EU Work Permit Analysis: Romania, Portugal and Bulgaria Have the Lowest Salary Thresholds for International Professionals – Expats in Germany Must Earn at Least €50,000 to Qualify for an EU Blue Card
Skilled professionals from non-EU countries who want to work in Germany must earn at least €50,700 per year. This is the threshold set under the EU Blue Card scheme, which serves as a work and residence permit for highly qualified non-EU nationals across Europe. Despite a common EU directive providing the overall framework, national implementation varies considerably: the minimum annual salary required to qualify for a Blue Card ranges from just under €20,000 in Romania to more than €71,000 in the Netherlands. Our analysis systematically compares all 24 participating EU Member States, examining salary thresholds, application fees, permit validity periods and recent legislative reforms.
Germany Ranks in the Upper Mid-Range in Europe
Across all participating EU countries, the average annual salary threshold for an EU Blue Card is €41,087. With a threshold of €50,700, Germany therefore ranks in the upper mid-range. Higher requirements apply in Austria (€55,678), followed by Brussels, Belgium (€56,976), Sweden (€57,056) and France (€59,373). Annual salaries of more than €60,000 are required in Flanders, Belgium (€63,586), Luxembourg (€65,653) and Wallonia, Belgium (€68,815). The Netherlands has the highest salary requirement at €71,304. In Germany, a reduced threshold of €45,934 applies to professionals working in shortage occupations.
Where the Barriers Are Lowest
Romania offers the lowest salary threshold for skilled professionals seeking an EU Blue Card, at €19,815 per year. Similarly low thresholds apply in Portugal (€21,030) and Slovakia (€23,933). Bulgaria (€24,648) and Croatia (€27,486) also remain well below the EU average, as do Slovenia (€31,273), Greece (€32,000), Latvia (€32,676) and Hungary (€33,336) – all significantly below the German threshold.
Denmark and Ireland Do Not Participate in the EU Blue Card Scheme
Not all EU Member States have implemented the directive. Denmark and Ireland have opted out of the EU Blue Card scheme. Skilled professionals wishing to work in these countries must instead apply through their respective national work permit systems.
Denmark and Ireland Do Not Participate in the EU Blue Card Scheme
Not all EU Member States have implemented the directive. Denmark and Ireland have opted out of the EU Blue Card scheme. Skilled professionals wishing to work in these countries must instead apply through their respective national work permit systems.
Fees: Malta and Finland Significantly More Expensive Than the Rest
There are also considerable differences in the cost of obtaining an EU Blue Card. Malta doubled its fees in 2026 and now charges €600 for an initial application – the highest fee in the EU. Finland follows at €530 and France at €449. By contrast, applications are particularly inexpensive in Bulgaria (€56), Luxembourg (€80) and Slovenia (€85). At €100, Germany is among the five least expensive countries.
The validity period of the Blue Card also varies by country. While Bulgaria, Estonia, Slovakia and the Netherlands issue cards valid for up to five years, Austria, Finland, Portugal and Malta initially issue them for a maximum of two years.
2026 as a Year of Reform: France, Sweden and Malta Tighten Their Rules
The year 2026 has brought significant changes in several countries. As of 1 May 2026, France substantially increased both its salary threshold and Blue Card fees. Sweden is introducing new salary requirements from June 2026, setting the minimum at 90% of the national average salary. It is also making comprehensive health insurance mandatory and extending the validity of the Blue Card to four years. Malta has tightened its requirements as well: application fees have doubled, and skilled professionals must complete a mandatory Skills Pass before entering the country.
“At Gisma University of Applied Sciences, we educate international professionals on campus and actively support their integration into the European labour market. But education alone is not enough. Europe also needs more transparent and accessible pathways to the EU Blue Card to ensure that highly qualified professionals are not held back by bureaucratic barriers before they even have the opportunity to contribute,” says Ramon O’Callaghan, President of Gisma University of Applied Sciences.