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Blue Card
Policy Instrument
Blue Card
GermanyCountry fiche
Description
Timespan
Since 2012
Stage
Focus area
Foundations
Policy area
Promotion of highly skilled migrants from outside of the EU.
Policy goal
The "Blue Card" wants to achieve the goal of attracting a highly skilled workforce from abroad in order to tackle specific mismatches in certain sectors of the German economy. Highly skilled is defined by a high level of education. The Blue Card contributes to this goal by enabling and facilitating the access to the German labour market. It is the basic way of access for foreign employees following the definition of highly qualified. The Blue Card is supplemented by a large number of initiatives under the roof of the “Fachkräfteinitiative”.
Mismatch
Immigration is only possible into jobs that are defined beforehand (Positivliste).
Aim of policy instrument
Legal basis
Administrative level
Main responsible body
Federal Office for Migration and Refugees
Stakeholders
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs - provision of information on the Blue Card
Immigration authorities - application processing
Funding
No information
Intended beneficiaries
The Blue Card is aimed at attracting highly-qualified specialists to the European labour market from third countries.
Processes
Use of labour market intelligence
For specific sectors, certain occupations that are defined show a shortage of skills. In practice, this is elaborated by gross salary borders for future jobs in Germany (in 2017: university graduates: €50,800/year; shortage sectors occupations: €39,624/year).
Financial schemes
None
Frequency of updates
The income thresholds are adapted annually. Statistics on Blue Card holders are published regularly by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
Development
Income thresholds are redefined each year. This can be seen as an indirect way to steer migration via the Blue Card. Experience showed that many applicants were already resident in Germany (e.g. because they came to Germany to study at a university). It was therefore debated to decrease the income threshold. However, unions fear wage dumping, which is a strong argument for increasing the threshold. From 2016 to 2017, the income threshold was increased slightly.
Success factors
The high demand for skilled labour in Germany made the implementation of the instrument easier.
Monitoring
The number of immigrants holding Blue Cards is measured regularly. Information is published by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
Innovativeness
It is an initial step to the implementation of a controlled immigration scheme from non-EU countries to Germany.
Sustainability
Evidence of effectiveness
More than 50,000 Blue Cards were issued to the end of 2016. 90% of Blue Card holders worked in occupations characterised by skilled workers shortage. In this regard, the Blue Card seemed to be effective. According to some applicants, family reunion regulations could be eased.
Engagement of stakeholders
For applicants and employers, several channels can be used to gather information on the Blue Card.
Transferability
Creating and updating a list of occupations in demand (the process to identify occupations with skilled worker shortage) is easily transferable, though reliable labour market information is necessary.
Sustainability
The Blue Card regulation is still very relevant, as skilled workers shortage is still prevalent in Germany.