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To find out whether you require a visa to enter Germany, see „Who needs a visa?“.

Purpose and target group

The EU Blue Card is a residence permit for University graduates and third-party nationals with specific professional experience, which facilitates and promotes the permanent immigration of highly-qualified workers to Germany from non-EU countries.

How can I get the EU Blue Card ?

If you live outside the EU, you will generally require a visa for the purpose of gainful employment which will be issued by the competent German diplomatic mission. You can enter Germany on this visa. Prior to expiry of the visa, you must subsequently apply to the local immigration authority for the EU Blue Card.

Conditions

Further information on the detailed requirements for an EU Blue Card application can be found at make it in Germany

Online Application for the Blue Card

The online application for the Blue Card is possible through the Consular Services Portal. After you have uploaded your documents, your application will be checked for completeness. Communication regarding any additional information required will be conducted directly through the Consular Services Portal.

Apply online now

At your appointment, you will need to present all original documents and your biometric photos.

What documents must be submitted during the application process?

Online application Videx form fully completed and personally signed including declaration to section 54 residence Act.

If the application processing via VIDEX does not work, you can download the PDF application form here.

A current biometric passport photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm with a light-coloured background) according to the photo sample table of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The photo should not be older than three months.

Personally signed passport (original with one copy of the passport data page), with at least two completely empty pages and sufficient validity.

If you do not have your habitual residence in Switzerland, the German Embassy in Bern is not responsible for processing your application.

Employer’s declaration („declaration of employment“) to be completed by your employer in Germany with one copy.

Detailed job description with one copy.

Original German university degree or recognized foreign university degree with one copy and printouts from Anabin data base - the educational qualificationn need to be listed as equivalent or comparable and the university need to be rated with H+.

Or

Statement of comparability for foreign higher education qualifications, issued by the central office for foreign education (ZAB) in original.

Detailed curriculum vitae in German or English language with one copy.

Information pursuant to section 82 (1) sentence 6 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) – Requirement to inform of any change of employer or employment status

Information sheet with check list to download

Information section 82 (1) residence act to download

The German Embassy Bern reserve the right to ask for additional documents at any time during the processing of your application.

Postage expenses of 7 Swiss Francs

and

Visa fee of 75 Euro payable by cash in Swiss Francs or in Euro by Visa or MasterCard (information here).

Appointment booking

You will receive the link to book an appointment once all documents have been reviewed in the Consular Services Portal.

Processing time

In this visa category, most applications are typically processed within 2-3 weeks (calculated from the day you procided all documents).

In the visa process, the interest in entering the country must be carefully weighed against the security interests of the Federal Republic of Germany. For visa applications for study and research stays and similar employment, special attention must be paid to ensuring that the knowledge acquired in Germany cannot be misused for purposes that could impair or threaten the peaceful coexistence of nations and/or public order, security, or health in Germany. This may, in individual cases, lead to a longer processing time for the visa application. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to apply for the visa early.

During the application process

Please do not contact the mission abroad to check the status of your application during the normal processing period. Such inquiries are extremely time-consuming for the visa department and cannot be answered. We will contact you by email as soon as the decision has been made. In principle, all communication can only take place with the applicant themselves, a legal representative or an authorized person.

Decision about the application

You will be informed as soon as the embassy has decided on your application. Your passport is required for the visa to be issued.

Please check your visa label as soon as you have your passport with the visa in your hands. You should inform us immediately of any errors so that we can issue a new visa.

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