New provisions introducing in Luxembourg the principle of the EU blue card, foreseen by an EU directive(1), came into force in February 2012.
This card facilitates the entry of highly skilled third-countries nationals and their mobility within the EU Member States.
This EU blue card, inspired by the American "green card", replaces the former residence authorization for highly skilled workers and can be obtained through an accelerated procedure(2).
Conditions for obtaining the EU blue card(3)
- Having concluded an employment contract of at least one year for the purpose of highly qualified employment;
- Earning a remuneration equivalent to 1.5 times the Luxembourg average gross annual salary(4). For the year 2012, the minimum gross salary required amounts to € 66,564 per year (12 x € 5,547);
- Demonstrating high level qualifications (a higher education diploma or a professional experience of at least 5 years in the job or in the sector concerned).
Benefits of the EU blue card
- The family is authorized to come immediately with the highly skilled worker to Luxembourg or to join him on a later stage;
- The EU blue card is valid for 2 years (or for the duration of the employment contract + 3 months), renewable upon request. It is valid for any employer and any activity for which the card has been issued. After 2 years, the EU blue card gives an unlimited access to the Luxembourg labor market for any highly qualified employment in the private sector.
- Under certain conditions, the card facilitates the intra EU-mobility and allows accumulating the periods of residence in different EU Member States in order to obtain the status of EU long-term resident.
- In case of unemployment, the card is not taken away (if the unemployment period lasts less than 3 months and occurs only once during the validity period of the card).
Janique Bultot Julie Ratajczak
+ 352 47 68 47 445 + 352 47 68 47 473
IF Advisory is not responsible for any errors, omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. The information contained in this document is for general guidance on matters of interest only.
(1)The Directive 2009/50/EC of the Council of European Union has been transposed into Luxembourg legislation by the law of the 8 December 2011 modifying the amended law of 29 August 2008 on the free movement of persons and on immigration.
(2)The decision has to be notified by the competent authorities at the latest 90 days after filing the application (provided that the file is complete).
(3)In addition to standard conditions (valid passport or visa, appropriate housing, etc.).
(4)For some jobs listed in the Luxembourg Regulation of the 25 January 2012, the remuneration is reduced to 1.2 times the average gross annual salary (€53,251.20).
