We all know how difficult it is to find a good job or get a visa in a foreign country. Especially when the country is as exciting and in demand as Germany. We’re always looking for easy solutions to these problems – so we’ve decided to outline all the steps to obtain a blue card in Germany.

For those of you who don’t know, a blue card is very similar to the green card in America – it grants foreigners from outside the EU permission to live and work in the country. If you are a skilled and qualified worker seeking employment from any of these countries, you will need either a visa or a blue card before accepting employment!

1. Australia
2. Israel
3. Japan
4. Canada
5. South Korea
6. New Zealand
7. The United States of America

Since the allotted time to stay in the country for members of these countries is approximately 3 months, it may be hard to find employment during this time. Luckily, you can still apply for a blue card in Germany. However, it is still recommended to apply for a visa while you are still in your home country since the time it takes to receive an approved visa is uncertain. It is also recommended to find employment before you travel to Germany. This way, your employer can assist you in getting an employment visa or a blue card.

• A filled out application form. This can be filled out by either you or your employer. In order to obtain the application, you must first ensure you have all the required documents. 

• Gather all the correct documents. The foreigner’s office needs to see many documents before granting you a blue card. This includes a university degree, proof of employment, recommendation letters, a valid Passport/travel documentation, proof of application fee payment, and more. It is recommended to begin this process of collecting documents 3-6 months before you arrive in Germany. 

• Go to your local foreigners’ office and hand in the paperwork and fill out the application. This step is perhaps the most tedious of them all. It is recommended to arrive early in the morning right when the office opens. If not, you will have to stand in line or come back another day. It is also possible to make an appointment in person, but you will have to do this several months in advance to ensure you will be seen.

• Wait for approval. After handing in the application, you must wait for a maximum of 3 months/90 days for your request to be approved. You also have the right to appeal the decision within three weeks of the decision’s arrival. You can also hire an attorney to speak on your behalf.

It is important to know you will also need:

A German Tax number since all employees are required to pay taxes.

You are not required to pay taxes if you work at a company that pays under 450Euros a month (mini-job).

Depending on marital status, taxpayers are divided into different tax groups:

• Married
• Single
• Divorced
• Children or not, etc.

Tax payments are done according to the group you are part of. To obtain your German tax number, you will need to go to the Burgeramt and ask for a form. It is very similar to the Anmeldung process!

You will also need to acquire proper Health Insurance (Expat, Public, or Private). This is not quite as difficult as it sounds! Many companies offer health insurance for their employees. If your employer does not, there are many international health insurance companies that offer decent coverage for a reasonably low monthly rate. You can find more information about Germany’s different health insurance options here.

Getting a blue card isn’t quite as difficult as it seems. As long as you carefully follow the steps and ensure you have all the correct documentation, you should have your blue card in no time!

If you need additional help, check out these other helpful links:

https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa/kinds-of-visa/eu-blue-card

Best of luck! 8)