EU Blue Card
Currently, EU Blue Card (BC) programs are officially operating in more than 20 countries (UK, Ireland and Denmark refused to participate at the stage of signing the fundamental documents).
Historically, we have gained experience in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France ...
At the time of the adoption of the program at the end of 2012, the highest expectations were associated with the "German-speaking" countries - Austria and Germany.
Germany completely "lived up to expectations." The procedure for obtaining BC is strictly formalized. Despite the high level of wages, it is quite consistent with the level of payment of highly qualified specialists in the German labor market. Preferences created, for example, for IT professionals, have contributed and are encouraging the involvement of young ambitious representatives of the industry in the program. In fact, 100% of highly qualified specialists arriving to work in Germany are registered as part of the BC program.
Unlike its northern neighbor, Austria went a completely different way. As an alternative to BC, an RWR card system was introduced. From this moment it can be considered that the BC program in Austria has lost any relevance. Approximately 1,500 residence permits for highly qualified specialists are issued annually in Austria, and only 10% of them have BC.
BC in Italy is one of the most affordable options for obtaining a work permit and residence permit. The established level of wages - 25,000 euro per annum - has not changed since the decision to launch the program in 2013. In recent years, the bureaucratic procedure for processing documents has been greatly simplified. But do not flatter yourself. To become the owner of the BC in Lombardy, in the south of Italy or in Rome are processes that are very similar, but differ in predictability of the final result.
What is the reason? Due to the fact that in different provinces there is a far ambiguous attitude towards business. As a result, it takes two months to get a work permit in Milan, while in Rome it can take a lot more time. In the south, unfortunately, in a number of provinces there is still no experience and understanding about the issuing of the BC, as such ...
France, although it has succeeded in issuing the Blue Card (quantitatively and in comparison with its partners in the EU), but cannot boast that the BC is a really attractive program for foreign specialists, which local companies are hunting for. According to the mutual opinion of both workers and employers, the salary level of 55,000 euro per annum is simply overpriced, especially in the field of IT technologies.
A very curious situation has developed with the implementation of the BC program in the Benelux countries. In Belgium and the Netherlands, the program didn’t take root, in Luxembourg it simply has no alternative.
Moreover, the fact that the Netherlands is one of the leaders in attracting highly qualified specialists from third countries from year to year is important. For example, if in Germany about 15,000 specialists get a residence permit, in the Netherlands - 8,000, in Sweden - 5,000, Belgium and France - 3,000 each ...
In Sweden, the BC is not widespread.
Shortly about the countries of Eastern Europe. Romania, Lithuania, Latvia - almost all “introduced” the BC, but the flow of specialists is very small. The only exception is Poland ...
The European Parliament is currently discussing ways to improve the Blue Card program, but it is extremely difficult to say in what time it can happen.
For your information: we are engaged in drawing up of Blue Card in all EU countries.
