This Blue Card, inspired by the American « Green Card », allows nationals from non-EU countries to move, stay and work in the EU easily. This is a residence permit granted to highly qualified individuals.
Origin of the project
The Blue Card project for the European Union was launched by the European Commission on 23 October 2007 and adopted on 25 May 2009 through Directive 2009/50/EC. This Directive on conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of highly qualified employment was transposed into French law by Law of 16 June 2011 on immigration, integration and nationality amended by Law n°2018-778 of 10 September 2018 for controlled immigration, effective asylum and successful integration. The new 2018 law includes foreign innovation actors (see http://www.terravocats.com/le-french-tech-visa-une-solution-pour-les-acteurs-de-linnovation/) and foreign « researchers ».
Conditions of access
Different conditions must be met according to articles L313-20 and R313-47 of the CESEDA:
– To be a foreigner: to be a national of a country that is not a member of the European Union
– To be highly qualified: to hold a diploma of at least 3 years of higher education from a state-recognized higher education institution or to have 5 years’ professional experience.
– To be a worker: benefit from an employment contract of one year or more, covered by the foreign labor department
– Proof of sufficient resources: receive a remuneration of at least 53 837 euros per year (each EU Member State has its own salary threshold).
Its application in France
In France, a Blue Card is a temporary residence permit bearing the mention “European Blue Card” but it is also known as a “Passport talent”. The validity period of this residence permit is 1 to 3 years, depending on the duration of the employment contract.
Renewal is possible under the same conditions.
Beyond 5 years of uninterrupted residence under cover of an “EU Blue Card”, the highly qualified worker may apply for the issue of a residence card “long-term resident – EC” valid for 10 years and finally apply for a permanent residence permit.
A foreigner who has spent at least 18 months in another Member State of the European Union with an « EU Blue Card » will be issued a residence permit directly.
The accompanying family of the EU Blue Card holder benefits from a simplified procedure whereby they are not subject to the conditions required for family reunification. The spouse and children benefit from a residence permit mentioning “vie privée et familial” for a period that may be comparable to that of the Blue Card. To obtain it, an application must be filed during the first month in France.
Discover through this link the list of documents to provide to benefit from the European Blue Card:
The Blue Card application can be made by the workers themselves, by employers or by a law firm.
The advantages of the European Blue Card
– The possibility of returning to the country of origin or any other third country for 1 year without losing the card
– The possibility of travelling within the Schengen area
– The possibility of applying for a right of residence in another European country
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