The EU Blue Card is a prestigious work permit issued by EU member states to third-country nationals who possess advanced education and skills. This document aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the EU Blue Card, including its purpose, eligibility criteria, application process, and key differences from other residence permits.

The EU Blue Card is specifically designed to attract highly qualified third-country nationals to address skill shortages in occupations where qualified personnel are scarce or likely to be in demand in the future. It serves as the main residence permit for university graduates from abroad who wish to utilize their talents into EU countries.

The EU Blue Card offers highly skilled non-EU citizens an opportunity to work and reside in most EU member states. It provides a streamlined process for obtaining work authorization, favourable family reunification rules, and increased geographic mobility within the EU. Understanding the eligibility criteria and application process is crucial for those seeking to leverage their skills and contribute to the European workforce.

The Blue Card is an approved EU-wide work permit (Directive (EU) 2021/1883) allowing highly skilled non-EU citizens to work and live in 25 of the 27 countries within the European Union excluding Denmark and Ireland, which are not subject to the proposal. However, according to new rules, if it is a business trip, it does allow entry to a Schengen area member country if the country issuing the Blue Card is not a member of the Schengen area (like EU members Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania).

The term Blue Card was coined by the think tank Bruegel, inspired by the United States’ green card (known officially as a permanent resident card) and making reference to the European flag which is blue with twelve golden stars.

The Blue Card proposal presented by the European Commission offers a one-track procedure for non-EU citizens to apply for a work permit, which would be valid for up to three years, but can be renewed thereafter. Blue Card status also carries other rights, such as favourable family reunification rules. The proposal also encourages geographic mobility within the EU, between different member states, for those who have been granted a clue card. 

The Blue Card proposal was introduced at a press conference in Strasbourg on October 23, 2007, by President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security Franco Frattini. Barroso stated that the proposal aimed to address the future labour and skills shortage in the EU, the challenges faced by third-country workers in moving between member states for employment, the inconsistent admission procedures across the 27 member states, and the disparity in rights between EU citizens and legal immigrants. Alongside the Blue Card proposal, another proposal (COM (2007)638) was presented, which included a simplified application process and a common set of rights for legal third-country workers. The name “Blue Card” was chosen to signify that it is the European equivalent of the US green card, with the colour blue being prominent in EU flags and logos.

The proposal received criticism from governments of developing countries shortly after its presentation. They expressed concerns that the Blue Card system would lead to the recruitment of skilled workers from their countries, exacerbating the existing brain drain. South African Minister of Health, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, highlighted the negative impact on African countries already experiencing the migration of skilled health workers. Moroccan international economic law professor, Tajeddine El Husseini, went further, characterizing the proposal as a new form of colonization and discrimination, and anticipated difficulties in garnering support for it among southern countries.

Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible for an EU Blue Card, applicants generally need to meet a number of criteria, which can vary slightly between different EU member states.

The first, of course, is to be a non-EU citizen.

The second is to have a valid job offer in an EU country that pays above a certain threshold. That said, obtaining the EU Blue Card is also contingent upon the prevailing unemployment situation within the particular country. The issuance of these cards is subject to an annually fluctuating quota set by each country.

A sufficient level of Higher Education (usually a Bachelor’s degree or higher) is also necessary. Individuals aiming to acquire an EU Blue Card should be capable of providing evidence of advanced education or training over a period of at least three years that is directly applicable to the responsibilities anticipated within the employing company and meets the standard necessary for competent performance. In situations where these aren’t possible, proof of a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience tied directly to the field is required instead.

The EU Blue Card offers several advantages to immigrants and their families, including:

• The opportunity to reside and work in any EU member state.
• Unrestricted movement within the EU without additional procedures.
• The ability to include immediate family members in the application, granting them the right to reside in the EU.

Duration of the EU Blue Card:

• The validity period of the EU Blue Card varies by country.
• Typically, it ranges from one to four years.
• For instance, Spain offers a validity period of 12 months, while countries like France and Germany allow up to 48 months.

In conclusion, the EU Blue Card is available to highly skilled non-EU nationals who are seeking to work and reside in an EU member state.

Eligibility for the EU Blue Card is generally based on the following criteria:

• Qualifications: the individual must hold a higher education degree, such as a university diploma or equivalent qualifications, demonstrating at least three years of professional experience.
• Employment contract: the individual must have a job offer or a binding employment contract from an employer in an EU member state for a highly skilled or shortage occupation. The employment contract must meet the minimum salary requirements set by the member state. Have a job offer that guarantees gross annual earnings.
• Labour market test: in certain cases, the employer may be required to demonstrate that no suitable EU citizen is available for the job position before hiring a non-EU national. However, exemptions apply for specific occupations or if the salary exceeds a certain threshold.
• Valid travel document: the individual must possess a valid travel document, such as a passport, with a minimum validity of three months beyond the intended duration of stay.
• Health insurance: adequate health insurance coverage that is valid in the EU member state where the individual intends to work and reside is required.
• Demonstrate expertise in occupations such as doctors, engineers, natural scientists, mathematicians, and IT specialists.
• Have a clean criminal record and not be subject to entry restrictions.
• No threat to public policy, security, or health: The individual must not pose a threat to the public policy, security, or health of the EU member state.

It’s important to note that the specific requirements and procedures for obtaining the EU Blue Card can vary among EU member states. Each member state has the authority to establish its own regulations regarding the implementation and application of the EU Blue Card Directive. Therefore, it is advisable for individuals to consult the relevant national immigration authorities or embassies of the EU member state where they intend to work to obtain accurate and up-to-date information.

The legal basis of the EU Blue Card is primarily established through EU directives and regulations, along with national legislation implemented by individual member states.

The legal framework for the Blue Card is primarily outlined in Directive 2009/50/EC, which sets forth the conditions of entry and residence for third-country nationals for the purposes of highly skilled employment. However, the European Parliament has approved a new EU Blue Card Directive (EU) 2021/1883 aiming to improve the rules for attracting highly skilled workers from outside the EU. The directive lays down the entry and residence conditions for and rights of highly qualified third-country nationals and their families:

• Staying for more than 3 months in a European Union (EU) Member State;
• Working in a Member State other than the one that first granted them an EU Blue Card.

The new Directive amending Directive (EU) 2016/801 on the entry and residence of non-EU nationals for research, studies, training, voluntary service, secondary education and au pairing and repeals the original Blue Card directive, Directive 2009/50/EC, as of 19 November 2023. It has applied since 17 November 2021 and had to become law in the Member States (excluding Denmark and Ireland) by 18 November 2023.

The directive refines and updates the regulations governing the entry and stay of highly skilled non-EU workers, giving the EU a targeted legal migration scheme that can respond to skill shortages and makes it easier for highly skilled professionals to join the workforce. It establishes the criteria and procedures for obtaining and holding a Blue Card, including requirements related to qualifications, employment contracts, and minimum salary thresholds. It also outlines the rights and benefits afforded to Blue Card holders, such as equal treatment with EU nationals in terms of employment, social security, and access to education. It also provides an EU framework for attracting talent, while individual Member States decide how many people to admit to their labour market.

The main purpose of the new Directive is to further assist employers for recruiting from outside the EU by making the process easier and more accessible, especially for industries where there is a labour shortage such as technology, healthcare and engineering. EU Member States will have two years to implement the new Directive into their national laws.

Its main objectives are to enable: 

• EU to attract and retain highly qualified non-EU nationals and facilitate their access to the labour market of EU countries.
• Establishment of a fast-track procedure and common admission criteria for issuing the EU Blue Card by EU countries.
• Mobility of highly qualified persons within the EU.

The key points of the new legislation are summarized as follows:

• It applies to non-EU nationals applying, or having applied, for highly qualified employment in a Member State. It does not apply to non-EU nationals: seeking international protection, carrying out a research project, who are granted long-term resident status in a Member State, who are covered by an international agreement allowing a temporary stay, rights of free movement or whose expulsion has been suspended.
• It does not affect more favorable rules in EU law, including bilateral and multilateral agreements and/or the right of Member States to decide how many non-EU nationals may enter their territory.
• Under the new Directive, the local employment contract or job offer should be conducted for a minimum of six months instead of the current twelve months.
• The minimum salary requirement for the highly skilled workers will range between 1 and 1.6 times the national average salary, instead of the current set minimum of 1.5 times the average salary. Member States may choose to set a lower threshold for professions where there is shortage of workers or for recent graduates.
• Member States would be allowed to implement “recognized employer programs”. Such employers would benefit from a beneficial regime with simplified procedures and requirements for their highly skilled employees, inclusive for the EU Blue Card application process.
• The concept of business trips is introduced. Business travel within the EU countries will be allowed for EU Blue Card holders for specific activities without the need of a separate work permit or registration. Currently there are no rules on the business travel activities, which third country (non-EEA) nationals, including EU Blue Card holders may perform while on business travel within the EU. Only the local legislation of each EU Member State is applicable.
• EU Blue Card holders will be able to benefit from a special regime and move to another EU country after being employed for a 12-month period in the Member State, which initially issued the EU Blue card. Further, EU Blue Card holders should be allowed to relocate to a second Member State under simplified conditions.
• EU Blue Card holders may be allowed to perform self-employment activities in parallel with their regular employment. Each Member state will determine if they would implement this additional benefit as well the scope of the allowed self-employment.
• The family reunification procedure would be less burdensome as non-EEA family members would be allowed to apply for dependent residence permits at the same time when the highly skilled worker applies for the EU Blue Card. Non-EEA family members of EU Blue Card holders would also be allowed to work by being granted access to employment or self-employment activities under a simplified process.
• Professional qualifications of EU Blue Card holders who wish to exercise a regulated profession (e.g., doctors, lawyers, architects) should be recognized via a simplified procedure in the same way as those of EU, EEA and Swiss nationals.

Furthermore, each EU member state has transposed the provisions of Directive into its national legislation, adapting the requirements and procedures to its specific context and labor market needs. National laws and regulations govern the implementation of the Blue Card scheme within each member state, including details such as application procedures, eligibility criteria, and rights and obligations of Blue Card holders.

The Lisbon European Council in March 2000 set the Community the objective of becoming the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs, and greater social cohesion. In this follow-up, in October 2007, the European Commission proposed the EU Blue Card scheme as a means to attract highly skilled workers to the EU. 

In May 2009, the EU Blue Card Directive was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. The directive aimed to establish a common framework for the admission of non-EU nationals to the EU for the purpose of highly skilled employment.

In December of 2011, the EU Blue Card Directive came into effect. The directive laid down the conditions for obtaining and holding an EU Blue Card, including requirements related to qualifications, employment contracts, and minimum salary thresholds. It also provided for certain rights and benefits for EU Blue Card holders and their families, such as facilitated mobility within the EU, equal treatment with nationals in areas such as social security and access to education, and the possibility of permanent residency after a certain period of time.

Implementation by Member States: Member states of the EU were required to transpose the EU Blue Card Directive into their national laws and to start issuing EU Blue Cards to eligible applicants.

Amendments and Updates: Over the years, the EU Blue Card scheme has undergone amendments and updates to address practical issues and to improve its effectiveness. These changes have included adjustments to salary thresholds, expansion of the list of eligible occupations, and simplification of administrative procedures.

Overall, the EU Blue Card has become an important tool for facilitating the migration of highly skilled workers to the EU, contributing to the EU’s competitiveness and economic growth, while also providing opportunities for talented individuals from around the world.

Objectives and evolution of EU Card

The EU Blue Card program is designed to make Europe a more attractive destination for professionals from outside the European Union. All EU member states (except Denmark and Ireland) issue the EU Blue Card.

To an extent the EU Blue Card program is a merit-based system; interpreting a person with ‘merits’ as one who received adequate education or, through professional experience, possesses sought-after skills. The EU Blue Card is not points-based; either you have the education or skills, or you do not.
The European Blue Card initiative has a number of distinctive qualities that will help Europe become the world’s most favourite migration destination:

• Working and salary conditions equal to nationals
• Free movement within the Schengen area
• Entitlement to a series of socio-economic rights (e.g., unemployment benefits)
• Favourable conditions for family reunification
• Permanent residence perspective
• Freedom of association

The EU Blue Card scheme has been a significant step in attracting highly skilled workers to the European Union, but like any policy initiative, it has faced challenges and opportunities for evolution. 

Here are some possible evolutions or developments related to the EU Blue Card:

1. Harmonization and Standardization: Although the EU Blue Card Directive aimed to create a common framework for the admission of highly skilled workers, implementation and interpretation can vary between EU member states. Further efforts could be made to harmonize and standardize the application process, eligibility criteria, and rights and benefits across all member states, reducing administrative burdens and ensuring a more uniform experience for applicants.
2. Expansion of Eligibility Criteria: Currently, the EU Blue Card is primarily targeted at highly skilled workers with specific professional qualifications. However, there may be room to expand the eligibility criteria to include other categories of migrants, such as entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and innovators, who can contribute to the EU’s economic growth and competitiveness.
3. Streamlining Procedures: Simplifying and streamlining the application procedures for the EU Blue Card could make it more attractive to both employers and prospective migrants. This could involve reducing processing times, improving online application systems, and providing clearer guidance on documentation requirements.
4. Flexibility in Mobility: While the EU Blue Card already provides certain mobility rights within the EU, further enhancements could be made to facilitate the movement of EU Blue Card holders between member states for employment purposes. This could involve measures such as mutual recognition of qualifications, standardized language requirements, and greater portability of social security benefits.
5. Enhanced Family Reunification: Family reunification rights for EU Blue Card holders and their family members could be strengthened to promote social cohesion and integration. This could include expanding the definition of family members eligible for reunification, reducing processing times for family visa applications, and ensuring equal access to education and healthcare services for family members.
6. Promotion and Awareness: Increasing awareness and promotion of the EU Blue Card scheme both within the EU and internationally could attract more highly skilled workers to the EU and help address labor shortages in key sectors. This could involve targeted marketing campaigns, partnerships with employers and academic institutions, and participation in international job fairs and recruitment events.

Overall, the evolution of the EU Blue Card will likely continue to be shaped by ongoing demographic, economic, and geopolitical trends, as well as by feedback from stakeholders and experiences gained through its implementation.

In order to strengthen the competitiveness, the EU is interested in attracting highly-skilled workers from non-EU countries. With this objective, the EU put in place a specific migration scheme for highly qualified non-EU workers in 2009. This provided a fast-track procedure for issuing a residence and work permit to highly-skilled workers. It is called the EU Blue Card (Council Directive 2009/50/EC on the conditions of entry and residence of nationals of non-EU countries for the purposes of highly qualified employment) and is designed to facilitate access to the EU’s labour market; it also entitles its holders to socio-economic rights, favourable conditions for family reunification and facilitated movement within the EU.

In December 2011, the Single Permit Directive (2011/98/EU) was adopted. It is based on a single application procedure to obtain a single permit that grants the holder the right to both residence and work in the EU, while guaranteeing that non-EU workers should receive equal treatment to that enjoyed by nationals in areas such as working conditions, joining organisations representing workers, education and vocational training, recognition of diplomas, social security, tax benefits, and access to goods and services including procedures for housing and employment advice.

More recently, the rules for the EU Blue Card were amended (Directive (EU) 2021/1883) and have become law in the Member States (by the end of 2023). The new scheme introduces efficient rules for attracting highly skilled workers to the EU, including more flexible admission conditions, enhanced rights and the possibility to move and work more easily between EU Member States.

Across the EU, the total number of EU Blue Cards granted to non-EU citizens rose from 24 305 in 2017 to 52 127 in 2019. It then fell to 50 234 in 2020 and increased again to 67 730 in 2021 (+ 35 %) and to 81 851 in 2022 (+21 %). It should be noted that the coverage (of EU Member States) included in this total changed over time – see Figure 3.

Family members of EU Blue Card holders are also entitled to receive residence permits and benefit from work and mobility rights. In 2022, 40 569 residence permits were issued in the EU for family members of EU Blue Card holders. Note that the coverage of the data shown in Figure 3 changes over time and is not the same for the two indicators.:

Germany issued 63 200 EU Blue Cards in 2022 (77 % of all EU Blue Cards issued)

Table 1 shows that, in 2022, the majority of EU Blue Cards issued in the EU were issued in four countries: Germany (63 242, 77.3 % of the total), Poland (4 831, 6.0 %), Lithuania (3 924 or 4.8 %) and France (3 876, 4.7 %). Conversely, eight EU countries issued less than 100 EU Blue Cards in 2022: Sweden (83 EU Blue Cards), Spain (58), Estonia (36), Portugal (27), Greece (22), Malta (21), Hungary (18), and Slovakia (14) and no EU Blue Cards were issued in Cyprus.

Citizens of India granted the highest number of EU Blue Cards in the EU in 2022

The top 10 countries whose citizens were granted EU Blue Cards in 2022 (see Table 3) accounted for about two thirds (67.1 %) of the 81 851 cards that were issued in the EU in 2022. Of these, 19 896 EU Blue Cards were granted to citizens of India, which represented about one quarter of all EU Blue Cards issued in the EU (24.3 %). The next largest numbers and shares were for citizens of Russia (7 606 EU Blue Cards, 9.3 % of the total), Belarus (5 541, 6.8 %), Türkiye (5 234, 6.4 %) and Iraq (3 618, 4.4 %).

Among the top 10 countries of citizenship for EU Blue Cards granted in 2022, the ones for which the issue of these cards was most concentrated in a single EU Member State (i.e. Germany) were Iraq (99.9 %), Pakistan (94.7%), and Egypt (91.8 %).

Figure 4 (below) shows that the top five countries whose citizens were granted the most EU Blue Cards in 2022 recorded an increase in 2021 and 2022: India, Russia, Belarus, Türkiye and Iraq.

In 2022, the number of first permits issued as EU Blue Cards was 16.3 % of the number of all first permits granted to highly-skilled workers

This section provides information on first residence permits issued to non-EU citizens as highly-skilled workers, which comprises two categories:

• First permits issued as EU Blue Cards;
• First permits issued for highly-skilled workers under national legislation.

The share of permits as EU Blue Card on all first permits issued for highly-skilled workers is shown in Figure 5 and it highlights the significant role of EU Blue Cards in attracting highly-skilled workers to the EU.

In 2017, the EU Blue Card scheme accounted for 22.3 % of all first permits issued to highly-skilled workers (either as EU Blue Cards or under national legislation). The share rose each year to a peak of 28.8 % in 2019 however it decreased to 19.5% in 2020 and 14.3 % in 2021. The EU Blue Card scheme was increasingly used as a means for highly-skilled workers to enter the EU labour market up until 2019; the end of this development coincided with the start of the COVID-19 crisis and its related containment measures.

Statistics on the EU Blue Card on international level in the EU (2022)

“The majority of EU Blue Cards issued in the EU were issued in four countries: Germany (63 242, 77.3 % of the total), Poland (4 831, 6.0 %), Lithuania (3 924 or 4.8 %) and France (3 876, 4.7 %). Conversely, eight EU countries issued less than 100 EU Blue Cards in 2022: Sweden (83 EU Blue Cards), Spain (58), Estonia (36), Portugal (27), Greece (22), Malta (21), Hungary (18), and Slovakia (14) and no EU Blue Cards were issued in Cyprus.”

The EU is increasingly competing with other destinations in the global race for talent. To attract and retain highly qualified workers – particularly in sectors facing skills shortages – the EU updated the Blue Card directive in October 2021.

The Blue Card is a special residence permit. Not all foreigners can obtain this residence permit.

The new rules harmonise the conditions of entry and residence for highly qualified workers from non-EU countries and increase the attractiveness of the EU Blue Card.

Member states are able to maintain national schemes for highly qualified workers alongside the EU Blue Card scheme. However, the new rules introduce a number of provisions to ensure that holders of EU Blue Cards and their families are not at a disadvantage compared with holders of national permits.

Blue Card holders can:

• Enter, re-enter and stay in the territory of the EU country issuing the card.
• Access highly qualified employmetent in the Member State issuing the card.
• Be treated in the same way as nationals in terms of working conditions, education and training, social security and access to services.
• Request family reunification permits for the same duration as the EU Blue Card.
• Accumulate periods of residence in different member states to be eligible to an EU long-term residence permit.

Blue Card holders can travel in the EU:

• Short-term mobility: they can travel to other EU countries for up to three months during a six-month period for the purpose of carrying out a business activity.
• Long-term mobility: after one year in an EU country, they may also reside and work in another member state and apply for a new Blue Card via a quick and a simple procedure.

The Blue Card has many benefits and is very rewarding. The possibilities offered by the Blue Card are wide and cover various areas, both private and professional.

• Traveling with the Blue Card. With the EU Blue Card, you can generally travel to other Schengen states for tourism purposes without a visa for up to 90 days within 190 days. The Schengen States include Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
• Facilitation of family reunification. An advantage of the Blue Card is the simplification of family reunification. Due to the already high requirements for the Blue Card, issuing a declaration of undertaking is already easier to fulfill than other residence permits. With the Blue Card, family reunification is subject to simplified conditions. For example, the spouse can obtain a residence permit without prior language knowledge and is authorized to work in Germany.
• Naturalization with a Blue Card. For example, the Blue Card allows naturalization if all the requirements for German citizenship are met. Naturalization with the Blue Card has exactly the same conditions as naturalization with any other authorized residence permit. Due to the already high requirements for the Blue Card in terms of salary, it is easier to provide proof of subsistence than with many other residence permits. You can also apply for naturalization after 7, 6 or 3 years by providing some evidence (previously passed naturalization exam, B2 certificate or marriage to a German citizen).
• Residence permit with Blue Card. The Blue Card brings advantages in terms of settlement permit. For example, in Germany, Blue Card holders can apply for an establishment permit after just 33 months. Blue Card holders must have a highly qualified occupation, have paid contributions to the pension fund and be able to express themselves in simple German. With a B1 certificate, it is possible to reduce the 33 months to 21 months.
• The time employed on the EU Blue Card, in various countries or in one, accumulates. After two to five years, depending on the country of residence, you can apply for permanent residency.

On 1 August 2012, the Federal Government of Germany introduced the EU Blue Card as the residence permit for highly qualified professionals from third countries wishing to live and work in Germany. The Blue Card is issued in line with Section 19a Residence Act (AufenthG), which is based on the Highly Qualified Employment Directive of the European Union 2009/50/EC. This directive has applied since 19 June 2009 and had to become law in the Member States by 19 June 2011. 

In recent years, the requirements of the labour market have made it necessary to adjust the conditions for obtaining the EU Blue Card several times – in this case to make them less restrictive, e.g. more flexible admission conditions (lower salary threshold), simpler procedures (fast-track procedures in cooperation with employers), broader rights and easier travel within the EU. 

Meanwhile, the instrument of the EU Blue Card is well established in Germany and all relevant information is promoted in a special section of the website “Make it in Germany” run by the Federal Government in four language versions: German, English, Spanish and French.

Statistics on the EU Blue Card on national level in Germany

The acute shortage of skilled labour in Germany, which is being worsened by the ageing of society and the retirement of the baby boomers, will make it necessary to liberalise immigration regulations in the long term. Roughly 45.7 million persons resident in Germany were in employment in January 2024, the unemployment rate at a moderate level of 3.1%. According to the 15th coordinated population projection (based on data as of Dec 31, 2021), the number of people of working age (20 to 66 years) will decrease in the coming years. Even with high net immigration – i.e. a high positive balance of immigration and emigration – there would be a slight decrease of 1.6 million people by the mid-2030s. With low net immigration, the number could fall by 4.8 million people.

Thus, the EU Blue Card is a valuable instrument to face this future challenge. “According to an analysis of the Central Register of Foreigners, almost 200,000 academic professionals from non-EU countries received a Blue Card for the first time between 2012 and 2022. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), 83% of those who received this residence permit between 2012 and 2017 continued to live in Germany after five years. Compared to international students (55%), Blue Card holders therefore have a higher retention rate after five years. Almost 68,900 people received a Blue Card for the first time between 2012 and 2017. Most of them had Indian citizenship (22.4%), followed by people with Chinese (8.7%) or Russian (7.5%) citizenship. The majority of people who received a Blue Card for the first time between 2012 and 2017 had a settlement permit after five years (59.9%). A further 11.3% were naturalised, 9.0% continued to hold a Blue Card and 3.1% held another residence title. In contrast, 16.7% no longer lived in Germany. 

Compared to Blue Card holders, the retention rate for international students is lower. Around 219,600 international students received a residence permit for study purposes in Germany for the first time between 2006 and 2012. Most of them had Chinese citizenship (19.6%), followed by people with American (6.9 %) and Russian (6.4 %) citizenship. After five years, 55% of former international students were still living in Germany, after ten years the figure was 46%.”