EU Blue Card – Termination and Change of Employer

You have received your EU Blue Card, but the job does not meet your expectations? Your employer is putting pressure on you, you could lose your job and therefore your residence permit? You have found another employer, you want to quit, or you are even being fired? 

First of all: Do not let your employer put you under pressure! Losing your job means notthat you will immediately lose your Blue Card and/or even have to leave the country! However, there are a few things to keep in mind: 

You do not need permission from the immigration authorities to change your job, but you must (only) notify them of the change immediately within the first year of having the Blue Card - and the authorities can initially suspend the change for 30 days and reject it completely within this time. This would be the case, for example, if the new job no longer meets the requirements of an EU Blue Card. 

Good to know: 

• A change of job with the same employer also usually falls under this regulation. 

• You are obliged to inform the immigration authorities of any changes that affect the conditions for issuing a visa - in particular a lower salary than the minimum salary for a Blue Card! Under no circumstances should you enter into such agreements with your employer (e.g. "now that you have received the Blue Card, your salary can be reduced again")! 

•  If the authority does not reach a decision within 30 days of the suspension, the change is considered permitted.

If in doubt, be sure to check the new job beforehand to see if it meets your requirements. This way you can avoid the worst case scenario of your change being rejected after you have already resigned and you losing your blue card. 

Have you been or are you being fired? Do you want to quit without having found a new employer? The Blue Card does not automatically expire! The authorities can set a time limit on the residence permit (but they do not have to), for up to six months from the start of unemployment. This decision also depends on whether you can receive unemployment benefit and how long the residence permit is still valid. This means you have time to look for new employment. This could be three, six or the number of months until the Blue Card officially expires. It is essential that you report this to the immigration authorities early to clarify the matter! 

Good to know: 

• If you cannot find a job within the remaining term of your Blue Card, you can apply for a Job Search Opportunity Card.

• The (former) employer is obliged to inform the immigration authorities about the terms of the employment relationship within four weeks. If possible, avoid the authorities receiving the information from the employer after weeks, but not from you. 

If you are unsure or if you need support in communicating with the authorities, we will be happy to help you.