EU Blue Card cases, from offer letter to residence card
The EU Blue Card is a residence and work permit for university-educated hires with a salary above a national threshold. Germany issues most of them. Vistolane runs the employer's side and the applicant's side on one case, with a verified partner in the destination country.
Germany
How Vistolane handles EU Blue Card
Vistolane does not file this case itself. It brings the employer, the agency, the applicant and the Vistolane team onto one application in VIMS, prepares the file with the Immigration Language Model, and an enrolled licensed specialist reviews and signs.
Tourist and student visas are processed by Vistolane directly. See all tracks and per-file rates on the support services and pricing pages. Pricing
What this case involves
Each EU state sets a salary threshold every year (Germany: about EUR 48,300 in 2025, lower for shortage occupations and recent graduates). The applicant needs a recognised university degree or, in some states, proven professional experience, and a job offer of at least six months.
The Blue Card leads to permanent residence quickly (in Germany after 27 months, or 21 with B1 German) and lets the holder move to another EU state after a year.
How the case runs, step by step
- 1
Eligibility check
Degree recognition (anabin or ZAB in Germany), the salary against this year's threshold and the occupation against the shortage list, before the contract is signed.
- 2
Employer declaration
The employer completes the declaration of employment and, where required, the Federal Employment Agency pre-approval. We prepare both from the case data.
- 3
Visa or in-country application
Nationals who need an entry visa apply at the consulate; others apply at the local foreigners' office. The verified partner books the appointment and lodges the file.
- 4
Residence card and family
The card is issued after arrival. Spouse and children apply on the same case with no language requirement.
How Vistolane supports your agency
Threshold library
Current salary thresholds and shortage lists for all participating states are maintained by our pricing desk and pushed to every checklist.
Degree recognition handled
Anabin and ZAB look-ups and statement-of-comparability orders are tasks on the timeline, so recognition does not delay the application.
Verified EU partners
Licensed immigration lawyers and relocation specialists in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and other states file and attend appointments.
Family on the same file
Dependants are added as linked cases with their own checklists and dates, and the client portal shows the whole household.
Compliance requirements to keep in view
- Report salary reductions or job changes to the foreigners' office
- Keep the contract and payslips for inspections
- Observe the waiting period before the holder changes employer (12 months in Germany)
- Renew before expiry; the card is tied to the contract length
Questions agencies ask
- Which countries issue the EU Blue Card?
- All EU states except Denmark and Ireland. Germany issues the large majority; the Netherlands, France, Austria, Poland and Czechia follow.
- Does the applicant need German?
- No. Language is not required for the Blue Card itself. B1 German shortens the route to permanent residence in Germany from 27 to 21 months.
- How long does it take?
- Consulate appointments are the usual bottleneck: expect six to twelve weeks in most posts, faster where the employer is an accelerated-procedure sponsor.
- Can IT professionals qualify without a degree?
- In Germany, yes: three years of relevant experience in the last seven, with a salary above the reduced threshold.
Verified partners who take this case type
Licence-checked firms in the Vistolane network. Scorecards show real approval rates and processing times per route.
8 licensed partners