EU only scarcely distributes 'Blue Cards' to skilled laborers from Latvia
EU Blue Cards: A Look at the Numbers in 2023
Germany continued to lead the pack in issuing EU Blue Cards, accounting for 69,000 or 78% of all EU Blue Cards issued in 2023. This high demand for qualified professionals in Germany is evident in the large number of Blue Cards issued.
Following Germany, France issued 4,000 EU Blue Cards, making up 4% of the total. Belgium also issued a significant number, although the exact figures for 2023 are not available.
In the Baltic states, there were notable differences in the number of EU Blue Cards issued. Latvia topped the list with 419, followed by Lithuania with 1,718, and Estonia with just 25.
Poland was the second-largest issuer of EU Blue Cards with 7,000, accounting for 8% of the total. Citizens of Turkey, Russia, India, and Belarus also made up sizeable portions of the recipients, with 6,000, 9,000, 21,000, and 5,000 Blue Cards issued respectively.
The EU Blue Card, which allows highly-qualified workers from outside the EU to live and work in an EU country for a period of one to four years, is applicable in 25 of the 27 EU countries, excluding Denmark and Ireland.
In addition to the EU Blue Card, Latvia issued 4,230 authorisations for study and research to non-EU citizens in 2023, and 52 intra-corporate transferee permits.
For those interested in applying for an EU Blue Card, detailed application criteria can be found here.
It's worth noting that the EU Blue Card accounted for only 2.3% of all first residence permits issued in the EU in 2023, indicating relatively modest overall issuance volumes.
In conclusion, while Germany remains the largest issuer of EU Blue Cards, there are significant differences in the number of Blue Cards issued among the EU countries. The demand for highly-qualified professionals continues to be high, particularly in Germany, and the EU Blue Card remains a valuable tool for attracting and retaining such talent across the EU.
