
- JUL15Brexit update
UK citizens to face an increase in mobile charges when traveling to the EU after January 1st 2021.
- JUN29The United States suspends H-1B and L visas until the end of 2020
Temporary suspension of foreign work visas threatens scholarly engagement: Harvard.
- JUN22Blue Card Network announces a significant increase in employer registrations
'Increasingly European employers turn to us to find highly skilled professionals; diversity in teams increases productivity tremendously!'
- JUN08Working on the Blue Card is a route to an EU passport
Learn more about its significance.
- MAY19Europe loosens lockdown as virus cases drop
Dropping case numbers prompt Europe to reopen businesses, social life.
- APR24US President suspends immigration into the United States
European Union to surpass the US as the world’s main migration destination.
- APR20Europe starts to re-open
European countries start to relax their coronavirus restrictions. Gathering of people remains very limited. High caution remains warranted.
- APR02EU Blue Card Network Ambassador Program
As the world is fighting the pandemic, we work harder than ever to strengthen Europe’s economy. We need your help to achieve this.
- MAR16Please read Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public
Rest assure that our Network remains fully available. There is no interruption in the services and support we provide.
- MAR09These European regional job markets are thriving in 2020
Innovative regions with good digital infrastructure and educated workers are thriving. Blue Card Network identifies Kraków, Madrid, Amsterdam and Berlin in particular.
- FEB26The Maltese Blue Card is referred to as the Key Employee Initiative (KEI)
Additional rights granted to start-up entrepreneurs.
- FEB01Brexit. The Blue Card is projected to become available for UK citizens
Join the Network to connect to EU employment and the path to application.
- JAN30Skilled immigrants: an asset to Germany
A shortage of skilled workers and far too few applicants for job openings have become a problem.
- JAN15EU Blue Card Network Ambassador Program
In order to meet the increasing demand from European employers, an incentive program has been launched.
2019
- DEC20
- DEC6Large increase in foreign higher-education students in Portugal
Compared to 2006, Brazilian students enrolled in Portugal have increased by 540%.
- NOV14Due to its demographic profile, Germany needs high-skilled legal migration.
India, with its large young population and extensive higher education establishments, has the potential to fulfil some of its demand.
- OCT25The Juncker Plan has made major impact on EU jobs and growth.
European Investment Bank has increased EU GDP by 0.9% and added 1.1 million jobs compared to the baseline scenario.
- OCT1European Union unemployment at 6.2%
Unemployment rate in the European Union (28 countries) is the lowest since January 2000.
- SEP18
- SEP3Celebrating 10 years of connecting professionals to Blue Card employment in Europe!
The first candidate to register in 2009 was an Indian mining engineer; now a naturalized EU citizen living in Austria.
- AUG19Number of EU Blue Cards issued by EU countries increase with 30% (2017-2018)
Croatia saw highest increase in percentage, Germany in absolute number.
- JUL18Ursula von der Leyen is elected president of the European Commission
Political guidelines for the next European commission 2019-2024; ’A Union that strives for more’.
- JUL9Poland issued more visas to foreign workers than any other European country
Over 680,000 foreigners received legal residency in Poland in 2017 alone.
JUN25Germany passes new immigration lawFavourable changes for highly skilled foreign workers, labour market test scraped.
JUN5Over 27,000 German EU Blue Cards awarded in 2018.The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) announces an increase of 25.4% over 2017.
MAY7Employment rate of recent EU graduates reaches 82%!The employment rate of recent graduates in the EU rose from 76% in 2014 to 82% in 2017.
APR19Netherlands needs 50,000 foreign workers a year to keep economy runningForeign workers are sought to make up for shortages in the labour market, according to CBS figures.
APR 12Leaders of the European Union have granted the UK a six-month extensionMAR19EU Blue Card Network signs agreement with pan-European employment agency'Employment in Europe has never been more within reach for non-EU nationals'
MAR 15Merit-based immigration to be the new standard in the USAMAR11The European alternative to the U.S. H-1B VisaTake your talent to Europe!
FEB 18Shortage of highly-skilled workers in Europe is growingFinland, the Netherlands and Sweden are the EU nations most affected.
JAN17Brexit updateIf the UK leaves the EU without a deal, British passport holders will be considered third country nationals by countries within the Schengen area after 29 March 2019.
JAN8Frontex: significant decrease in illegal border crossingsEurope’s illegal immigration in 2018 is 92% below the peak of the migratory crisis in 2015.
