EU Blue Card

Highly qualified workers from non-EU countries play a crucial role in strengthening the competitiveness of the EU. Key sectors of the EU economy already suffer from specific labour and skill shortages that are expected to increase in the coming years. Therefore, the EU needs to attract more highly skilled workers in a world where international competition for talent is increasing.

In order to make the Blue Card scheme more attractive and relevant across EU countries, the Commission put forward a proposal for a new EU Blue Card Directive in June 2016 offering a more harmonised, simplified and streamlined approach. The negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament were successfully concluded by a political agreement in May 2021. The revised Directive entered into force on 27 November 2021.

Legal framework

The EU Blue Card Directive establishes the conditions of entry and residence of highly qualified non-EU nationals in EU countries. The related residence and work permit is called EU Blue Card.

More information on the key provisions of the EU Blue Card directive in the Summary of EU legislation – EU Blue card (for example eligibility conditions, length of validity, related rights)

• The EU Blue Card on the EU immigration portal

Objectives

• enable the EU to attract and retain highly qualified non-EU nationals and facilitate their access to the labour market of EU countries
• establish a fast-track procedure and common admission criteria for issuing the Blue Card by EU countries
• facilitate movement of highly qualified persons around the EU

Documents

• EU Blue Card Directive (2009/50/EC)