Blue Card regulations 2025: These are the different salary requirements for skilled migrant workers in EU countries
- The Gisma University of Applied Sciences analyses the minimum salaries required for a Blue Card in EU countries.
- In eleven countries, the minimum income for 2025 has been increased, while another eleven countries have lowered the requirements and two remain unchanged.
- The biggest increase was in Portugal, while Bulgaria saw the biggest reduction in minimum income.
Potsdam, Germany March 20. 2025 – The Blue Card is a central component of skilled labour immigration into the European Union. It gives access to highly qualified workers from non-EU countries to the European labour market, but requires certain minimum salaries. These requirements are set by the respective governments and have changed significantly for 2025 in several countries, as a recent study by Gisma University of Applied Sciences (www.gisma.com) shows.
Belgium takes the first two places
The highest minimum salary for the Blue Card in 2025 is required in Belgium (Brussels): skilled workers here must earn 66,377 euros gross per year to receive a Blue Card. The Belgian region of Flanders has separate rules and follows in second place with 63,586 euros. It is followed by France in third place with 59,700 euros, Luxembourg in fourth place with 58,968 euros and Sweden in fifth place with 51,997 euros.At the other end of the scale, Bulgaria sets the lowest threshold: Here, skilled workers only have to earn €9,933 gross per year — a significant reduction compared to the previous €21,132. Romania (20,782 euros) and Portugal (21,030 euros) are also among the countries with the lowest salary requirements.
This is where the requirements have changed the most
But where have the salary thresholds shifted the most? Portugal, Italy, and Croatia have increased the financial requirements for Blue Card applicants the most. In Portugal, the required annual income was raised by 24 per cent – the highest increase in the EU. Second place in this ranking goes to Italy, where the requirements rose by 19 per cent, which corresponds to a difference of 6,500 euros compared to the previous year. Croatia is in third place with an increase of 17 per cent. In contrast, the requirements in Bulgaria, Romania, and the Netherlands have become much more relaxed. In Bulgaria, the minimum income was reduced by 113 per cent, in Romania by 94 per cent and in the Netherlands by 78 per cent.
Prof Dr Ramon O’Callaghan, President of Gisma University of Applied Sciences, comments on the study:
‘The strong fluctuations in the minimum income requirements for the Blue Card reflect the different economic realities and strategies of the EU countries. While some countries are actively trying to attract more skilled labour by lowering the requirements, others rely on high thresholds to ensure certain skill levels. The challenge is to find a balance between attracting foreign talent and the requirements of the domestic labour market. Current developments clearly show that EU countries are increasingly taking independent paths in migration policy.’
About the study
For the study, an online search was carried out to determine which regulations apply to the minimum income required for the Blue Card. The European Commission’s Immigration Information Portal served as the main source. The data was submitted to the authorities of the respective countries with a request for correction if the result was incorrect. They were informed that if no response was received within five working days, the results from the main source would be used. For figures in currencies other than the euro, the exchange rates of 5 March 2025 apply. Where different minimum salaries were given depending on qualifications, the lower value was chosen. The comparative values from 2024 were researched last year. The Blue Card minimum income is calculated differently in the various countries. Malta was excluded from the ranking due to the difficulty of comparison. Ireland and Denmark do not offer a Blue Card.