Germany EU Blue Card for university graduates 2026

The EU Blue Card is a residence permit for university graduates and third-country nationals with specific professional experience, designed to bring highly qualified workers to Germany from outside the EU. It is described by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), and there is a legal entitlement to it when the conditions are met.

You need a German or recognised foreign university degree, or a foreign degree comparable to a German one, and an employment contract or binding job offer of at least six months with a salary above a set minimum. As a university graduate you can in principle work in any qualified employment. Applicants living outside the EU generally apply first for an employment visa at the German mission, enter Germany with it and then obtain the Blue Card from the local immigration authority.

The card is normally issued for 48 months, or for the length of a shorter contract plus three months, and it can be extended. Holders benefit from easier family reunification, since spouses need no German and may work straight away, and they can obtain a settlement permit after a shorter period than other workers, which is reduced further for those who speak good German. The Blue Card also makes it easier to move on to another EU country later.

There is no application window: you can apply as soon as you have a qualifying job offer.